Monday 14 March 2022

Cambridge Half, Stinger and National XC Champs Galleries 2022

2022 English National XC Champs - up that first hill, the Shard in the skyline


 With everything going on in the world, I hope it seems like a little ray of sunshine to talk about running and race photo galleries. 

The English National XC champs took place at Parliament Hill in London two weeks ago - in what can only be described as perfect conditions - hard XC mud under foot - but a nice warm(ish) sunny day for the spectators and working marshals, volunteers and staff. 

It was a bit muddy in parts on the XC course

The same can be said for the Cambridge Half marathon last Sunday - albeit horribly cold and wet for the days leading up to the race - but actually on race day - a very good mild-ish day for running fast times on a very flat course (except for the slope of a hill out of Grantchester to Trumpington).

A nice busy start at Cambridge - on a nice dry road (photographer safe on a traffic island!)


Over at Steyning for the Stinger - it was dry, but very very cold with the northerly wind ripping across the top of the South Downs. I think everyone managed to survive it - but it should be noted just how much colder it can be 150m up higher in the air ! People often underestimate the risk up the top of the South Downs - at their peril !

People approaching peak peril on the run up to the top of Cissbury ring on the Stinger


Both Cambridge and the National XC races had personalised galleries for individual runners available live and on the day through www.Pic2Go.co.uk/register  - and are still available - for the minority of people who haven't signed up yet !

Links to the Free download searchable galleries with upgrades and prints also available
Sat-26/02/2022 National XC Champs http://sspimg.com/English-National-XC-Champs-2022-Gallery
Sun-06/03/2022 Steyning Stinger http://sspimg.com/Steyning-Stinger-2022-Gallery
Sun-06/03/2022 Cambridge Half Marathon http://sspimg.com/Cambridge-Half-2022-Gallery

What was more interesting was the fantastic turnout for Cambridge at just under 10,000 runners and the whole spectrum of experience on display - whilst we are seeing at a great many other half marathons - based on the average times of the runners - only the more serious runners taking part, and a very significant drop off in volumes compared to previous non-covid years.

It could be argued this is just part of the covid recovery, or it could be that the move of the London Marathon to September is not compelling the normal increase in non-regular runners to try a local half marathon in March. It's probably a combination of both, with Cambridge successfully bucking that trend. Steyning is always sold out and actually quite a specialist race at this time of year - so it always seems to remain popular - I blame the free breakfast at the end ! (In lockdown in 2020 I decided to ride the half marathon course it was a great way to spend a morning so fully recommend the race!)

Can't believe they have made the finish path hard wearing - where's the fun of slipping over right at the finish gone ?


With the London Ballot places having dropped today - it will be interesting to see what impact those places will have on people deciding to get into their half marathon races once again.

In other news, the flock of doves under my solar panels seems to have suffered about a 50% mortality rate from a mystery virus over the past two weeks, and having now reported it to DEFRA hopefully the ones they take away for analysis will show something - but whatever it is - it's really not nice - so be careful out there !

Right time for a few race photos (not dead Doves you'll be relieved to hear)...


First up Steyning Stinger

had not just slipped on the mud

all going ok

made the top of that hill

two surrenders already and not even 4 miles

Burgess hill on a day out

Gallopy gallopy

GOAL !

Henfield not Joggers

Flying without wings

Surprise !

Serious Striders

ROCKY

relief that they can all drive back together to Portslade

Time for some folk dancing

The joy of finishing

its a bit of a drag of a hill to be honest

coaching tip - relax the shoulders

like a summer run out

Ouchy knees !!!

need some air traffic control here

good last finishing run in

enjoying that last downhill bit

Yes, Its a good run !


And then there was the Cambridge Half Marathon 2022 !

Over 400,000 images delivered live and free to the almost 10,000 participants on the day with Pic2Go Technology - driving over 7M image views and brand touchpoints, linked together through social media platforms to drive the post-race conversation.

It's a world of vapour flys

Feeling strong

THERE IS NO SUCH THING

I think I caught the moment !

Smiling at 12 miles

Those thatched roofs of Grantchester

Up that hill from the Grantchester river to Trumpington

Past the Fitzwilliam museum

Along the backs

It's a mystery

St Catherines and Kings in the background

Om that last finishing straight

Rainbow legging wars - we need these in unisex for men too

Freddie keeping fit for the next concert

brave marshals on the left

they don't hang about when the gun goes at the front

quite a good style at the finish for the winner



Live photos straight to you during the race - That's Pic2Go technology for you !

Past the Senate Building - where all the degrees are handed out

cyclist probably regretting taking that shortcut

good work from wonder woman and batman

always enjoy the finish

off for a power-up

Our thoughts are with them and what to do to help


So what about the future

A few days ago I was musing across an old linkedin post about now being 7 years past quitting my old job to make this one full time in 2008. It's now 14 years since I quit my old job in international financial services marketing. That's two seven-year itches that needed scratching. That made me stop and wonder what have I actually achieved with my photography life, instead of languishing about  (there's some motivational stuff on languishing about here - https://lauriesantos.bulletin.com/watching-jersey-shore-on-repeat-was-the-sign-that-i-was-languishing/). 

Somehow I managed to convince myself that we are actually doing pretty well ...

a) we're delivering world class photography coverage at National Sports events 
b) world class levels of engagement for sponsors as a marketing communication channel
c) working with one of the largest national charity campaigns in the country (and driving more donations)
d) getting more images out to runners to enjoy than I could ever have imagined
e) Millions of views of our images after events

If anyone can think of something I've missed - please let me know (I could do with a pick-up to be honest).

Someone asked if we would return to the "take photos and hope to sell them model" - instead of being included in the event package/sponsorship of the race. No is the simple answer, because apart from anything else - it simply doesn't make the majority of people as happy (runners, organisers and sponsors) as the free download model. 

On that note of fairness and enjoyment, some of you will have noticed that we have reduced the cost of upgrading the free downloads to a higher resolution or a print by the value of the free download. This is to take into account the amount covered by the event organiser/sponsor for the event - so if there is that favourite image that someone wants at a higher resolution or a nice print to pop in a frame - then that's also cheaper and more accessible too. Enjoy ! This applies to all the free download events we have ever done.

So we have a pretty full calendar of events ahead for the year - and I'd encourage you to get entered into all of them, but if you can't do that, get yourself into at least one in the next few months - it will get you motivated and out there enjoying the spring weather !

Confirmed Races you should enter ASAP - all with free photos to download:

Sun-20/03/2022 Brentwood Half and fun run http://bit.ly/Brentwood-Half
Sun-27/03/2022 RBK Spring Half Marathon https://www.kingstonraceday.com/
Sat-09/04/2022 UltraX Spring Trail Series https://ultra-x.co/
Sun-24/04/2022 Southampton Marathon http://bit.ly/southampton-half
Sun-24/04/2022 7Oaks Tri http://www.7oakstriclub.co.uk/our-events/triathlon
Sun-01/05/2022 3Forts Half and Full http://bit.ly/3-Forts-Challenge

See you at the start line (or somewhere along the course in a safely distanced way wearing a mask and shouting encouragement)

Until next time
Anthony

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