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Run Your Heart Out 2025 – A Race to Remember!
Miles of Smiles: A Fun and Scenic Day at Tilgate Park
On Sunday, February 16th, eleven Lewes Athletic Club runners took on the Run Your Heart Out 2025 five-mile (8k) race, an enjoyable fixture in the West Sussex Fun Run League. Hosted in the scenic Tilgate Park, Crawley, this event offered a mix of road and trail, friendly competition, and post-race cake!
Why We Ran
From seasoned competitors to those just looking for a fun and relaxed race, our club members had many reasons for participating.
For Liz Long, it was the encouragement of her Tuesday Evening running buddies: “A few people with whom I regularly run on Tuesdays suggested I did it because I knew we could share lifts, etc. I thought it was an opportunity to do something more formal.”
Jane Holford enjoyed seeing some new Lewes AC members participate and felt the event was “less competitive than other club runs.”
The mix of trail and road drew some. Others saw it as a great introduction to cross-country racing, and a few couldn’t resist the promise of running with friends (and flapjacks).
Claire Hawes, our Team Captain, appreciated the convenience: “The race venue was easy to locate, easy to park, and included the bonus of keeping warm in the K2 Leisure Centre before and after the race.” Meanwhile, Claire Raitt confessed, “What made me do it?! You!” (referring to Claire Hawes and her persuasive powers!).
The Race Experience
The course was exactly as promised – a scenic and varied 5 miles (8K) through Tilgate Park, passing a beautiful lake, woodland trails, and open parkland.
The weather was cold and crisp but dry, perfect for running. The organisation was excellent, with clear signage and plenty of cheerful marshals offering encouragement at every turn.
Jane Holford commented it was a “good course and well marshalled.” Special mention goes to the bright orange markings on tree roots, which saved more than a few runners from an unexpected tumble!
The experience exceeded her expectations for Liz Long: “I wasn’t fully convinced I would enjoy the run as I don’t like the nerves and anxious feelings beforehand, but once I got going, I really surprised myself and enjoyed it!”
Liv Wise agreed: “I expected a good mix of trail and road, and it delivered! Very well organised and lovely marshals.”
Andrew Chitty particularly enjoyed “the long downhill stretch to Tilgate Lake and all the bits inside the woods.” Claire Hawes enjoyed “the final victory lap around the track.”
The Power of Running Together
Cold Air, Warm Hearts: A Fantastic Fun Run Experience
One of the best parts of the event was sharing it with fellow Lewes AC members and racing alongside clubmates, which provided motivation, friendly competition on the course and cheers from the finishing line.
Liz Long emphasised how much it mattered: “I wouldn’t sign up for a race of any sort unless I knew there were other runners of similar pace doing it too.” Jane Holford also found running with friends made a difference: “Definitely having Sarah Pearson and Andrea to run with helped me.”
“I had a great time today,“ said Claire Raitt. “What made it for me was the other people and the supportive, non-competitive atmosphere.“ Liv Wise added: “It was lovely to have other Lewes runners there! It’s always nice to have other runners from the club to support at a race.”
“It was great to make new friends and affirm friendships, too,“ Sarah Pearson added. Her highlight? “Beating Jane Holford in a last-minute sprint to the finish!”
Post-Race Treats & Highlights
Of course, no race report would be complete without a mention of the post-run treats! Claire’s homemade and somewhat deconstructed flapjacks (OK, more granola than flapjack) were a definite hit, and the warm cafe at K2 Leisure Centre was the perfect place to celebrate our efforts.
For Liz Long, one of the most significant rewards was realising how much her training paid off: “The fact that I was able to speed up when I wanted to because I have been doing the strength and conditioning classes and my usual outdoor exercise class with Maria Judd and also running more often.”
Tips for Future Runners
If you’re thinking of joining us next time, here are some top tips from our team:
- Go with friends! Liz Long recommends “going with people you are comfortable running with.”
- Wear the right shoes – We recommend trail shoes for this fixture as parts of the course are off-road, and in February, they were muddy.
- Dress for the weather – February can be chilly, so layer up! “Wrap up warm when it’s freezing cold and wear good trainers!“ advises Liz Long. “Wear a hat” advises Sarah Pearson
- Travel light – No need to carry extra gear; focus on enjoying the run.
- Bring a positive attitude – The West Sussex Fun Run League is all about participation, fun, and community spirit.
Will We Be Back?
Liz Long says she “would recommend it and would participate again, particularly if it were more local. I liked the community feel of the event and the encouragement you get from other runners and the cake afterwards – that pulls everything and everyone together!”
Lydia Cole summed it up best: “Definitely!“
The Run Your Heart Out event was a fun run that was not only physically rewarding but also an enjoyable experience. Every Lewes AC runner who attended told me they would recommend it to others.
Whether chasing a PB, looking for a fun and supportive race, or just there for the cake, the West Sussex Fun Run League has something for everyone.
Results
To check out the results, follow this link.
Next Up
The West Sussex Fun Run League continues with its next fixture – the Flyers5@Thakeham on Sunday, March 23rd. Don’t miss out! Join us for another great day out running, laughing, and maybe even sprinting your clubmate to the finish line.
See you there!