The Brutal 10 - now live

The Brutal 10 race gallery is now live and online here: http://gallery.sussexsportphotography.com/a.tlx?k=34pzge7

A nice way to spend a bank holiday is not the way most people would describe the Brutal 10 race. However faced with a choice of going and doing the race or going to work in an office with the commute - what would you do ?
I know even I would have chosen doing this race on the last day of the new year holiday freedom. Having long ago eschewed the corporate world and being self-employed unfortunately means I get no holiday (pension, bonus or sick leave...), so opted to work and couldn't do the run... which is just as well really.

Let's be honest here - it was cold. There were mild snow flurries even before the race started. They broke the ice on the two water "features" in the morning - and by the look of the pieces - it was about an inch thick in places.

Water "feature" 1 at 2k

 Some people managed to look dynamic and unruffled by the ice, which is why he (below) was in second at the time probably, others meanwhile

 seemed to enjoy the whole situation in a crazy last days of freedom style.

 Only one person expressed a wish to retire from the race after the first water, but reconsidered when the option to go round was suggested at the next. I was mightily impressed by the lack of swearing generally, but then most people seemed to have lost the ability to feel their feet (a common question was - where are my feet ? still on your legs! we replied) let alone swear out loud properly !

 The second bit of water was a lot easier, and shallower (mostly) and just as icy, but at least everyone had warmed up a bit by then. One of the Canine runners decided that going for a swim wasn't such a good idea, and didn't take the scenic route...

 

A bit of uphill to the peak and then downhill through the woods to the sandpit for a kilometer of hard graft. Going up the dunes wasn't the only hard bit 

 as coming down them was also hard work on the soft sand.

 Here's looking to another great Brutal Run over towards Pirbright camp next February

For full details of the next Brutal run - click here: http://www.allabouttriathlons.co.uk/events_brutal-run.html

In the meantime - enjoy the memories from this one here:http://gallery.sussexsportphotography.com/a.tlx?k=34pzge7

until next time
Anthony

Click here for our race finding link page on the blog

Race Finding links
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Fetch Everyone: Race finder
The Sussex Race Planner	Sussex Races
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New Years Day Serpentine 10k 2011

The Serpentine Running Club New Years Day 10k is now live and online here:

http://gallery.sussexsportphotography.com/a.tlx?k=90hzge6

Every year I do question myself and ask why I originally committed to cover a race on New Years Day - it's been 5 years since I went to a NY Eve party. However I am now old now, and able to enjoy a very nice meal with friends of a night before work without getting carried away on the wine. And anyway young kids see to it that you don't.

The winner just missed out on the course record by about two seconds, having dropped his team mate at about the 5k mark. But at least he knew how to do a decent arm raise at the end !

If you've never seen a race clock with 30 minutes on it - this is what that looks like.

Saturday morning (not a bankholiday - so no cheap rate parking in Hyde Park) was a lot warmer than most of December, and we were even blessed with an outbreak of sun, before the mizzly rain came down for the middle finishers. Ice was still floating on the western end of the water, but at least a chap with a paper Christmas crown finished in third place !

Another excellent event put on by the Serpies and congratulations to Jennifer on her first time as race director on a smooth race had by all. I particularly liked the red serpentine mug being given out as a finishers prize.


Just like getting back out for the first run of the year I've now managed to get back out for the first race of the year, so the mojo is back and going.

First prize for Fancy dress goes to the Penguin :

 The race was this long:

 Some people just turned up to have a nice run ! (and succeeded)

Hello Heather !!

 By the time you're reading this I'm probably at the Brutal 10 http://www.allabouttriathlons.co.uk/races_brutal-run.html  up to my elbows in water and mud and sub-zero temperatures for an hour or two.
Anyone fancy swapping it for a nice warm desk job ?

Have a good bank holiday and Happy New Year !

until next time
Anthony


Click here for our race finding link page on the blog

Race Finding links
Who ?	Just click on the Logo
Fetch Everyone: Race finder
The Sussex Race Planner	Sussex Races
Active Network
Run 247
Runners World
Running Diary