So what to talk about in today's news and blog ? perhaps the massive 6600 finishers at Southampton across the four different races of Marathon, Half, 10k and Fun Run !!, or the Raw Energy Pursuits Steyning triathlon - where Charlie claimed it was a cold early morning, but he doesn't have a temperature gauge in his car, and it wasn't snowing, so how would he know !, or the fantastically scenic trail run that is the 3Forts challenge - which is technically an Ultra being over a marathon length around the Sussex South Downs north of Worthing, but you can do a half, if you just wanted the nice mornings run !
All this leads nicely to the summary table of past events below, and some future ones - which you'll have to be quick to enter as they mostly have free sponsored photos, and you know us - we're fussy, we only like to work with the best event organisers we can find !
Race Galleries and results
As I've been told not to spoil this blog by talking about brexit, and had a little bit of feedback (one agreeing email) on the topic of single use plastic and environmentally aware race entry from last week (drive a mile and consume more energy than a single use cup uses, so enter locally), and told not to draw attention to the crushing local elections, I'll point to one small (non-running) success story, which if we were to find out who they were, we'd be getting them out on the mental positivism roadshows in an instant - their achievements are amazing and on show for us all to see in the current social climate of confusion and government failure - and that is - who is Theresa May's Psychologist ? - because no matter how badly things are going, they seem to be able to turn anything into a positive for their client... and I want someone that good on my team !
Right - time for some race photos, you know the drill now - try to match the race to the photo, whilst also working out what on earth the caption really means (and no, it's not a cryptic crossword puzzle clue).
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| Big Sky |
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| Wonder women |
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| Up that hill with Arun runners |
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| Good double thumbs |
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| nice views once you're up the hill on the half |
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| Hello Caroline ! |
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| The hills are alive ! |
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| Dr Jim and his MAGA hat (Make athletics great again) |
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| It's a great trail run along the south downs |
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| some great thumbs up |
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| Literally caught at the point of turning into a lemming up the side path |
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| Full of it |
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| it's a triangular route |
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| proper racing friends at the finish |
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| none shall pass |
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| smooth running #1 |
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| Good to see some great double thumbs |
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| Dr Helen floating into the finish |
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| 3 miles in, might have dipped a bit early |
Meanwhile earlier on the very same hills, but a bit norther in Steyning
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| the joy of finishing |
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| Type 2 fun on a bike |
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| Type 1 fun on a bike |
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| Charlie had been briefed not to swear with hand signals this year |
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| she stood there for hours like this. Fantastic strength skills. |
Meanwhile at Southampton
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| Family photo time - Mum takes a photo of proud son, with Pat the race referee, the Mayor and Paul Sinton-Hewitt (of parkrun fame) |
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| *That* feeling when you see the family at the end |
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| bad case of elephantiasis there. Probably needs strapping |
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| focus your energies |
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| All good double thumbs up from the Boss |
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| Phil made it to the end in aid of the Stroke association |
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| top team running in uniform - top work |
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| Summer's arrived ! (in Scotland) |
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| orange cat lady racing well |
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| double thumbs up and we're finishing strong |
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| more double thumbs up for southampton |
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| Sir Digby Chicken Caesar did well |
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| best headphone fashion winner |
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| #1 Franny sets off on his bike stage after his run |
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| not sure if he's checking his watch or thighs |
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| ode to the Saints in the stadium |
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| Red carpet rolled out |
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| Bridge crossed and all going well |
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| Paula was Thirsty |
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| running relaxed |
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| starting the second lap or booking an Uber ? |
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| Hey - did you know Keanu has a brother ? |
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| carrying the invisible hand puppet fancy dress prize effort |
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| for the Dad win ! |
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| Q3: would you like your name on the race number ? |
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| proper flying into the finish |
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| When that moment hits, just before recognition |
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| For the win ! |
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| Victory Aeroplane at the finish - top marks for style ! |
So that's it for this weekend, over 260,000 images catalogued, and uploaded all by tuesday 3AM ( I recall it clearly!). I've not had as much sleep as I really need (I've had 8 hours in three days), nor seen the kids on the bank holiday, so probably going to be a right grouch tomorrow, however I have got over my chesty phlegmy cough with the help of my (use before)2011 salbutamol inhaler, and feeling almost ready to find the gym...
Right, perfect timing for helping the PTA with the school summer fair planning, I'll be so politically sensitive it will make my skin itch... or was that tonight's 5hrs sleep ?
until next time, enjoy the warmer weather coming in soon,
Anthony
