F3 Events 2012 - 10k and Duathlon now live

With a quick 9 man-hours of office time yesterday evening to go through everything - the Galleries for the F3 Events 10k and Duathlon race 1 - 2012 are now live and online here:

10k:
http://bit.ly/F3-Events-10k-1-2012-race-photos
 

Duathlon:
http://bit.ly/F3-Winter-Duathlon-1-2012-race-photos

Windy but warm conditions for January saw the start of the F3 Events Duathlon and 10k series held at Dorney lake near Windsor.

Tight racing including some at Olympic standard gave it everything, including some first timers trying their hand at triathlon without the annoying wet bit.
A full race report is here from the organisers so I won't replicate that !

For our bit we had a new team member out on the course covering the running sections and race, whilst already a professional phtoographer and runner, for Hannah getting on the other side of the lens during a race was a new experience. "I'm exhausted from the amount of concentration whilst watching people run" was my favourite noted comment of the day (and we had only covered the duathlon at that point.)

As I'm not a paparratzi (and never will be) I'm not used to random people purposefully standing in my way and being abusive, but there was a first time for everything during the duathlon cycle - so if I don't have your photo on the bike course it's probably because your father came and stood right in the way in front of me (only 2km of route to stand on and he chose my 1m) and then decided to verbally abuse me. Weird doesn't describe it, but in 25 years of professional photography I guess there is still a first time for everything. I have his photo as he's supporting, but unfortunately out of focus (because he's in the background). I'm tempted to post it here, but that might seem a bit unfair... For what it's worth the race manager wanted to disqualify the competitor who he was supporting - but obvisously as I didn't get their photo (due to their supporter) and I couldn't ID him (not that I would - you can't be responsible for your Dad now can you?)

Anyway for those who didn't have my view blocked I was having a day out with some off camera remote flash. Here's a small sample from the bike course some with and some without flash - it's a tough call between blur and freeze - and sometimes just sometimes lots of blur is good - it's a bit of gamble sometimes, enjoy ! At least I was out of the wind when I was lying on the ground doing some of these. For the technically minded it's about 100th or 125th of a second depending on the amount of blur you want and adjust your ISO depending on how dark you want the background to be.

surely she was cold ?

this chap gave it the face all the way round, and did ok too

Out of the saddle and driving off for the down-wind section

looking ahead carefully

reaching for the banana

Big shoulders. Very Big. Big Deal.

Enjoying the race

If it wasn't for the wheel blur, this could almost be a studio shot with the flash fill

That old standard - the slow shutter panning along piccy

So that's the first of the events under wasy. We're scheduled to be at the 2nd and 4th races in Feb and April because the whole country has decided that the 25th of March is the day for a race - and with 5 other 1000+ people races on that day we get a bit short on resources. If we can get coverage to Dorney lake for the 3rd race we will - but I can't bank on it at the moment (booking photographers is a bit like hearding cats).

Other Events for you to enter:

Apart from the rest of the F3 races here: http://www.f3events.co.uk we would like to draw your attention to these ones:
Half Marathons from Feb - if you're on a spring marathon training plan:
http://bit.ly/Colchester-half-marathon-2012

http://bit.ly/Deal-half-marathon-2012-entry
http://bit.ly/Roding-Valley-Half-2012

And a 10k-ish next week for your training warm up in south london
http://bit.ly/Epsom-Perch-2012-entry

RIgtht, fingers crossed my Calf has de-knotted and I can get back out running, otherwise it's a treadmill ECG in two hours with the cardiologist. Could be interesting in a "that's normal" kind of way hopefully.

Until next time
Anthony

Here's a list of recent galleries you might have forgotten about your pictures - get them before they go !

Date	Recent Events
22/01/2012	now live - F3 Events 10k #1 2012
22/01/2012	now live - F3 Winter Duathlon #1 2012
14/01/2012	now live - G3 January Race 1 - free downloads
08/01/2012	now live - Sussex XC Champs 2012
02/01/2012	now live - Brutal 10 Race 1 2012
01/01/2012	now live - Serpentine NYD 10k
18/12/2011	now live - RPAC Holly Run
11/12/2011	now live - Seaford Mince Pie 10 2011
10/12/2011	now live - Brutal 10 Race 3 2011
27/11/2011	now live - The 3xMolehills 2011
20/11/2011	now live - Brighton 10k 2011
13/11/2011	now live - Grand Union Canal Half 2011
13/11/2011	now live - Poppy Half 2011
13/11/2011	now live - Phoenix Preston Park Races 2011
12/11/2011	now live - Brutal 10 Race 2 2011
06/11/2011	now live - Loseley 10k 2011 - free downloads
30/10/2011	now live - Barns Green Half Marathon 2011
22/10/2011	now live - Beachy Head Marathon 2011
16/10/2011	now live - Abingdon Marathon 2011

Click here for our race finding link page on the blog

G3 January Race 1 - Free Downloads

The January G3 10k race free download gallery is now live and online here:

http://bit.ly/G3-race1-2012-free-race-photos

In the opening event of the years Runners Need G3 race series, organised by allabouttriathlons.co.uk 370 runners braved the sub zero (-2 degC) early morning temperatures with a clear blue sky above whilst fog and mist hung in the valleys.

Starting from Newlands corner and down around the January course, (here on the good running guide) the 10k course takes in the challenge of St.Martha's hill on the sandy hills of the north downs, which once you've done that twice, you still need to get back up to the finish at Newlands Corner from wence you came. It's a bit of a sting in the tail.

The view from the top of St.Martha's Hill

Smiling on the way up for the first time

 Toby the event organiser asked if I could also do some arty blur shots - which for the technically minded of you requires wirelessley triggered off camera flash, external battery pack for fast flash recycle time, and a tripod, camera set at about 1/40th on Shutter priority (some on 1/20th too). There's a high edit out rate, and also the flash doesn't go off (when it's busy, unless you want to blow the flash bulb which costs £250) but there's a couple of hundred in the arty folder here:
http://bit.ly/G3-Race1-2012-blury-action-pics if you fancy a look see.
Naturally due to the blur and angle I can't index all of them - so worth a gander or check through the 000 files as always. Let me know if you find one that needs renumbering - makes it easier for you to find next time...

wizzing through the woods

mind the tree...

one way down the hill in the dark woods

almost looks like a studio shot

yep looks like a studio shoot

power zoom, off camera flash, long shutter speed. the equivalent of photo gambling - sometimes it works and you get a dynamic result

enjoying the view from the top of St.Martha's

Freewheeling down the hill at more than full pace

Rory led the runners out on his bike, cheating as usual

at about the 2k mark in full flow

it obviously wasn't too cold, just sub zero

The view of St.Martha's Hill from Newlands Corner - with mist hanging in the distant valleys

good finishing all the way to the line

pushing in to get the time down

Competitive running to the end

So go to the results here to see how well you all got on - http://www.allabouttriathlons.co.uk/events_g3-run.html and also to make sure you've entered the next race on Saturday February the 4th. See if you can do the Feb course faster than Guy Bowles did this months in 39:44 - which as a sub 40 on that hilly course is frankly awesome...

And as way of an experiment - if you do download your photos - please give the event a "like" (as on the gallery page here http://bit.ly/G3-race1-2012-free-race-photos  ) for the facebook thingy

Have a look at this list below in case you may have missed yourself in any of these recent gallerys - it's a small selection of some of the recent ones, as well as the next ones that are going to get archived.

Next race is the F3 Events Duathlons and 10ks at Dorney lake - hopefully it will be summer by then and a bit warmer !

Until next time,
Anthony

p.s. in other news Comet took their 48hrs, added 4 weeks, and finally agreed that the display docking station may have damaged the wifes phone (which of course it did). The cheque is apparently in the post, thanks to Darren in customer services who chased the technical report and the Hove store manager who didn't quite do everything possible to delay things, so I'm not going to ever shop there again !, just like you ? We await the postman.

Recent races of relevance
14/01/2012	now live - G3 January Race 1 - free downloads
08/01/2012	now live - Sussex XC Champs 2012
02/01/2012	now live - Brutal 10 Race 1 2012
01/01/2012	now live - Serpentine NYD 10k
10/12/2011	now live - Brutal 10 Race 3 2011
12/11/2011	now live - Brutal 10 Race 2 2011
06/11/2011	now live - Loseley 10k 2011 - free downloads
15/10/2011	now live - Brutal 10 Race 1 2011
Next in the archive queue
20/08/2011	now live - Pride Run 2011
20/08/2011	now live - F3 Dorney Triathons 2011
20/08/2011	now live - Big South Swim 2011
14/08/2011	now live - REP Birdman Swim 2011
07/08/2011	now live - Milland Valley 2011
30/07/2011	now live - REP BTF Aquathlon 2011- free downloads

Click here for our race finding link page on the blog

Sussex County XC Champs 2012 now live

The gallery for the 2012 Sussex County XC Champs is now live and online here: http://bit.ly/Sussex-XC-Champs-2012-race-photos

There's an excellent report as ever by Reg on the SCAA website here - http://www.sussexathletics.org.uk/news.php?id=1099

The new route - straight up a hill and then back down - breaks the field nicely

Tight finishing in the U17m - only a second in it for Ian Crowe-Wright

Emma MacReady stalked first place to the final straight and then powered past to win the Sen Women

The Start of the Mens race with the top of the hill in the background

Emma Dixon returns after 4 years off with injury to win the U17 Women

Concentration all the way to take third in the U13Boys

Alex Medlicott Won the U13Girls for Crawley AC

Vince - is always a winner

Grant enjoyed it far too much

The 2012 course - for future reference

The 2012 finish line photographer  - for future reference

Congratulations to Phoenix AC on the mens team victory and a strong recent run of form on the county scene and a very well done to Crawley AC women on taking the womens team title against the form book.

Races to Enter:
 
A quick heads up for a race that has just opened their entries for later in the year, the Colchester Half Marathon:
March the 11th - http://bit.ly/Colchester-half-marathon-2012
Last year was a very well received race - based out of the new football stadium at Colchester - with great facilities for pre and post race needs, this year the race will go down the very scenic high street in the middle of town - so expect some excellent crowds and support en-route if you go.

A bit before that on the 26th of February - is the Roding Valley Half Marathon
http://bit.ly/Roding-Valley-Half-2012
This race has gone from strength to strength each year - based at the Woodford Green AC track it has often been the Essex Half Marathon Championship race. This year is race number 30 - so get in there and make it a good marker for your London / Brighton Marathon Training.

In other news - Comet Hove are now over two weeks past their "48hrs resolution" on the 21st of december when a display docking station burnt my wifes iphone out. Not good enough Comet despite your phone calls to remind us how far behind you are, we won't be going there again, and nor I hope will you.

Park run in Hove is still going strong - attracting 440 runners last saturday (including myself for an ok 22:58 5k), but also of interest to some of  you in Sussex is that there is now a new Park run in Eastbourne
http://www.parkrun.org.uk/eastbourne/home
starting on January the 28th...

Right - the G3 series for this saturday has been sold out, and my sister in law is running in it, so I'd better get a good shot of her hadn't I ?

Until next time, and happy training,
Anthony

Recent Galleries of interest
11/12/2011	now live - Seaford Mince Pie 10 2011
10/12/2011	now live - Brutal 10 Race 3 2011
12/11/2011	now live - Brutal 10 Race 2 2011
15/10/2011	now live - Brutal 10 Race 1 2011
some from August
28/08/2011	now live - Arundel 10k- free downloads
27/08/2011	now live - Hard as Snails - free downloads
Albums below will be ARCHIVED SOON
30/07/2011	now live - REP BTF Aquathlon 2011- free downloads
27/07/2011	now live - Bexhill 5k
24/07/2011	just gone - Down Tow Up Flow Half 2011
24/07/2011	just gone - Downland Running Festival 2011

Click here for our race finding link page on the blog

Stuff to help you
StrideUK
	Want to increase performance and prevent injury ? look better in your pictures and run a bit faster ? Contact Mitch - at StrideUK for video gait analysis and running technique advice, exercise and improvement.

Brutal 10 - 2012 race 1 - now live

The first Brutal Run of 2012 went off to start the new year as they meant to go on - fast, tough and very Brutal.
The gallery is now live here http://bit.ly/Brutal10-2012-race1-official-photos

197 runners set off on a dry, warm January morning to do battle with the countryside of the Longmoor army training area, and then 2k in they found the water hazard... With a tougher gully run after the first water and more sandy hill climbs, this years Brutal Longmoor was certainly harder than last years.

Whether it was New Year challenges and resolution beings fulfilled, or just for the feeling of being alive a hardy band of competitors took to the conditions unlike ducks to water (because they float) and ran through the frost touched route. One of the most notable observations (apart from the ridiculous amount of smiling that was going on) was that the race field was made up of a much more even balance of young and older competitors and male female. Usually races are biased a bit towards the male 30-50yr old veteran but there is clearly something in the gravity of a Brutal run that attracts all-comers.


I had to edit this selection down from 68 images to 18 - just to give you a feel for the amount of fun that can be had whilst running and watching a Brutal 10...

The water was easier this year - lower and no ice

There was still competitive racing to get through the water first

The three amigos - helped each other round all the way

These two kept each other going well through the last day of the holidays

Man Down ! Dez goes for a burton

Let out from london, Alex Reid discovered the real meaning of Brutal

Concentrate at all times

No alligators or crocodiles, just check behind you

It's always good fun wading through mud and water with friends, and stopping to enjoy the moment

Keep your eyes on the goal ahead for 2012

Almost done !

Happy as a hell in the Brutal mud

Double thumbs after taking the harder Tunnel option

Incoming splash at the camera lens - nothing like being close to the action, except the smell

Off up the gully

Nobody got stuck, if you were hard enough to take the tunnel option

A quick run across the sand dunes and home

He realised he had forgotten to enter the next Brutal run - but all was not lost - it's on March the 17th, but hurry up - there are limited places

Well done to Alan, Colin and Dave for another great Brutal run, safe, challenging and hard work for all the competitors, as well as great marshalling (from probably the most offroad-race experienced marshals you will ever meet) and probably the most thoroughly marked out course you will ever come across. Only one person pulled off the course yesterday - his first run in four years and after the first water hazard he became a justified recepient of the "silver cloak of warmth" I hope he's warmed up by now !

Next Races
So, you have two months to get fit and fearless for the next Brutal Run at windmill hill. Between then and now its the county and national cross county championships, as well as the Epsom Perch, The G3, and the Deal Half Marathon all of which will get you into good shape, hill ready and up for a race.

Right, I'm off for a quickish 5k, lunch and then hopefully - order processing. Remember we correct and photoshop every image ordered (except the instant downloads), so be assured that mud will show up beautifully !

Until next time
Anthony

Click here to find your next race 

Recent races of interest - because forgetting is not an option
11/12/2011	now live - Seaford Mince Pie 10 2011
10/12/2011	now live - Brutal 10 Race 3 2011
12/11/2011	now live - Brutal 10 Race 2 2011
15/10/2011	now live - Brutal 10 Race 1 2011
Some to go soon from August
28/08/2011	now live - Arundel 10k- free downloads
27/08/2011	now live - Hard as Snails - free downloads
The Albums below will be ARCHIVED SOON!
30/07/2011	now live - REP BTF Aquathlon 2011- free downloads
27/07/2011	now live - Bexhill 5k
24/07/2011	now live - Down Tow Up Flow Half 2011
24/07/2011	just gone - Downland Running Festival 2011