Tuesday, 29 April 2014

Brutal Bagshot, Clandon Park Runs, 7Oaks Tri, REP Bluebell and Thames Towpath 10 2014 now live

After two quieter weekends with the London Marathon and Easter break taking up most of the last weekends it was back to a full diary of action across this weekend with 5 events of Mud Runs, Trail Runs, Normal Road Runs and the first race of the Triathlon Season.

Here's the quick reference list of gallery links from this weekends races:


Easter weekend was the Lewes 10k and Fun Runs as well as the Folkestone 10 mile race. I put those race links in a blog before the race, but here they are again in case you are looking for them now after the race:


Lewes 10k and Fun Runs 2014 http://bit.ly/Lewes-10k-2014-Photo-Gallery

Folkestone 10 mile race 2014 http://bit.ly/folkestone10-gallery-2014

Free Downloads

This weekend marks a bit of a sea-change in the market for event photos - if you hadn't noticed - 4 out of the 5 events were free download galleries. That means almost 50,000 images are on the SSP gallery - totally free to download and used and shared across the internet like Facebook, Twitter, blogs, updates etc.
(top tip - on the search results page with your photo thumbnails - there's a panel to the right - click on the Actions tab - and then you can just download all your photos in one go!)

One of the really new things is the sponsorship of the race photos by Tshirt and Clothing brand - Xempo - suppliers of performance graded clothing.
As a supporter of continuous improvement (in everything), the colour standards for the Tshirts help to set the next goal in your training and race performance. Because it works across any distance from 5k to Marathons, and then on race day - it should help you to pick out similar performing runners for pacing yourself, and who you might want to compete against on the day.
Also they are the first sponsor we have had that has potential reach across more than just a specific race or event so hopefully we will be able to bring you more free photos on their behalf. Find out more about them here or give them a like on their facebook page here as a way of saying thanks !

We must remember the people who also have a strong belief that race photos are part of the overall race package - and the excellent Race Organisers who want you to get the most out of your race day experience - before, during and after it - and these include:

7Oaks Tri Club - who we have now worked with on free downloads since 2011, and covered their race since 2007 - the past 8 years. A race that has won the accolades of 220Tri Magazine Race of the Year. We also cover their Junior Aquathlon in the Summer, and that also has free race downloads.



Raw Energy Pursuits - All their events are covered by free downloads - and have been for the past 4 years  - which helps make their event series one of the most popular and sought after races to get entries into every year. If you enjoyed 7OaksTri you'd love REP events. Next weekend is their sold out Steyning Triathlon. Fingers crossed we won't get snow there this year !

Clandon Park Run - Organised by the St.Georges School PTA with the help of AAT-Events, we have been covering this race since 2009 - and now see juniors who ran in the fun run coming in near the top of the race field in the main 10k - something that the race photos over the years will no doubt make great memories in years to come. AAT-Events run a lot of races in the Surrey area, and most of them have free downloads - so give them a worthwhile bit of time to check out their race list

Q: How can you get more of the things you enjoy from people ?
A: Tell them you like them doing it !
Our goal is to make people happy - through race photos. So it's a natural progression for us to try to bring you photos that are free for you to download. It's only through the support of the events and the commercial sponsors that we can do this (because kit, skill, servers, fuel and time all cost money) - so please share the love and happiness and give them a like on their facebook pages if you can.
It's a good way of telling them that they are getting it right for you, and encourages them to do more of it - which can only be to your advantage !! Xempo on FB, AAT on FB, REP on FB, 7Oaks Tri on FB


So what's a photo blog going to be like with so many free photos to use ? I thought I'd stick with text only for a change.
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Just kidding !
See if any of this lot makes you smile and remember a good race...and finally before I do, I should also mention we now have a Tshirt Shop open on the gallery. Limited numbers available in each size - so make sure you get yours before we run out.
The new and unique SSP TShirt. Available in any colour, as long as it's Blue.



The Flash - flashing along up at the front

Mind out behind you 1113

The Birthday Fairies and their escorts

No Surrender Tom !

You can tell from the look on his face he's relieved to be picked up out of that water !

naughty naughty !

All so easy

Owners do not look like their dogs

Jumping jellybeans Batman!!

"Really, here? what kind of photo were you thinking of?"

call me maybe ?

"And then I said he's gone bananas"

"Did someone say bananas ?"

Marshals at 7Oaks tri come equipped with four arms to carry necessary supplies

Route one out of T2

Raar !!

Hooray !

Nailed it !

Achieved it !

"Next time I have an idea"

Proud Hubby and Family

Ocean Lake Tri Club put in a good team entry

Best Running tights of the day

It's only a Hill !!

Marshalling. A bit like fishing, but without a pole.

Always try to Refuel during the race

Marshal says turn right. 

Good work up the hill from Swanley

Team meetings aren't always boring and tedious

And Tony thought he wouldn't end up in the blog...good effort and well done !

All smiles at the start of Clandon

Just reminds me of that Hovis Ad

Strong at the finish

Concentratey finish face

Mind the boat ! - occupational hazard of the Towpath

Bad Dog !!! Not this way !!!

Bailey asks Andrew to save him as his owner is clearly lost. Again.

Sorry boss...

Happy Birthday Jenni

"This way you *&%^$" (question is - who's thinking what?)

winding through the bluebells

badabing badaboom

Flying downhill is easy !

All smiles at 3 miles

Family fun at Clandon

Muddy racing and double thumbs up

Hair raising hills at the Brutal

Arrgh Brutal Face

Surrendering at the finish on the towpath

Always good to see him flying in at the finish

Right that's it for this week, enjoy the galleries, and the free downloads - put them online and tag us in your photos if you put them on facebook - because it's always good to see them ! - you should find us if you type sussex-sport-photography.com into the tag box and then click on our profile.

Next weekend is the 3 Forts challenge, REP Steyning Tri, the Reigate YMCA Fun Runs and the Ranelagh Half Marathon - so fingers crossed we will see you soon !

until next time
Anthony




Friday, 18 April 2014

HONC 2014 live, Easter action and onwards

Here's a quick update for the long weekend ahead, during which I hope you will be running, resting, relaxing, foam rollering, and recounting your racing and training, or parkrunning (is that a race, training, or just a cake eating social?)

I didn't mention on tuesday that the HONC MTB ride (Hell of the North Cotswolds) 30th anniversary ride gallery is now online here: http://bit.ly/HONC-2014-Official-Photo-Gallery
Yes whilst many people were watching Mo Farrah learn about marathon running, some 2000 people were out on the Cotswolds near Cheltenham mostly learning about puddles on their mountain bikes - and a bit of hills.

In other news for those of you interested, the possible stress fracture on the head of my right 2nd metatarsal is now diagnosed and with an immobilisation order on it (i.e. wear stiff soled trail cycling shoes without cleats on and don't bend your toes) it's 3 weeks away from the steroid injection to hopefully sort it out. In the meantime I'm getting no exercise which is incredibly depressing. If you're not interested in that news, just skip it.

Race Logo Race Gallery link

http://bit.ly/HONC-2014-Official-Photo-Gallery
Folkestone 10 - coming soon - entry http://bit.ly/folkestone10-gallery-2014
Lewes 10k and fun runs 2014 - entry on the day http://bit.ly/Lewes-10k-2014-Photo-Gallery
Cycling about on the North Cotswolds tracks and pathways looks a bit like this: Fun if you ask me !



London Marathon 2014
Just a few comments as I didn't get to watch it (probably for the best - my first day off since christmas - and when I say day off, I mean it is usually 7 days a week with an internet business, and anyway who wants to watch work on a day off?) - well done to Suzie Hewer on her new world record and as ever raising money for Alzheimer's in memory of her Mum, there was some awesome running by the chap who came in as third placed Brit - read his blog here on how it all turned out ok http://www.steveway.co.uk/  (average pace 5:11m/mile) and then an interesting bit of analysis (now fortunately anonymised) here on time splits: http://www.neillock.co.uk/training-blog/

One bit of ridiculous information - the winner - Wilson Kipsang -  just to split up the pack at the 20mile mark - put in a 4:29 mile. That's as fast as a very fast thing on turbo fast, and many 1500m club athletes would struggle to keep up with that just the once. Now for the punchline - he put in a 4:30mile immediately afterwards. Ha ha ha - keep up with that you crazy people (no you can't). Anyone who can do that - deserves to win in my book. Here's his 5k split results and feel mortal.
If you want a laugh - spot the fancy dress train he was wearing according to the official race photos

And so to Mo. The general commentary by those in the know (and we don't count Brendan Foster in that apparently) is after all the analysis done - that Mo set off the first quarter too slow, the second quarter too fast, and after that he wasn't going to have anything left to reconnect to the front group - with the most succinct comment made by Paula Radcliffe: "I think Mo has just found out what the marathon is all about".
Lets be honest - he made a fantastic debut - if you look at the results - there was the first two, gap, next two, gap, and then the race of about 6 runners in that Mo was part of - so the third finishing group and he came in 8th overall. Awesome. 

And finally - as a themed picture for the weekend - something I captured at the recent Alice Holt Races - a photo I've called the Passion of Running. Nothing posed, a genuine action shot.
The Passion of Running (c) Sussex Sport Photography.com

Have a happy Easter bank holiday weekend and enjoy your running or training !

until next time
Anthony