MONDAY 19th AUGUST 2008

Peter Burfoot reports ....

"I hope you are are enjoying your summer break.

I was the sole Waddie taking part in the Henfield Half Marathon yesterday. This is a useful pre-season warm-up for the Autumn Half Marathon race season.

The Henfield course changed this year and made this a rather gruelling course. The times of most runners were adversely affected and according to the RW forum the length was about a quarter of a mile over distance.

The race is off-road apart from a half mile stretch of country lane and is very mixed terrain. The course is centred on a disused railway line and the banks of the river Adur, which run north-South to the west of Henfield. The old railway provides a smooth running surface and the riverbank is generally firm, grassy and uneven and peppered with stiles. A section running around some fields had been cut out at the start but was replaced with more riverbank with tussocks of grass and nettles on either side and a section of narrow rutted and muddy bridleway (complete with horse and rider).

The general concensus is that it was a tough challenging race. The 2 water stations were considered too few and it does heat up in the valley along the river, though some of the railway sections are shaded. There are some small undulations to keep runners on their toes, but no hills as such.

I enjoyed this hard race and was happy with my time and 3rd V4 position. I was 5 places down the sheet from last year, but I was then 2/3rds of the way into my training for the Berlin Marathon and in peak form for the distance.

My 2008 official result was:

61st Peter Burfoot 1:46:23

Remember that on Friday at Rye Harbour is the 2nd race in the Rye Classic Series, a 5k which starts from the Sailing Club at 7pm.

Also, the Will Page Newick 10k Sussex Grand Prix race takes place this Sunday. Details and an entry form are on at:



We are hoping for a record Waddie attendance at the event which has a village fete atmosphere.

Peter"

In the deep midwinter ....

WebEd returns from hols and ... nothing has changed! It's still wet and miserable and blowing a gale.

But we're promised some great, sunny Bank Holiday weather this weekend. And that's just in time for the traditional ramp-up of the racing season. Tonight (Wednesday) it's the Herstmonceux relays at Herstmonceux Castle. This Friday sees the 2nd race in the Rye Summer Classic Series, with a 5K sprint through Rye Nature Reserve. On Sunday it's back to the GP season with the Newick Will Page 10K and then next Wednesday there's a relay event organised by Hastings AC.

Last Sunday a couple of Waddies took part in the Henfield Half Marathon.

56 Peter Burfoot 1:39:35
102 David Burfoot 1:47:54

Have a great Bank Holiday - and don't forget that if you're not taking part in the Newick race, it's training as usual from Uplands.