CTS Sussex half marathon, 2020

An early start took us to Birling Gap.  This was our first race where Coronavirus had been a big deal, and it was going ahead with various modification, including no water/food stations, no dibber chips and an outdoor race briefing.  We couldn't resist picking up a couple of hitchhikers (they were clearly runners) at East Dean.  One was from France and the other from Hungary and they'd just travelled out from London.  Oops... we really hadn't meant to do that.  They were very charming, though.

Awaiting the start

Get ready

Unfortunately the lovely Mrs S was not running (looking after an IT Band injury).  We got my number sorted, and as always the time sped by and before long I was on the start line.  It was damp, blustery and a bit chilly. We set off, and I was a bit bemused to find myself in second place as the started the climb up the track from Birling Gap heading west.

Out on the Seven Sisters, a handful of guys sped past me.  The first runner (Kier) by this time had sped off far into the distance.  The first downhill was exhilarating... I got closer and closer to the brow, and still no sign of the ground ahead, and then the land disappeared beneath my feet and I skittered madly down the insanely steep drop, flailing to keep my balance.

We didn't do all the sisters; we turned right after about three of them and headed inland up a long slope, and then back down to Birling Gap.  I overtook one poor guy on a muddy hill who was obviously wearing the wrong shoes.

And then we headed east on the coastal path to Eastbourne.  Up the hill and past the Belle Tout lighthouse, a wave to Mrs S on a rapid downhill stretch, and then onwards to the staggered climb to Beachy Head.  Quite a contrast going up it relatively fresh compared to grimly hanging on in the final stages of the Beachy Head marathon.  There's a little valley on the way up with a big propellor on the ground at the bottom - now what's that about?

Downhill past the Belle Tout

Next stop Beachy Head

Downhill from Beachy Head to the edge of Eastbourne, during which I had a couple of skirmishes with other runners.  I managed to lose them on the long hill away from the town and back up on to the downs.  The hills were getting quite tough and relentless by this point.  Once on the top there was a long gradual downhill section, where a bloke (Quinn) caught up with me and we had a long battle of attrition through an endless muddy field.

There was a final little loop near the finish with another drag of a hill.  Someone caught up with me a we had a bit of a tussle but I managed to hold him off. Push, push... I could see two runners ahead of me and wondered if I was catching them, but it was too late by now as we were into the final mile.  The final heave went over a perilously rooty path and down to the finish line. The frontrunners were Quinn, then Kier then me.  Third place!  I was thrilled.  It had been a tough and enjoyable race.  Here are my stats.

Well, that's racing over and done with for now, as Coronavirus has caused all foreseeable races to be cancelled or pushed out to autumn.  We'll get through this together and it's going to be a joyous day when social running and racing is on again. Stay safe, and see you on the other side.

Last race photo for a wee while

Larmer Tree half, 2020

This was a much-anticipated outing for the Hampshire Hares, for many of whom this was their first-ever half marathon.  The lovely Mrs S and I arrived at the venue on a cloudy, breezy but mild day, in time to cheer Ali, who's recovering from a nasty winter virus, to the finish of her 10-mile race. A strip down and quick warm-up later, we were on the start line where I met a couple of familiar faces.

Great to see Ali back to form, with coach Mrs S

Haring to go

After a minute or so there was one other guy in a tutu level with me, but I was ahead of the pack at the first km.  As far as competitive racing went, that was it - I never saw a soul again.  A few times I imagined I could hear foosteps behind me, which was quite a useful spur to egg me on.  My great fear was of getting lost.  Andy Palmer (the inimitable White Star race director) had warned us that sheep might have knocked over some some signs, and I was making a huge effort to clock every possible clue about the route.  But it was beautifully marked, and apart from one brief moment on a track when I ran over a sign that was in the mud adjacent to a junction in the track, navigation was easy.

The course was magnificent. Immense chalk dry valleys and great visibility.  We had three fingers to traverse, and from the top of the first one I started to get a sense of the geography of the course.  As I progressed around, I could see marshals spotting me and scurrying to their stations.  By the time I reached the top of the third finger I could tell I was well ahead and had lost my worries about getting lost.  I was loving the course and feeling strong.

We had two really crunchy hills - as opposed to long drags - to work up and three steep scarp downhills.  There was a tent at the bottom of the final one, which I had passed about 3km from the start.  There were no direction arrows but I was assuming it would be a right turn. 'Which way?' I called out, getting the answer 'left'. 'Is that your left and my right?'  'Oh, sorry, yes'.

Back up the final track to the Larmer Estate, and into the final field and a sign saying 400m. Encouraged, I pushed on, half-remembering a long, drawn-out run to the finish.  I tried to show good form and keep the pressure up as I eventually crossed the line.  Here are the results and my stats.

There was some doubt about the accuracy of this sign

Home and dry

It was a fabulous run around the Dorset hills.  I would have loved to have had a bit more competition, but nevertheless it was great fun.  And it was very special cheering the Hares home, some of them o their half marathon debuts.  A big shame that Mrs S, recovering from injury, was not running, but she was thrilled by how well all the Hares fared. A big thank-you, my love, for the training plans and encouragement that have led to such an exhiliarating start to the year.

With David and Rollo

Neil is self-expressing

Jules, Sarah, Susie and Jo

And here's Rob