It looks like the UK leg of the International Barefoot Run will be at Stanmer Park in Brighton. This does need confirmation yet though. If you will be participating in the event, please let me have your email address so I can add you to our mailing list. If you are happy to be contacted through this site, thats fine, I just think a mailing list works better. Thank you Martyn
Ah! That has good memories for me, the scene of one of my rare triumphs! I won a nine mile New years day race there in 1985... Oooh that makes me feel old!
I had a quick look on Google maps and if people wanted a hard surface, the road that goes around the bit of grass the church is in can be started on the grass opposite Stanmer house, go across the grass to the road on the other side and then run clockwise back to the start. This can be made 1K (I did it with the google map measuring tool thingy). If you don't want a hard surface then just run on the grass around the outside but perhaps going closer to the church while still cutting off the church & pond. Issues; (1) It's a narrow public road (but is one way which may help and it's not busy). (2) I don't remember what the road surface is like so could be too rough for some. (3) I seem to remember it has speed bumps which is great so long as you remember to look for them! (4) The whole park is obviously open to the public and this part is, on a fine day, frequently covered with picnics and little footy games etc. so I'm now (as I write) thinking this bit of grass won't be very good. (4) Do we have any ideas of numbers (as if it's just, say, 5 of us we can largely do what we like as any small bunch of runners can but if it's 500 then it needs a different kind of organising)? I hope this link works, it shows the vaguely triangular patch of grass with the church at the top and Stanmer House to the top left: here. Perhaps you can let me know if public road is an option as you won't want to try & close it (you won't be able to or I think it cuts off the village and anyway, how would some runners get there if taking their car). As an alternative to road there's lots of grass & trees elsewhere in the park but I've no idea how even it is (if that's a concern). I wonder if anyone has a petrol mower so we could just mow out a 1K in the less heavily used area near the entrance to the park!?! I will dig out an OS map & to see if there are some trails and I hope to go there & inspect the possibilities further at some point. If anyone else cares to do this instead/too let me know. Other thoughts; (1) it could be worth mentioning on any Facebook (etc.) celeb pages that we know are interested in barefoot (e.g. Eddy Izzard, who else is there too?) as, although they are probably far too busy, if one did turn up that would be fantastic. (2) Is it worth seeing if any companies want to get involved? I know that Terra Plana have a shop in Brighton for example. Hey Aranya, I'm only up to about 2K BF so far but certainly hope to reach 5K just in time. I'm trying to behave myself & not do TMTS.
Piggyback ride please. I had not thought about closing roads. I know that Sussex Cross Country chamionships use the park and according to them, the outside dge of the park is just short of 5k. If I can get a map of the course they use, i can probably get a risk assessment from them as well. At this point in time I have no idea how many we are looking at. I have 10 potentialy interested people but it has not been advertised as yet. I am going to be posting it on "Running Bug", "Event finder", "Race diary" and all the other online methods. Run247.com have said that they are happy to promote it and I am working on getting the Argus paper involved. The Brighton Sports Development team are another group I am working on. They are a council organisation and there role is to get people up and about, trying something new. Love the celeb idea. Fat boy slim had crossed my mind. Approaching companies for sponsership and advertising is also a good idea. Not sure about Terra Plana though as I will be pushing Vibram Five Fingers at the event. Will have to think about that one. I am having to co-ordinate all of this remotely as I live in Nottingham and I really appreciate any help you can offer. A lady called Megan is helping out with things down there as she is a lot closer to Brighton. Her email is - meganwdavies@yahoo.co.uk Let her know that you got here email address from me. It might be worth talking with her so as not to end up duplicating work. Martyn
My parents live in nearby Worthing & I visit from time to time, but haven't been up to Stanmer for a couple of years & wouldn't want to rely on my memory regarding the road surface (though it tells me they're fairly barefoot friendly. There's no steep inclines around the roads & so probably no need (unlike around my home) to make the gravel surface sharp underfoot. I reckon it would make a good venue. I may be down there in Feb, but no guarantees on that yet. Would be happy to check out any questions any of you have (& take photos too if necessary) if I do go. Will keep you informed. As for my progress, well 2K BF is better than me at the moment, though I've been walking barefoot (apart from sandals when it's really cold) for 15 years now.
Aranya Photos of the park would be brilliant. I am sure you can get to 5k by May. There is now a possibility that Michael Sandler will be coming along. I am hoping to get him to do a bit of a talk and lesson type thing, although this is very much up in the air at the moment.
Wow! That would be a coup... especially given that it's an international thing... As you mentioned sponsorship I was thinking about whether to approach Chris and Kate at Raw Living about providing raw snack bars? They're based in Brighton & the barefoot / raw food ideas both come from an 'it's natural' angle. They also sell superfoods like chia seed (mentioned in Christopher McDougal's 'Born to Run'). Then again there's 00 Running Fuel who also sell chia & lots of other goodies... Depends on how much we want to link the barefooting to the other Tarahumara angles... Any thoughts about contacting the local clubs to see if we can get some interest there? I grew up running with Worthing Harriers & my brother & his children still run with them. I already mentioned it to him & having recently given him a pair of Fivefingers, I think he might be up for it too. He might also be well placed to liase with Brighton & Hove AC (men's & women's) / Phoenix AC etc. There's a bunch of stuff to think about...
Aranya I have just hit a small glitch. An email from "piggybackrideplease" He has been and had a look at Stanmer Park and reccons that some of it is a no go for beginners, as e dont want to put off the newbies. As you are in the Brighton (ish) area. Is there anywhere you would like to put forward as a venue? Remembering that time is short now. BRS would like locations submitted by 25th Jan. As for all the other stuff in your email - fantastic. will def look in to all of that. The bigger the event the better. Tell the world
Hi Martyn, What does PBRP think is the issue for beginners? Stanmer has a large area of short grass. Is it some areas of tarmac that need crossing? I actually live in East Devon, but my parents & brother live nearby-ish & I'm expecting to be there sometime early to mid Feb (a bit late for the BRS though). The downland around there is flint & chalk, so the country tracks would be a bit rough underfoot, but my memory of the park itself was a lot of short grass (including sports pitches). It's also got good access from the centre of Brighton, being right off the A27. Shall I contact Kate & Chris then (I've known them for many years)? Cheers, Aranya
PBRP says the roads in some places are in a poor state and he thinks the loose stones might end up in the long grass. all the photos on line show the park with short grass. This might be because the race is organised by such a big organisation. Long grass and stones is not good for a beginer. Who are Kate and Chris? Please contact anyone you like. the more information I can get the better. I am going to have to contact Park Services and talk it through with them.
Yes, some of those photos can be several years old... Maybe the grass is long at the moment because it's winter? I suppose it depends on where we intend to run. The race I ran there in '85 was pretty much around the entire park & not much of it on the roads. Speaking to the park services sounds like a good idea - I guess we need to let them know of our intentions anyway. Will we need any kind of licence to use the space? Looks like my trip in early Feb will be happening if that can be of any help. Kate & Chris run Raw Living... I'll mention it to them & see what they say. Cheers, Aranya
Aranya. We dont need a licence as such. I do need to apply to use the park, but it is already penciled in for us. I also need to do a risk assessment of the event and submit it to the council. I have emailed Park Services this morning with questions about the grass and roads, wait and see. I will of course have to pay for the Park and some kind of insurance. I am speaking as well with Brighton Sports Development Team. If I can get them involved that will make things almost free. Not sure how Kate and Chris can get involved but they are more than welcome. I am going to have to make a decision soon and contact Michael Sandler again to see if he can confirm his attendance. So much to do, so little time.
We organised a race at Warwick Uni for first time around 1985 & I remember there being a lot to do! Volunteer marshalls?! Have you also noticed how each reply space here gets narrower...
