A large field of runners gathered on one of the hottest days of the year. The glorious sunshine was a welcome sight for the spectators, somewhat less so for the runners, many of whom were caught out by the intensity of the heat after forecasts suggested it would be many degrees lower than it turned out to be. Must have been particularly arduous going for poor old Bagpuss ;)
Tuesday, 31 December 2013
Saturday, 28 December 2013
Great Valley Run & Walk 2013, Bishopsbourne
It's that time of year again. Once more, a group of slightly unhinged folks took to the scenic lanes of Bishopsbourne in all manner of fancy dress, in aid of Pilgrims Hospices. Weather was lovely once the cloud shifted. Great fun and jovial atmosphere, as usual.
Monday, 23 December 2013
Kent Christmas Cracker 5 2013, Fowlmead Country Park
Bit of a wild day. Very strong gusty winds and frequent heavy rain. Combined with very poor light, it certainly made for very challenging conditions in which to be snapping. Race itself was excellent. I have a feeling a lot of these runners actually prefer it when the weather is shocking ;) Excellent turnout, especially in view of the conditions. Plenty of fun festive costumes. Really enjoyed this one. At least it wasn't cold ;)
Friday, 20 December 2013
Thursday, 19 December 2013
Sittingbourne Invicta 10K 2013
A rare pleasant day amid the largely cold, dull and depressing spring of 2013. Good turnout and a decent race.
Monday, 16 December 2013
Maidstone Race for Life 5K 2013
The Maidstone Race for Life 5K followed the 10K run and saw another huge surge of pink spread across Mote Park.
Sunday, 15 December 2013
Maidstone Race for Life 10K 2013
Perfect weather. Flawless blue skies and 28C. The start of the July heatwave. The glorious surroundings of Mote Park provided the ideal venue for this huge event. Was taken aback by the sheer number of ladies, mostly bedecked in pink, who turned out in sweltering conditions for this very worthy cause.
Wednesday, 11 December 2013
Maidstone Harriers Turkey Run 2013
Generally mild day for December, with a decent bit of sunshine at times. As per 2012, excellent event, with plenty of silly outfits and assorted funny team names.
Thursday, 5 December 2013
Stelling Minnis 10K 2013
Largely pleasant day for the quite small but very friendly and scenic Stelling Minnis 10K. Worth the trip just for the picturesque countryside around the village. Race was won by the familiar figure of Canterbury Harriers' Peter Hogben.
Wednesday, 4 December 2013
Paddock Wood Half Marathon 2013
Have rarely experienced such a big turnaround in temperatures. Was mind numbingly freezing on the ride to Paddock Wood, but the sun emerged and it was about 12C by the time the runners started coming in. Excellent race, very large field, but the sheer volume of spectators and people milling about made it difficult to snap.
Tuesday, 3 December 2013
Alan Green Memorial 10 Miler 2013
After a cold and grey start, the sun unexpectedly emerged and by the time the runners were returning, the temperature had climbed considerably and it had turned into a lovely day.
Sunday, 17 November 2013
Beat The Bog 2013, Preston, Canterbury
Excellent event, very well organised, lots of mud, misery and water. Unfortunately the light was absolutely abysmal. Struggled to get any kind of reasonable shots. Auto focus constantly had issues nailing anything. Also was restricted to one small area of the course. Good knowledge of the area would have helped, as would a quad ;)
Still, the lunatics...erm...competitors seemed to enjoy themselves, as did the spectators. Decent turnout for a first event. Pretty sure there will be lots more to come from the people behind BTB 2013.
Still, the lunatics...erm...competitors seemed to enjoy themselves, as did the spectators. Decent turnout for a first event. Pretty sure there will be lots more to come from the people behind BTB 2013.
Tuesday, 12 November 2013
Kent Fitness League 2012/13: Nurstead Court relay
Grim old day. Cold, wet, windy and muddy. But the runners soldiered on in the face of the elements, as ever, as the Nurstead Court relays brought down the curtain on the 2012/13 KFL season.
Sunday, 3 November 2013
Lydd Half Marathon 2013
The early heavy rain pretty much eased off in time for the race but the ground was still very wet underfoot. The field was large, enthusiastic and friendly. This was one of the best races of 2013.
Wednesday, 16 October 2013
Thanet 20 Miler 2013
Day started chilly and grey but quickly brightened up and was positively warm by around the mid-race point, which caught out many runners who had dressed for the cold.
There was a bit of controversy during the race when one of the Dartford guys was found not to be registered to run and was hauled off the course by the race director - but he then removed his vest and ran anyway ;)
Decent race and a good turnout - an ideal preparation for the marathon season ahead.
There was a bit of controversy during the race when one of the Dartford guys was found not to be registered to run and was hauled off the course by the race director - but he then removed his vest and ran anyway ;)
Decent race and a good turnout - an ideal preparation for the marathon season ahead.
Tuesday, 25 June 2013
Medway 10K 2013, Gillingham
New race, starting from Medway Park. Decent turnout and it stayed dry till right at the end of the race.
Deal half marathon 2013
It was bitterly cold and grey. Many of the runners wore jackets! 'Nuff said ;)
Friday, 3 May 2013
Brighton Marathon 2013
Britain's second biggest marathon. After a cold and wet start, the sun emerged and it was extremely warm by the time most of the runners came in.
Organisation wasn't great - Madeira Drive was one vast scrum of people and their efforts to move from one place to another was severely hampered by the extremely annoying hi-viz jobsworths, of which there appeared to be hundreds. Toilet facilities were exceptionally poor given the number of spectators. I snapped the final part of the race perched up on the prom, being constantly jostled - thankfully I took my teleconverter.
The race was overshadowed by the tragic death of 23 year old Sam Harper Brighouse.
Organisation wasn't great - Madeira Drive was one vast scrum of people and their efforts to move from one place to another was severely hampered by the extremely annoying hi-viz jobsworths, of which there appeared to be hundreds. Toilet facilities were exceptionally poor given the number of spectators. I snapped the final part of the race perched up on the prom, being constantly jostled - thankfully I took my teleconverter.
The race was overshadowed by the tragic death of 23 year old Sam Harper Brighouse.
Thursday, 4 April 2013
Wednesday, 13 March 2013
Barretts Canterbury 10 Miler 2013
The black clouds parted and the sun emerged just as this race started, but the earlier downpour left the course very wet and muddy in places. The race itself was an excellent one but there were many grumblings of discontent over the lack of a medal or proper momento from those taking part.
Monday, 4 March 2013
Deal 5 Miler 2012
The weather was shocking for this race. Heavy rain and a howling wind greeted the competitors and others mad enough to be spectating. A large contingent from the Belgian athletics club WALO took part and probably wondered what had hit them ;)
Tuesday, 26 February 2013
A20 Path 'n Downs marathon/half marathon 2012
Another lovely sunny November day. Not the biggest of fields for this race but a very nice one with extremely friendly people. Probably my favourite of the whole season.
Tuesday, 19 February 2013
Bexhill Poppy half marathon 2012
Gloriously sunny & very warm for mid-November. One of the nicest days of 2012, and a great race.
Tuesday, 12 February 2013
Givaudan Ashford 10K 2012
Very cold start to the day, and awful hazy light. Struggled to properly expose shots...as is obvious from the snaps.
Thursday, 7 February 2013
Folkestone Rotary half marathon 2012
Large field, friendly bunch, no rain. Decent race. The lovely sunshine we had for the Folkestone 10K unfortunately didn't put in another appearance.
Thursday, 31 January 2013
Tonbridge half marathon 2012
Very large field for this race, even though apparently 400 people who had registered failed to turn up. Not entirely sure I blame them given the appalling weather. Heavy rain fell for most of the race. Guests were Kelly Holmes and Kaddy Lee Preston. The latter scarpered at the first opportunity, well before the first of the runners returned. Kelly hung around for a good while handing out medals to a large number of the runners, but I felt sorry for those towards the back of the field who returned in torrential rain to find she'd left by that time. Still, an excellent race despite the weather, and exemplary organisation from the Tonbridge crew.
Monday, 28 January 2013
Faversham 10K 2012
One of the worst races I've snapped, mostly because of the small group of people a little way down who insisted on stretching the tape to breaking point and encroaching right into the track area where the runners ran as they returned to the school grounds, making it difficult and at times impossible to get shots. The race itself was a good one. Weather was dull and gloomy but the rain held off.
Wednesday, 23 January 2013
Wingham 10K 2012
A very warm and sunny day. One of the best of the year, though tough going for the runners. Not my best series of race snaps. In fact I think it would be fair to say that I should be taken away and shot. Twice. Though I would say that the conditions were pretty difficult, with the sun right in my face, which isn't ideal.
Wednesday, 16 January 2013
Thanet Mountain Bike Duathlon 2013, Minnis Bay
It was cold and it was muddy at Minnis Bay. 100 or so maniacs...erm...hardy individuals took part in this gruelling event. The mud played havoc with the bikes, not to mention the riders. Several had to drop out with mechanical issues. But the atmosphere was excellent, and the sense of fun evident as the competitors slid and splashed their way round the course. Following the superb KFL cross country leg of the previous week, this was another excellent event.
Monday, 14 January 2013
Saturday, 12 January 2013
Kent Fitness League 2012/13, Minnis Bay
They call this area of Minnis Bay 'the Somme'...with good reason ;) The place becomes a boggy mire in the wet weather. After long spells of rain, the course was a little on the interesting side...as the state of most runners will attest ;) This was a fantastic race, probably the best I've ever covered. Plenty of good humour among the runners in the face an endless sea of thick mud, but also a rather annoying mist. It eased a little but still made snapping difficult as auto focus didn't know whether it was coming or going.
Wednesday, 9 January 2013
Velocity End of '12 Run, Staplehurst
Odd start and finish point in this race, and two odd distances were run - 7 & a bit K and 14K. Decent turnout, around double that of the previous year. The sun shone now and then. The runners seemed to enjoy themselves. First time I'd been to Staplehurst in years - it's a nice place.
Monday, 7 January 2013
Deal Bra Run 2013
Perfect start to the year - glorious blue skies and mild temperatures. Large turnout of both runners and spectators for this fun event. Once again, some excellent costumes were in evidence. The start of the race was marred somewhat by an irresponsible dog owner letting her two pets constantly impede the runners while she gossiped on the phone...but overall an excellent event, though the sun was directly in my face at the finish line, so the later snaps are a bit...crap really ;).
Great Valley Run 2012, Bishopsbourne
Fancy dress charity fun run starting and finishing at the Mermaid Inn, Bishopsbourne, in aid of Pilgrims Hospices. Just over 40 runners donned all manner of costumes and took to the lanes around the village for this post Xmas jaunt.
The Turkey Run 2012, East Malling
Excellent festive race. Some hilarious outfits on show, not least the bloke who looked a bit like Wolf off the old Gladiators in mankini ;) A reindeer finished 4th!
Folkestone Santa Run 2012
It was a bitterly cold start but warmed up a little as several hundred Santas ran the Leas in Folkestone under lovely sunny skies.
Palm Bay Race for Life 2012, Margate
Sun was in and out like a fiddler's elbow. Constant changing of settings required. Pain in the bum - but a good race, again in aid of Cancer Research. The best part of 1000 runners turned out for the Palm Bay race.
Folkestone Rotary Kent Coastal 10K 2012
A rare gloriously warm and sunny day amid the gloom that was summer 2012. Large turnout and excellent race.
Medway Mile & Olympics celebration 2012
Large fun run in the least awful of Medway towns, Rochester ;)
Folkestone Race for Life 2012
There was a huge turnout in the warm sunshine for this major charity event in aid of Cancer Research. Approximately 3000 ladies took part.
Deal Tri half marathon 2012
Rescheduled after snow and ice put paid to the original race in February.
Whitstable 10K 2012
After one of the coldest ever May bank holiday weekends, the weather finally improved a little on the Monday for the Whitstable 10K.
Stelling Minnis 10K 2012
The sun unexpectedly appeared, despite the poor forecast. Turned out lovely in the picturesque village of Stelling Minnis. I had to run half a mile to snap the runners coming in. I was in a worse state than most of the competitors ;)
Thanet 20 Miler 2012
Another pretty dismal day. Persistent drizzle. But an excellent race, despite this.
Barretts Canterbury 10 Miler 2012
Heavy rain early on, but dried up pretty much for the race itself. Large field of approaching 1000 runners for one of the most popular races in Kent.
Deal Bra Run 2012
Charity 5K fun run in aid of Breast Cancer Care, held on New Year's Day each year. Some fabulous outfits to be seen. Many braved hangovers mere hours after seeing in 2012 to take part - there were a few pairs of wobbly legs ;)
Kent Christmas Cracker 2011, Fowlmead Country Park
Very cold day, but bright. Nearly killed myself getting to Fowlmead on black ice. But survived and here are the snaps to prove it ;)
Deal Tri winter duathlon round 3, December 2011
Cold, wet and windy day. But pretty much nothing deters these folk ;)
Alan Green Memorial 10 Miler 2011
Grey day but good race. Enjoyed this one. Found a decent place to snap, well away from the crowded finish line.
Deal Tri 5 Miler, November 2011
Weather was pretty foul. Wet and with a strong wind, making it very difficult to snap.
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