Friday, 2 May 2025

The REP Angmering Bluebell 10k 2025

 

The 2025 Bluebell Run was raising money for KSS Air Ambulance


The full gallery from last sunday is of course live and online - have a check of the table below, and have a look at any you might have missed recently too


So here's a little table of past and future gallerys for you to use, and I'm sure if you wanted to you can find the event website you're looking for

Date Event Gallery
Sun-23/03/2025 Brentwood Half https://gallerylink.info/Brentwood-Half-2025
Sat-05/04/2025 Cowdray Estate Spring Run https://gallerylink.info/REP-Cowdray-Spring-Run-2025
Sun-06/04/2025 Southampton Marathon https://gallerylink.info/Southampton-Races-2025
Sun-13/04/2025 Findon Grand National 10k https://gallerylink.info/REP-Findon-Grand-National-2025
Sun-27/04/2025 REP Bluebell https://gallerylink.info/REP-Bluebell-2025
Future Events    
Sun-04/05/2025 3Forts https://gallerylink.info/Three-Forts-Challenge-2025
Sun-18/05/2025 REP Arundel Tri https://gallerylink.info/REP-Arundel-Tri-2025
Sun-18/05/2025 7Oaks Tri https://gallerylink.info/7Oaks-Tri-2025
Sun-15/06/2025 Mid Sussex Tri https://gallerylink.info/Mid-Sussex-Tri-2025
Sun-15/06/2025 Hampshire Hoppit https://gallerylink.info/Hampshire-Hoppit-2025
Sat-21/06/2025 REP Arun Swim https://gallerylink.info/REP-Arun-Swim-2025
Fri-27/06/2025 Cowdray Estate Summer Run https://gallerylink.info/REP-Cowdray-Summer-Run-2025


It was the first of the hotter days on Sunday, so we were expecting a slightly slower times across all the runners - although we were pleasantly surprised by the outstanding time from the 10Mile winner - Liam Brisco in an outstanding time of 56:31
Full results here:

frankly anyone running 10 miles under the hour needs a big medal, so 56 minutes is amazing pace especially with those hills.

A total of 656 human participants and 21 Canine warriors took to the course this year - and it's always a popular race.

busy start on the first turn for the 10miler and some club rivalry


It was pretty busy - just as well we stopped the cars !

At about 4k you get through the bluebell woods - they are there ! 

got to avoid the stinging nettles somehow

double double thumbs means happy running


perfect conditions for a run out

Take the dog for a walk they said

off o the 10 mile north loop



back up the long hill with the views

survived it !

That last hill !!

hanging tough almost to the top

no surrender !!!

Relief into the finish

hello everyone !



catching up with mum and baby

The surprise and joy of finishing



YES !

if it's on the side of your leg and even the timekeeper can't read it - then you might want to think about putting your number somewhere else. like the bottom of your tshirt ?



Ah, the calm at the end of it all



All respect to the KSS Air Ambulance and the medical teams on Sunday 


Well done to everyone who took part and completed the course - all the entries help raise funds for the https://aakss.org.uk/ Air Ambulance - who were called to the event on the day to help, The air doctor took over once he arrived, but they left by normal ambulance.

If you're wondering, the last I heard on sunday was the participant made it to Worthing Hospital for further care. Even with 21 years of covering events, and as you might expect after several hundred thousands of runners have passed my camera lens we have seen or been near many many serious medical situations - but this was the first time I've personally had to be the first responder. It was a bit of a surprise, but I hope I did enough to the point when the medics were gathered enough and I then returned to taking photos. 5 minutes overall for me, but an important 5 minutes none the less. 

[Edit update - last heard that he was sat up and responsive on wednesday - still rooting for him!]

Which brings me onto the importance of learning the basics of first aid - which I first learned at Scouts back in 1981 and had some further courses as I got older through school and work. It's the first time I've had to use that much of it - but I do urge you - especially as I do have heart problems - Know your CPR and also know where the nearest defibrillator is - both at home (in your village? / town) and when at events or down the training track (we have one at the end of the 100m straight at Withdean in brighton).

I had a neighbour who ran a company specifically about First Aid Training etc - so here you go https://tigerlilytraining.co.uk/  no excuses. If your company hasn't tried to train you, then ask them why not ?

So on that slightly more serious note than usual - I hope to see many of you at the newly located 3 Forts Challenge - which says it is sold out ! which is excellent news - for the Half, Full and 5Mile routes, it will be chilly but bright and windy - so be prepared !

Until next time

Anthony

Friday, 25 April 2025

Southampton Marathon Festival 2025, Cowdray Spring Run the seasons, and the REP Findon 10k all live

 

All go at the start of the Southampton Half and Full Marathon 2025 (this angle doesn't do it justice to be honest)

Apologies, I ought to have posted about the galleries being ready sooner, but I know you all got emails and the traffic was phenomenal so I hoped you would all have a good idea where to go. If you're in any doubt - have a look through this page on our gallery and have a catchup on all the April action !

https://gallerylink.info/April-2025-events


Yes they do a canicross too at REP events

This weekend coming we have the REP Angmering bluebell 10k, which goes along private estate and woods that you don't usually get access to - which makes it all the more special, plus it finishes at a pub... what more do you want ?   https://rawenergypursuits.co.uk/bluebell-trail-run-angmering-2025/ (Sorry it's sold out)

Also this weekend is the official run one of those "proper marathons" that the well initiated call them - and we get into the battle of Manchester versus London. Or more accurately the clash of the event organisers - The London Marathon Events https://www.londonmarathonevents.co.uk/- versus ASO (aka The company that owns the Tour De France, who bought Human Race Events, and then funded buying out a load of big events) https://www.aso.fr/en/ . I had someone from ASO nosing around on my linkedin the other day - always interesting.

I still challenge the Manchester marathons claim to being the flattest - because the Abingdon Marathon is by far a much flatter course...apart from the pedestrian underpass. Apparently having a partial two lap loop even if it is on closed roads makes the whole claim invalid apparently according to some, to which I say I think the Elevation measurements are what count. Although these days the Manc course is slightly different - and wikipedia says different. 

Either way - neither of  "the" marathon events have free photos - so they will have the joys of paying for sportograph's logo on their photos in Manchester or who knows what at London - because I can't find anything on the London Marathon website about race photos... They used AWOL for their Brighton Marathon efforts recently, but sportograph have tried to do the job themselves too. Frankly - yes it's a lot of money however it's done - but the sheer volume of data management isn't funny, let alone the scale of the job. It took one of my friends 3 hours before they managed to copy his data cards after the end of the event one year - that's not good photographer management...

Somewhat amusingly I listened to an industry podcast with the UK head of ASO as the guest, and all they went on about putting on events was the importance of imagery and look and creating memories from these moments, and having a great backdrop to put the events on against. It was like asking someone to describe what a photograph is without using the word photograph. And yet this is all I hear event organisers aspiring to achieve but for some reason they haven't figured out what they're describing is a photograph. Le Sigh.

Anyway best avoid all the "THE" marathon hype and I hope you enjoy yourselves if you're doing it.

Proper trail running marathon with hills and friends

And if you've missed that or fancy something the week after that on the 4th May - then get your socks on and enter the 3 Forts Challenge - a 5mile, half marathon or marathon+ are on offer here - because sunday is the very last chance to enter : https://gallerylink.info/3Forts-challenge

It is a beautiful course, and really gives you some of the best views around the south downs between Hove and Worthing and the Adur valley if you're doing the Full route, and the half route ain't half bad either ! Don't forget this year it's all changed to Lancing Leisure centre too https://w3w.co/look.brick.adverbs - so it's going to be a different hill profile sequence and is going to make a bit of a difference to the times people bring in.


Anyway, enough of the event sales pitches - have a look at these silly selection of images and have a wonderful weekend, and enjoy the sunny weather next week, and don't get dehydrated in the warmer weather either. 

And here's a top tip - grab those chemical ice packs (small plastic bags) that you have to snap and shake and then they go cold - when you get hot and bothered - carry one in each hand and use them to cool your palms - which will lead to major core body temperature cooling - which is what you want !! cheatcode - unlocked ! (this is the sort of thing I mean: https://amzn.to/3Yh9I5f )


Anyway here's some Southampton marathon festival photos for you - it's tenth time - and what a time it was !


Spiderman got up early in his PJ's

Running Scared ? The unicorn was causing all sorts of problems..

postbox delivered safely to the finish

you will be assimilated

YES ! 


"I'm running how slowly !?!?"

The inflatable cow. He's not running to Burger King for a milkshake...

Yeah, sure thing, Step right up. By all means. Be our guest. Hope you got your nice shot of the back of their head too. Awesome. Good job. Now, if you don't mind....bit busy.

Freedom ! from the oppression of hydration vests !!

Gothic fur running, carrying a bunny. Not seen that before.

Carrot not stick approach for motivating Nick

James almost finished it


Swift Fade and UTurn to the family. PB out of the window then...

This does explain the faster runners earlier

He knew the crisps were waiting for him later, that's why he's so happy

Fetchie Friends always get a shout out ! Go Yas !!

Liz approved



Just the one shot from the Cowdray Run the Seasons Spring run. Because.

Must be the hayfever season then?


So see you all at Bluebell 10k in Angmering, and after that at the 3Forts challenge, so keep yourself safe and enjoy the weather, keep cool and hydrated...


Until next time

Anthony