Day 1 of Training

Read Day 1 of Training by Richard Devine - who was one of the lucky winners of our Beachy Head Marathon blogging competition and will be taking part in the marathon on 27 October.

So on a hot Sunday morning I fill up my water bottle, set my Garmin, plug in my iPod and off out the door. Keeping it easy on the flat for the first mile before hitting a couple of inclines to wake the legs up. Already working my way through the water as the sun is beating down and there isnt much cover on the route I had planned so half the water is going over my head. After 2.5 miles i hit another hill, steeper than the first and try to keep the same pace as on the flat knowing I have a downhill section to recover.

Next comes a long undulating road, normally boring but this morning thankfully I have stand up comedy from Kevin Bridges in my ears to pass the time. Once I make it onto the seafront I know I only have a couple of miles to go but that is almost curtailed by a stray dog. Having to hurdle after 4 miles isnt ideal!

As I am coming to the end of my run finishing off my now warm water I pass my girlfriend and our 9 week old son enjoying a stroll on the seafront, just the incentive I need to quicken the pace for the last quarter of a mile.  6.2miles in 48 mins, wonder how long I could keep that pace for, only time will tell and the ice cream on the way home makes it worthwhile.

Beachy Head Marathon Competition Winners

Back in July we offered the exclusive opportunity to win some of the last few places to Beachy Head Marathon - one of the biggest off-road marathons in the UK.

For a chance to win entrants had to simply write their 'first day training' blog entry in no more than 250 words.

I am pleased to announce that we have selected our lucky winners - Michael Plummer, Richard Devine, Allen Grant and Allan Lambert who will be taking part in the 26 mile cross country course on 27 October.

Here's our first blog entry from competition winner, Michael Plummer:

First Day Training

Today it starts, new event, new countdown, but for a change an autumn event. This is going to be different though, off road running, out of the comfort zone, unlike the seafront courses I have been used to. But like all other half’s or full’s training they start the same way, first few runs will let me flush out all the niggles and see what possible injuries might come back. Hoping I can stick to the routine, build up the miles gradually, vary the routes and make sure to keep the right hydration. it will be great to complete a 26 this year after missing out on Brighton, my biggest concern is thinking about the varied inclines so will need to put in a lot more hill training. Ok so am not ready to go barefoot for that distance yet but will need to mix some of those runs to strengthen the ankles. I have the new app that will hopefully track my pace better, to see any gradual changes, let hope it works. New trail shoes do feel lighter than the old ones, must make sure there is enough room for toe movement; I am fed up with loosing nails after each marathon. So much to consider and include over the next 12 weeks but am excited, being part of a famous event. God almost forgot the most important part of training, need to create some new playlist, well no turning back now.

Sue O'Hara on her Olympic Torch Relay

I was lucky enough to get to talk to Sue O’Hara a little while after her inspiring torch relay leg (and also appearing live on Daybreak in the morning!)

Firstly big congratulations to you Sue, I hope you’ve thoroughly enjoyed your Olympic experience. So, who nominated you to carry the torch through Eastbourne?

Vicki Jago nominated me, she has been a friend of the family for 26 years and she didn't tell me she was going to do it.

Sue with her Olympic Torch - Graham Huntley.

What was your first reaction when you heard that you had been chosen to carry the Olympic Torch?

The first I knew of it was May or June time in 2011 when Vicki told me she had nominated me. My first reaction was, I can’t run! Then I received an email telling me Vicki had nominated me, then didn't hear anything till the end of November when I was told I was chosen to carry the flame, but I wasn’t allowed to tell anybody.

Please can you tell us more about The Tuesday O’Hara fund?

The Tuesday O'Hara Fund was set up in 2007 after my daughter lost her four year battle with Leukaemia. As we found on our journey with Tuesday they are the forgotten age group and need help and support both financially and with special treats, like laptops, games consoles, holidays or a day out somewhere with loved ones. We are also using some of the money to facilitate a room in the Eastbourne DGH so it has a ‘home from home’ feel. I also found there was no support I could go and talk to, as in other parents going through same thing, so now I am quite happy for any parent to come and have a chat any time.

What are the aims of the charity and what will the money go towards?

The aims of the charity are to keep helping as many young adults as we can and when the Pevensey Ward at the DGH is built we hope to be more involved with that in anyway possible.

Great seat to watch the torch relay in Eastbourne - Graham Huntley.

Tell us more about the fun activities and events you run in order to raise money?

We have some fun events all through the year, the next one being on September 22nd which is our Hastings to Eastbourne Pier to Pier walk. Last year was a great success we had 69 people aged from 7 - 60 all showing their support for the charity. We hold quiz nights, danceathons, Halloween nights, fete stalls, we had a float in the carnival, treasure hunt, boxing day dip, people have scaled buildings and jumped out of planes had their heads shaved and legs waxed all for a great cause.

Who helped and supported you through these events?

My late husband Frank was a great organiser and all events would be like military precision movements and we have a great team working with us who all give up their free time to volunteer at the events. So a big thank you to; Vicki Jago, Jon Clarke, Paul Relf, Lynda & Colin Cannings, Mary Flynn Shirley Moth and all the others who help out.

Do you live in Eastbourne, if so how long how you lived in the town? (If not, where? Do you live nearby?)

I was born in Eastbourne and moved away for nine years when I was 17, but missed it so came back and been here now for 30 years.



Sue lighting her Olympic torch - Graham Huntley.



How have you been preparing for the big day? Are you nervous?I tried to prepare to carry the torch… I started running and dieting, but alas they didn't last when I found out I would only have to carry it 0.3 of a mile! I didn't realise the enormity of it all until the week before the 17th of July, when I was having trouble sleeping, (which usually is not a problem for me). I was getting anxious of the unknown and trying to research what it was going to be like by joining the torch bearer’s page on Facebook. On the Monday and the Tuesday morning before I had to be there I was in another world, we got up and went to Daybreak TV on the beach for 6am and I was interviewed live on TV by Gethin Jones – a great way to start the day. Then Carole Brains was holding a garden party for us so I was due to attend that and give a radio interview before I went to meet the other torch bearers.

What was it like running with the torch through your hometown of Eastbourne?
It was an amazing day, I had my daughter Tuesday's trainers on and all the other torch bearers were lovely. It is an experience I will remember and talk about for the rest of my life, I felt so over whelmed by the support from the Eastbourne people on the street where I ran - seeing family and friends and strangers just wanting to have their photo taken with me! It was a once in a lifetime event and I felt privileged to be chosen as one of the 8000. 2012 will be a year I will never forget.

Finally, 2012 is a momentous year for Britain, what lasting legacy would you like to see from these fantastic celebrations?The whole country has had much to celebrate so far this year and Eastbourne has done as much celebrating as the rest of the country. It was great to see the town so alive, I would like to see Eastbourne people come together and have many more events for us all to enjoy.

All photos by Graham Huntley.

Eastbourne Extreme Powerboat Ride Winner!

We've had a few 'technical' issues with our blog, so please enjoy reading the backlog of all of our fantastic Eastbourne Extreme and Olympic events!

Local photographer, Mark Huntley, was the lucky winner of a Powerboat P1 high-speed powerboat experience and Powerboat P1 goody bag. Mark emailed to say he had a great time out on the boat and sent us a photo of him coming back into the harbour after the action.



Mark on his Powerboat P1 ride

Mark was also at the Olympic Torch Relay in Eastbourne and took a shot of the lucky people of the truck taking photos. In there was Eastbourne Borough Council photographer's Mark Jarvis, Graham Huntley and me! Thank you Mark for sending in this photo, we really were lucky to get on the media truck and it was great fun showing off to all my friends and family (and now I had proof!)

Us on the back of the media truck!

Lily 



Palmer's Olympic Experiences

We spoke to Palmer back in May, before he was due to carry the Olympic Torch through the streets of Nottingham. Palmer lives in Eastbourne and he’s been in touch to tell us all about the excitement in the town on the afternoon of Tuesday 17 July, when he went along to cheer on Eastbourne’s torch bearers…

Palmer with his Olympic Torch!

“I went out along the seafront to support all of Eastbourne’s torch bearers and had a fantastic afternoon – I even took along my torch which made a lot of people very happy!

My wife and I got to the stage in Princes Park at about half 2 and I thought we might have missed the boat, but when we got the torch out to show the Mayor the amount of people queuing up and wanting photos was unreal.



Meeting his fans!

We then went off to watch the torch relay and on the way got approached by the man off the stage, who said he wanted me up there with him when the torch passes. He said that anyone wanting to get a closer look at the torch can come closer to the stage. When he introduced me to the crowd they went wild, it was unbelievable! I then did an interview on stage with him, which was fantastic.

Palmer on stage

After than I was ushered to the back of the stage where there was even more pandemonium! It was mayhem - hundreds and hundreds of people mobbed me, taking photographs, wanting to touch the torch and kids asking for autographs.

It really didn’t stop all day and my wife and I did not get home till almost seven o’clock. The Mayor and his wife were very nice and he even gave me his email and invited us to have tea with him, along with all the other torch bearers. Overall it was such an amazing experience, I feel so very lucky as it was such an honour to have been picked. 

The crowds in Princes Park