Saturday 30 April 2011

The Royal 5k is now live online



The Race Gallery from the Royal 5k and fun runs held in Bexhill is now live and on line here:
http://gallery.sussexsportphotography.com/a.tlx?k=c0szgo6


Full results and race information can be found here:
http://www.royal5k.co.uk/

Timeless

Start of the Junior 500m Fun Run

Start of the Royal 5k

Josh Varney crowned Prince for a Day in 16:19

Hold on to the veil

V for victory

The Duchess of Cambridge

The Duke of Cambridge
I hope you all had as good a time as I did, everyone was in excellent spirits on the morning with some great fancy dress outfits, notably the bride and groom in the 500m Fun Run. Perfect weather in Bexhill for running fast times and a steady 16:19 from Josh saw him home in first place to pick up his crown.

Well done to Paul and Greg for another well organised event, the first since the very successful Sussex Marathon. Looking forwards to their next events, the Bexhill 5k series might be one to watch later in May http://www.bexhillrunners.co.uk/events/3_pigs_5k.php

That's all the races from April now done - 12 in the month. May has 19 lined up so it's going to be crazy busy here - that's what you get for 5 weekends in the month.
The Steyning Triathlon, Three Forts Marathon and the YMCA Fun Runs on Sunday, and then The Watford 10k on Monday - so it's all go here - I might have a small lie down and rest on Saturday if I get the chance.

Until next time, enjoy the cooler temperatures for your training,
Anthony

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Tuesday 26 April 2011

Lewes 10k and Fun Runs - now live


The Lewes 10k and Fun Runs Gallery is now live and online here

http://gallery.sussexsportphotography.com/a.tlx?k=4h7zgo5

Race website and information here: 
http://www.lewesac.co.uk/easterfunrun.php
 
In what is one of the most social gatherings of the years racing calendar the Lewes10k, 2mile and 800m Fun Run. It's always a great occasion for the family being during the school holidays, at the end of the Easter Break so everyone is fully fueled on chocolate and charged on adrenaline from a weekend with the extended family and ready for a run.

First up is the 800m two laps of the track toddler trot. With children from as young as 2 up to about 8 taking part it's always a great bit of controlled chaos. With a power to weight ratio near to infinity a lot of the kids spend more time in the air than touching the ground.
Controlled chaos at the start of the 800m

This was the third time Jessica has started the 800m, the first time unassisted, but alas her cough took its toll and she only covered 400m this time. I know many older runners who would have battled on despite injury, so it's good to know that she's in touch with how she feels.

Lead from the start and burn up the course

Keep on your toes if you don't want to get chased down at the finish
The Junior 2 mile race was also well attended this year - the winner lead from the gun to be a clear winner back in the park - leading to a clean sweep for Lewes AC for the girls and the boys categories.

The main 10k race was as full as it gets at the start line area with the usual suspects of Robbie James and James Baker lining up on the front row.
 As someone who has been fit, and is now struggling to return to anything like that fitness, it's always a bit offputting to see these guys charging round the track at the start holding a conversation along the front row. Hats off to them for being able to do it !

It's always good to see some friends at these events, the Carter Family, Maureen, Roger, Mike, a zillion of you whos names I can't remember but your familiar faces and kind waves make the day worth working.
Make the 10k more of a challenge - carry a small child round the course

Bonjour my friendly Cornishwoman

Other Races
As a quick note to everyone I've just archived Beach Head Marathon, and next up is the Brighton 10k from november. I can only hold 350,000 images online in the gallery so I have to make space for new events - and as 98% of orders are completed in three months then the 6 months since Novemeber should be plenty of time for most people.  Just don't be the 1% who miss out and then have to pay the higher price for orders from the archived retrieved gallery.

May's planning is almost complete - 17 events from the 1st to the 29th - compare that with August and only 5 races then I'd best keep busy.

The next race we're at is the Friday fun fancy dress Royal 5k along the high street and roads of Bexhill - it's going to be a great race with spare fingers crossed for the weather - it's not looking good at the moment for Willliam and Kate in london.  Entries are still on so get over there for a great way to start the next long weekend, even if you've not got any fancy dress.

Enjoy the training with the weather chilling down a tad which should make things a bit nicer

until next time
Anthony



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Saturday 23 April 2011

Folkestone 10 - now live

The gallery from today's Folkestone 10 is now live and online here for viewing and ordering:
http://gallery.sussexsportphotography.com/a.tlx?k=3ktzgi6

Race results and the event website are here:http://www.folkestonerunningclub.co.uk/folkestone-10-mile.php

Taking a road trip on a Bank Holiday Friday down past the Ashford Channel Tunnel crossing and also going towards Dover and the Ferries, the only thing that went through my head was - please - no french ferry strikes.
I usually leave on time to get to an event with about an hour to go before it starts - this is for two reasons - 1. Parking and 2. Checking in with the Race Director. and also possibly (as happened once before on the M25) 3. Motorway closures (air ambulance meant I was trapped on the way to Winchester for 30 minutes).

Arriving with 50 minutes to go, the plan worked out as Sally to cover the start and finish, and I'd drive out to the course turn point at Folkestone. A quick check in with the Race Director John, was a good idea - a course change meant it didn't go over the bridge in the gardens but along the seafront. So I planned to put myself just here, on a spot where it opened out enough to give plenty of passing place on both sides, and a nice background of the harbour.

A quick whizz round the car park with our new fliers, a brief and cheery hello to a lot of familiar and new faces (hello Maidstone, Burgess Hill, Stragglers, Deal, Paddock Wood to name but a few), and then with 10 minutes to go I hot footed it off in the car to the nearest Parking out on the course for the turn.

The Activ Bike Marshals were ready at the head of the pack to help clear the way.
Videoing the whole run - he will still need a good picture of himself - our raison d'etre

So drove out down the route past a frequent line of marshals along the seafront to the 5 mile mark and the turn point. Managed to find a parking spot and after a small battle with the parking machine, hot footed it to the location.
Had a cheery hello to a few marshals on the way walking along the seafront prom, found the spot, turned around and hey presto - saw the leader homing in, so grabbed a few, messed about with the exposure settings and tried to get the seat set up and ready for them after the turning point.

 You can see from the two pictures below the challenge of 180 degree different direction of shot - one is dark background sun from the left, and the other is mildly into the sun, very bright concrete and bright sky background. If that's not a recipe for a silhouette disaster if you get it wrong - I don't know what is ! (the camera will make it dark automatically if you don't make any adjustments or run on manual - which is what I did). I had to do that err, professional thing to get them right instead.
Leader approaching from the West (no background)
Leader approaching from the West - Harbour and beach in the background
And at that point it's head down, try not to get sunburnt (long sleeves and silly floppy hat) and concentrate on the job at hand. - here's some winners from that location:
Looking strong at the 5.5 mile point - a nice day to be by the sea

If you were wondering where Sport Systems were today - they were out for a run !

Happy Running - is the best type !

How to put your friend off their stride - reach around

Good to keep the water going

Big thumbs up - great running

Linda kept cool

Activ Bike mashals did several laps around the course
So, after the last bike sweeper came past, it was back to the finish for a few more shots to support the rush - which would have been sooner except for the 5 minute delay due to the slowest road-work traffic lights in the universe. arrrgh. No worries - still made it back with some time to go.

Great finishing

Correct crowd appreciation wave

suitably exhausted pose afterwards

Strong finish at the last

A masterclass in commentary - lay out the numbers and the names will be easy to find quickly
So there we have it - a great race put on by the organisers, marshals, rotary club volunteers, massage team, timekeepers and of course the runners.


The gallery from todays Folkestone 10 is now live and online here for viewing and ordering:
http://gallery.sussexsportphotography.com/a.tlx?k=3ktzgi6


Next race up is the Lewes 10k on Bank Holiday Monday - where the 3yr old is going to do the 800m kids run. Here's hoping it all goes smoothly !



Until next time, train well, enjoy the long weekend, keep hydrated and sun-blocked and enjoy the weather !


Anthony



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Tuesday 19 April 2011

Bolt round the Holt, Dipper and REP Bluebell now live

It's a bit of a linktastic blog here tonight. Three events from the weekend are now online and ready for you from the weekend. A bit of a mix with an offroad event, a woodland run and an all day Cycling Sportive.

So - links to the galleries in race order:

Bolt Race Gallery link is: http://gallery.sussexsportphotography.com/a.tlx?k=2n5zgmx

REP Bluebell Gallery link: http://gallery.sussexsportphotography.com/a.tlx?k=3uuzgmy
remember - these are Free downloads - so fill-yer-boots !



The F3 Events Chilterns Dipper Cycle Sportive, Gallery link: http://gallery.sussexsportphotography.com/a.tlx?k=291zgmw


Suffice to say it's been a busy weekend, with more than 370 miles driven to get to events, and the price of diesel now well over £1.40 from the cheapest (that's £6.36 per gallon for those of you who remember £1 per gallon). I managed to eek out about 47mpg so by my maths that was over £50 spent on fuel alone. Phew !

I'm not saying I'm suffering a bit from tiredness, but on Saturday I drove past the A3 junction by mistake and used the M3 junction instead. That was plain silly, as everything said I should have gone down the A3. It only added 3 minutes to the journey, but I did feel a bit stupid.

The Bolt round the Holt as ever was well attended with about 770 individual finishers. A quick look at the indexing data that we have and we have 774 unique catalogued numbers to search by - so I'm guessing that we have everyone. The next bit of analysis on the spreadsheet can wait, but I'm quite pleased with that given how busy the race is during it's peak time. It would be quite easy to miss people in the mix.

It was however perfect conditions for running, as the lead runner pointed out with his winning gap of 2min40s in the 21km/half marathon time of 1:16:20 Not bad on dusty track surfaces.

positive encouragement

on the last lap - reasons to celebrate

Family help on the 10k finish

focus at the finish

So saturday was the small matter of about 12,000 images to work through which ended up at about 10,500 once we had sorted through them. Then it was up and out on Sunday, either to the Raw Energy Pursuits Angmering Bluebell Trail Run, which is about 10k - with a mahoosive hill at the finish just to sort you out if you took it too slowly whilst looking at the views, OR it was off to the Chilterns Dipper Sportive organised by F3 events.

Starting the year off with Raw Energy Pursuits in the way they mean to go on, all the photos from this race are available on free download - so get in and fill your boots. The bluebells were out and the sun shone nicely to make a nice dappled sunlight in the shade.

Nice running through the Bluebell woods of the Angmering estate
 
clearly the Nightgarden is based on this view

That last tough hill up to the pub at the finish


The F3 Chilterns Dipper started off at 7:45, so it was up and out at an early 6am to make it the 100 or so miles through Henley to the finer countryside north of Reading.

Down through a fast right hander

clear blue skies and open roads

At the top of one climb where the Ridgeway crosses

Down the road off the top of the hills as fast as you dare

All in all it was a very pleasant day to be sat taking photographs, with some great locations, if a bit slow at times compared to the hectic day previously. Parts of the course and the other photographer had the confusion of the other Sportive from Princes Risborough going past his spot - so we've left a few in there in case you were in that one too.
With the car nearby my spot I left the radio on and listened to the F1 race from China. Then at the second point I covered again I left the radio on - but must have left the ignition on an extra notch.
After all the fun of the day, which included acquiring a bike to repatriate with a rider from Marlow after his accident (he's going to be ok - no blood) - which seemed the least I could do as he had to to go Hospital, I got in the car to start it up.

Nothing. Dead battery.

eek.
Here in the middle of nowhere, one car every half hour, not cool.

However, my luck was in, almost immediately a car came along the road, flagging it down the young lady phoned her friend who lived just round the corner to bring out some jump leads. Magic !
She duly turned up some 4 minutes later with the most industrial jump leads I've ever seen, and we proceeded to give the touran a good kick start to get it going. Clearly good karma was prevailing after my offer to repatriate the accident bike.
I attach a photo of the kind lady who came out at a moments notice with the jump leads - you can tell how quickly she came to my rescue - she hadn't even had a chance to get changed out of her pyjamas. Well it was 4pm !
My Heroine - jump leads to the rescue, in dressing gown and pyjamas.

So enjoy the photos, the free downloads, and the memories of the weekends racing. Well done to all of you who did the london marathon, you may have seen those pictures by now, checked the prices and the quality - so I hope to see you back checking through some of your better preparation races to get the ones of you looking strong and fast !

Take care, I hope the recovery works out well for you all from the weekend and see you out soon - possibly the other side of Easter, unless you're at the Folkestone 10. http://folkestonerunningclub.co.uk/folkestone-10-mile.php

Until next time, train well, time for some speed training now the marathons are done for spring ?

Anthony

__________________________
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