Colchester, Lydd and Finchley 2012 - all now live

The three big races from the weekend are now live and online. No I don't mean the crowded queues of Bath, and Silverstone but the Colchester Half, Lydd Half and the Finchley 20.

The new galleries:

Colchester Half Marathon: http://bit.ly/Colchester-Half-2012-official-photos

Lydd Half Marathon: http://bit.ly/Lydd-Half-2012-Official-Photos

Finchley 20: http://bit.ly/Finchley-20-2012-official-photos

Links to the race websites for results can be found on the gallery pages above.

The old Galleries - going very soon
02/10/2011	7Oaks Junior Aquathlon 2011
02/10/2011	Wimbledon 10k October 2011
02/10/2011	Reading O2O 10k 2011
02/10/2011	Basingstoke Half 2011
25/09/2011	Tonbridge Half 2011

Next Weekend Races worth a last minute entry:

Saturday 17th March
The Brutal 10 - sold out? - have a quick check you may be lucky - http://www.brutalrun.co.uk/


Sunday 18th March
Worthing 20 - Entries on the day - http://www.worthingharriers.com/worthing-20.php
Spitfire 20 and Tempest 10 at Dunsfold - entries on the day only - http://www.eventstolive.co.uk/
Ashford 10k - Sold out - http://www.nice-work.org.uk/events.php?id=10

Picture round up - short on words but long on images - here's a quick selection from the weekends races...

Flying at FInchley on lap 1 - Ladies winner

Fastest time since 1985? Fab Finchley performance to win

First home boy back for Hillingdon

Through 4 miles for the Lydd Half

Paddock Wood AC on the loose in South Kent

Wonderful countryside at the Lydd 9 mile mark

Still going OK through 9

Starting from the stadium at Cochester - fab permanent facilities for race HQ

Lead Bike through the new town route

First runners down the highstreet

Closed roads and lots of width through town

The wheels had dropped off at 2k

Remember you run faster when your smiling !

Happy finishing well, and the website didn't crash !

Good teamwork around the course

Strong finish after a good half

Dude hangs in at 12 miles for the finish

And Finally - if you want a bit of revenge after all these years - you can go to marathon photos and check out their attempts at catching me completing the Cambridge Half Marathon Last Sunday... Not their best work. Here's one my Dad managed to get with 200 to go to the finish - 1:48:25 chip time apparently, which I'm quite pleased with for my first half.

Feeling the searing pain in the feet at 13miles and squinting to see the finish

Until next time, enjoy the galleries !
Anthony

March 11th - Mick and Phil Half Marathon 2012

Many of you will know that I don't usually do a mid week blog, so apologies for that - I don't intend to keep you too long. Please have a quick read through I've tried to keep it brief. Thank you in advance.

What? and When?

 

This weekend is the second - (tri-annual it would seem) running of the

 Mick and Phil Half Marathon at Draycote water.

 Sunday March 11th 10am, 2012.

The brief message is - get there on sunday if you can - the weather will be perfect and they are still taking entries on the day. Tell Tess I sent you. 10am Race start, Sunday the 11th of March.
 

Race details on runners world are here:

http://bit.ly/Mick-and-Phil-2012-runners-world-race-info

 

Where ?

Aim for the sailing club on here: http://g.co/maps/4aqzx

It's pretty much in the middle of the country, off the M1 near the Watford Gap services, so lots of you could make it there in good time with the usual sunday early race start !

Why ?

The official race page is here:

http://bit.ly/Mick-and-Phil-Half-2012-entry

Some of you may well have heard of Mick and his Son Phil, and I won't put all the details here, but to quote the website which sums the "Why?" up nicely :

"Phil Curry has Cerebral Palsy and Sodium Valproate Syndrome. Since 2002 his dad, Mick has been pushing around races all over the country. So far they have run 41 marathons together, and over 200 half marathons.
In 2009 they were overwhelmingly voted in as Runner's World Heroes of Running and we organised the first Friends of MicknPhil Half Marathon. It sold out quickly and was voted one of the top ten races of the year by runners."

In 2009 when it was first run, we donated all the profits from photo sales to Mick and Phil - which we thoroughly enjoyed doing and many more people than usual bought their photos knowing that this was the case - which was truly great. 

However we can't be there this time, so I thought the least I can do is to point you in the right direction if you fancy a pre-london half marathon in lovely surroundings for a great cause. treat it as a medium marathon training run if you like- you don't have to race everything to the end !

What was it like last time ?

Here's the blog I wrote about the last one - so lots of photos and I think videos on there for you to enjoy:

http://sussexsportphotography.blogspot.com/2009/03/back-from-micknphil-half-marathon.html

So, here this. I'm not asking you to donate, or get sad, just saying that instead of going for that long training run on sunday on your own, why not go to Draycote Water, enter a very friendly well run race, and by just doing your thing, donate to a fellow runner who could do with a bit of help and have a nice time too.

Please enter if you can - entries on the day, only £18 for unaffiliated - but take £1 for the parking.

Normal blog service will resume shortly - probably on Monday once I have some races to talk about, and once I've recovered from running my first half marathon at Cambridge (yes you will be able to go on marathon photos and laugh at me suffering for a change, or laugh at the quality of the pictures, or indeed both as I contemplate having just turned 42 and wondering why I need any new challenges in my life), and the team have worked through the photos from Lydd, Finchley 20, and the very popular Colchester half (now in it's second year).

Thank you for your attention, I hope even if a few of you are alerted to the M&P Half and can get along there this blog has made a small difference because you'll have a great time ! 

Apologies and Sorry again for the change in blog routine time and space, I promise it won't happen again (well this month anyway).

Enter here:  via the official race page, or on the day:

http://bit.ly/Mick-and-Phil-Half-2012-entry

Until next time

Anthony

p.s. remember - you run faster when you smile. fact. question is - can I ?

The Steyning Stinger 2012 - free downloads

The Steyning Stinger gallery is now live and online here, with free downloads of over 15,700 images:
http://bit.ly/Steyning-Stinger-2012-official-photos

Just use your race number to find your images, however if for many sensible reasons we couldn't see your race number then you will need to search on 000 instead and have a browse through.

If you survived this - then races to enter coming up that still have space:

Colchester Half marathon - March 11th: http://bit.ly/Colchester-half-marathon-2012
Worthing 20 - March 18th: http://bit.ly/Worthing-20-2012-race-entry
Spitfire 20 - March 18th: http://bit.ly/Spitfire-20-2012-entry




The 10th Steyning Stinger took place on Sunday the 4th of March 2012, in some of the toughest conditions it's been held in. Over the years we have seen snow and rain, but this years combination of cold, wet and wind were particularly challenging conditions.

With at least three of them out there it was a race directors bus trip, here's Graeme

 The half marathon route is here http://g.co/maps/4ae9d and the possible spots for taking photos, in the end we stayed low to keep under and out of the clouds.

To start with the rain and wind was persistant and from the south west, constantly blowing over the downs. Sat at the 5 mile mark for two hours from 8am the weather turned a bit more blustery and slightly heavier weather at 10am.

Debs chose wisely to go for the half instead

Off road humour

With things closing in a bit it was time to get to the finish for the 1:30 half marathon runners finish, so a mile walk back down to the car and then back to the finish, park up in the mud, get stuck in the big puddle, wizz the wheels about a bit and reverse up to the finish without running any of the early starters over to get all set up to sit under the cover of the boot.

Meanwhile - out on the course... it was raining

early surrender wasn't on the cards for Darren

team work up the hills

remember - you go faster when you smile

In 10 years - our first race pictures of Mick Dicker !!

The hills were alive with the sound of music

James Walker of Steyning AC #373 came home in 1:28:22 - for the Half Marathon which in the conditions was ridiculous, but he did make it back in before it turned nastier.
Paul Bennett of Wessex Road Runners #149 completed the marathon in 3:22:44 - which is equally ridiculous given the rain and wind and the Stings.

victory at the end

At approximately 1:30pm everything changed. First - for a moment the cloud cleared from the top of the downs, and then about 5 minutes later - the wind changed about 90 degrees to come from the north north west, the temperature dropped by about 5 degrees to 4degC and the the rain came in horizontally - straight down my camera lens.

peforming the old Dawn French puddle test

Then the tent at the finish started to take off, some of the runners started to come in near hypothermic and it all got a bit serious. St. Johns came up and with the car turned around to keep the rain out and the engine on tickover to warm up, a few took refuge in the passenger seat to warm up until the medics arrived in their 4x4. I met up with them later and am pleased to report the ones I saw all turned out ok.

The finish line team watched on diligently

The commitment shown by the team at the finish to take down results and maintain safe levels for the competitors was admiral and they stuck it out in the conditions - holding the tent down for several hours. Quite how the marshals on the top of the downs were coping I don't know, with my four leg layers (two of which were gortex waterproofs) and 6 layers of technical fabric + gortex top and military spec boots I was soaked through to the skin by 3:30 and close of play. 5.5 hrs of driving rain will get through eventually I guess.

safe descent through the woods

The other photographers coped well in the conditions, Tristan chopped in at 1pm as he had an appointment at 2pm but was looking a bit drowned even in his special outdoor kit - perhaps a harsh welcome for him to the world of running photography ? Sally cheated by wearing her full military spec kit and then hid in the woods for the second bit when things went bad - which actually made things so much easier, avoiding the gales, heavy rain, but also quite a lot of the available light too.

Quite what his other half was thinking, I don't know

So I hope you enjoy the free download gallery, http://bit.ly/Steyning-Stinger-2012-official-photos and remember to post, share and link to them on facebook, twitter or any other method that takes your fancy to show people how insane and also how well you did in the conditions on Sunday.

Very well done to everyone involved whatever you did on Sunday, it was tough going.

Races to enter coming up that still have space:

Colchester Half marathon - March 11th: http://bit.ly/Colchester-half-marathon-2012
Worthing 20 - March 18th: http://bit.ly/Worthing-20-2012-race-entry
Spitfire 20 - March 18th: http://bit.ly/Spitfire-20-2012-entry


Don't forget to get your Maidenhead half marathon photos and Pilgrim marathon soon...

Soon to be archived
18/09/2011	Pilgrims Half and Full Marathon 2011	18163 files
11/09/2011	Bacchus Full and Half Marathon 2011	Gone
11/09/2011	Chestnut Tree House 10k 2011	Gone
04/09/2011	Newbury Tri 2011	Gone
04/09/2011	Maidenhead Half 2011	Going 20355 files

right, fourth night on the trot to bed at 2am to get these deadlines done. I'm off to bed.
until next time, see you out there soon, or at the Cambridge half if my calf holds out.

Anthony

Runners Need G3 Race 3 2012

 

The Runners Need G3 gallery is now on line and ready for free downloads here:
http://bit.ly/Runners-need-G3-race-3-photos

Full race results can be found here: http://www.allabouttriathlons.co.uk/files/results/file125_1.pdf

Search the gallery with the race number shown in the results - i.e. 24 not 1024.

Remember it is a free download gallery, so while I've turned off the right click copy defences on the gallery - you will get a better resolution image by just clicking on the download button - which is free.
If you want a better resolution image, or top quality print - then it's orders as normal, thank you !

With a weather forecast on the Saturday of rain later and driving to Newlands corner in what can best be described as foggy mist and low dark cloud - it wasn't looking like the ideal race photo conditions we have come to expect from Toby and the AAT team. I'm usually whinging about low sun directly into the lens, but at least there is a view from the top of the hill.
Things however did brighten up when I had just parked at the foot of St.Marthas hill to a phone call from by brother who had somehow entered the race and was waiting at the start:
Brother Tom: "I'm not so sure about this there are some really fit people standing about here and waiting"
Me: "yes Tom, you've probably got one or two off road national champions standing about there too"
Tom: "Whaaat !! oh   f*&%%^$^ "
Me:"hahahaha enjoy and I'll see you in a bit on the way up St.Marthas"

The two of us split up from the car park - Sally went to about the 1.5k, I went to the 2k on the hill and planned our second places accordingly. And then it was just a simple case of waiting for the pack... a selection of photos below.

Return of the prodigal son, also known as Tom

Others were more industrious in their approach to the first hill

Alex attacked the slopes with gusto

New kit on top - remotely triggered camera (just like they do at the Olympics) to get a wideangle view simultaneously

Wideangle view from the remote - St. Marthas in the background

Double thumbs up for the descent at 6k

the number reveal

no press please, I'm upside-down number

And then the heavens opened and the universal question of WHY ?

Remember - you run faster when you smile

To be honest, Tom did better than I expected so quite impressed with him for that at 55th place. He can laugh at my attempt at the Cambridge half marathon on sunday if my recently acquired calf injury allows me to actually run it rather than back sweep it.

Next up is the Steyning Stinger gallery, which was cold, wet, windy and frankly, wild.

and yes - the Purple Patch Maidenhead Half Marathon gallery is going to be archived next so don't delay if you want your last chance to get pictures from it. Seriously.

until the next one,
Anthony

Roding Valley Half 2012 and F3 Events #2 now live

Roding Valley Half Marathon 2012 - setting off into the sunlight

The Roding Valley Half marathon photos are now live here:
 http://bit.ly/Roding-Valley-Half-2012-Official-Photos

The F3 10k and 5k gallery is live and online here:
http://bit.ly/F3-Events-10k-2-2012-race-photos


The F3 Duathlon is live and online here:
http://bit.ly/F3-Winter-Duathlon-2-2012-race-photos




Races to enter coming up that still have space:


Colchester Half marathon - March 11th: http://bit.ly/Colchester-half-marathon-2012
Finchley 20 - March 11th: http://bit.ly/Finchley-20-race-entry (entries close on march 3rd)
Worthing 20 - March 18th: http://bit.ly/Worthing-20-2012-race-entry
Spitfire 20 - March 18th: http://bit.ly/Spitfire-20-2012-entry






Roding Valley
On the sunniest day of the year so far (well according to my almost sun burnt face) the Roding Valley Half Marathon and the F3 Events Duathlon and 10k race series took place.

All go at the start for Roding Valley

Roding Valley Half Marathon is a very popular race based at Woodford Green athletics track made up of one small starting loop and then two larger laps around the Roding Valley. 910 hardy souls took up the challenge this year, which in the sun was arguably slightly easier than the torrential rain of a few years ago.

Full results can be found here: http://uk.trumin.com/online/result.ctrl?cmd=result&event=893653105
The winner in a time of 1:12:25 was John Franklin (#1009) from the Met Police, who was almost a minute ahead of Mo Ismail of Herne Hill Harrieres (#1151) . First lady was Isobel Rea of West 4 Harriers (#397) in 1:24:45 and 29th overall, over 2 minutes ahead of Claire Shea-Simmonds from Leicester Tri Club (#174)

Congratulations to Dave Hollingworth and the team on another great race !

John Franklin plodded round to win the Half for the Met Police in  1:12:25

Isobel Rae flew round to a strong finish and first Lady in 1:24:45

The pavements are quite wide giving plenty of space for racing

With his legs going at the finish his daughter kept him on track to the finish

Meanwhile on the other side of London and out a bit at Dorney Lake near Eaton the


F3 Events Duathlon and 10k Race series was taking place with race number #2 taking off.

With a full set of racking as well as the students from Cambridge & Oxford lined up in the sun up for the F3 Events Maxifuel duathlons it was going to be a competitive days racing.
The sun was out at a balmy 3.5degC when it started (according to the car) but it soon warmed up - especially if you were on the run. The three distances of Super Sprint, Sprint and Olympic Distances all set off at the same time and then go through transition after the correct number of laps.

Whilst the sun is good from some angles - it's never the best for photographers when it's the background. We go blind and we have to mess with things like manual settings on the camera so we can see faces in the images instead of silhouettes. Usually however from the other angles we can make sunny happy photos - so when the finish line is directly into the sun , we only really have one choice of where to point the camera - and that's the other way round.
Also with the multi-laps we can often take many more photos of people that usual - and whilst we do our best to read hands, and helmet stickers - if we can't see your number then you're in for a 000 search to go through all the ones we can't identify. Unfortunatley for anyone using a tri belt - that would most likely be you.

It was tight racing through the morning, with clearly some chaps out on solid wheels making a real go with the perfect calm conditions on the flat course, whilst others were getting into the racing groove and testing new bike set ups (like one with an aero water bottle mounted sideways with rubber bands).

A brief rundown of the results - which can be found on http://www.stuweb.co.uk
Super Sprint: Mens - Andy Croft (#294) in 47:45, Womens - Katy Shrimpton (#309) 55:54
Sprint: Mens - Hugh Mackenzie (#156) in 1:03:54, Womens - Gillian Sanders (#263) 1:06:59
Oly Standard: Mens - Richard Winchester (#59) in 1:56:56, Womens - Clemence Copie (#47) 2:13:56
Varsity Duathlon Champs: Mens - Alexander Young (#184) 1:04:01, Womens - Sophia Saller (#26) 1:10:58 (Oxford). It looks like Oxford won the team champs too.

Rodger Spencer won the V40 Sprint Duo in 1:09:45

The sun was pretty strong

Remember - you run faster if you're smiling

The face says it all. Ride as fast as you can, and then some !

Remember - you ride faster if youre smiling

A bit of remote off-camera fill in flash and voila

Surrendering at the end of the Olympic distance

 The 10k and 5k runs went off again with a full race with 54 in the 5k and 130 in the 10k. All the results can be found on http://www.stuweb.co.uk
Two items of note - the 10k was won in 38:31 by Issy Menzies - who of course was also first female, and in the 5k - second place went to #501 Alexander in 22:15 in the M13-14 age group.
These races are really filling the space for those new to the sport or getting into running for the first time with dorney lake providing a safe and flat course - meaning some good benchmarks can be put down to see how well your training is going.

Very well done to Martyn and the F3 Events team - they coped admirably with the strong sunshine and tricky weather conditions !

Off from the start - that's the lake in the background

No surrender

Plenty of people out training together over the distances

Remember - you run faster if you smile

This chap is 11. He did 43:35 for 10k. I am jealous.

In other news:
The left calf muscle exploded on a run on friday - went off too fast and didn't warm up properly so my own fault. A weekend of excersise rest and then a 1:30 cycle this morning instead. Fingers crossed it will be ok for a short gentle run on Friday, the plan is to keep the cardio going somehow and not injure the calf before the Cambridge Half on the 11th of March. Any time will be a PB for me. So as long as I can walk faster than a 3hr time I'm up for it as it will be a trip round my old home town, and raising some money for The BHF


keep running and remember - you run faster if you smile.

until next time,
Anthony

p.s. definetly being archived any second now - so don't forget to get your memories now !

Soon to be archived
18/09/2011	Pilgrims Half and Full Marathon 2011	18163 files
11/09/2011	Bacchus Full and Half Marathon 2011	7881 files
11/09/2011	Chestnut Tree House 10k 2011	12896 files
04/09/2011	Newbury Tri 2011	4290 files
04/09/2011	Maidenhead Half 2011	20355 files