Hastings Park Run, Azur Beach Huts, O.W.E.N.S

Out for a seafront walk this morning and the regular Saturday morning Park Run passed me by, in the photograph runners either coming up to 2.5km or just after 2.5km to the east of the Pier😉and virtually all the 251 runners went past, respect (website).

The Start and Finish ahead

Also, I noticed the migratory Azur Beach Huts have disappeared again...

... to their winter retreat between St Leonards and Bulverhythe!

Finally, they seem to be getting there-ish, but O.W.E.N.S still isn't open!

Happy Anniversary! 15 Years of Park Run...

OK, not 15 years in Hastings, the first Hastings Park Run along the seafront from West Marina Gardens to just past the Pier and back (5K) was in April 2015, and I first gave notice of the 4th run in my blog of 7th May 2015. They begin at 09.00 every Saturday morning, with anything up to a few hundred taking part at a time, men and women, young and old, seasoned runners and newcomers, all are welcome! If you would like to take part and wish for more details please go to the website.

The 15th anniversary goes back to when Zimbabwean Paul Sinton-Hewitt organised the first Park Run, with just 13 runners taking part, at Bushey Park in Watford... 4 million people have since taken part, with 6 million involved/interested in the event, in 21 countries (Guardian). From small acorns... Happy Anniversary!

Walk from Hastings to Battle...

We set off on our walk from Hastings to Battle, via Crowhurst, Saturday morning, hence the 5K Hastings Park Run going on in the background in the photograph above, the successful Saturday morning Park Run, which runs along the seafront (from 09.00 every Saturday), and having been held in Hastings for over 4 years now (blog), excellent! Oh yes, and we spotted this amazingly constructed bumble bees and flowers presentation, a good 100 metres to the west of the Royal Victoria Hotel (blog).

Entrance to Filsham Reedbed

We had been walking up by Combe Haven before entering Filsham Reedbed, which I love visiting, and which I have written about before (eg blog). This is the view from the Viewing Platform, which is reached by a raised boardwalk; for more information go to the Sussex Wildlife Trust's Filsham Reedbed Nature Reserve website.

We then carried on north of west, roughly 290 degrees from the north west edge of Filsham Reedbed Nature Reserve (photograph), until we met the 1066 Country Walk - Bexhill Link, where we headed roughly north towards Crowhurst.

After walking under the new bypass we continued northwards into Crowhurst, where we visited St George's Church, whose origins are from early Norman times, probably still the nave and chancel, but has mostly been rebuilt in the following centuries; the tower is 15th century (Sussex Parish Churches website).

In the churchyard of St George's is a historical yew tree over 1300 years old (not to be confused with the yew tree in the church of St George's in Crowhurst, Surrey, or you're well lost, though it is a threefold coincidence indeed!). For more information of the history of this famous yew tree, and more, go to the Forestry Journal website.

Battle Abbey Gatehouse

We then walked further north, through the RSPB's Fore Wood Nature Reserve (website). Soon after exiting Fore Wood we walked up by the 'battle field' below Battle Abbey, which was built by William the Conqueror, or William the Bastard as he was called in 1066, in penance to the Pope due to the loss of lives during the battle, up to 50% of those who took part (of up to 20,000 probably involved), depending on where you source your information (1066 country website).

Anyway, we carried out a similar walk recently, which includes heading back to Hastings via Bexhill, as we did this time too, next blog is about the ales and return...

Following Hastings Parkrun, sort of!

The regular Saturday morning Hastings Parkrun has been going for nearly 4 years now (blog), starting at 09.00, and finishing whenever, at Seaside Road, in front of West Marina Gardens. Because I wasn't joining in, and because I live near the centre of town, I started at the Halfway point just east of Hastings Pier, a wee bit damp earlier.

Hastings Pier, closed

OK, I soon passed the Pier, whose owner very recently was found guilty at Hastings Magistrates Court (blog) of failing to pay 'security bonds' to Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs (HMRC) in respect of 'Pay As You Earn (PAYE) and National Insurance contributions' and, consequently, "trading illegally" at hotels in Eastbourne. He was fined on 2 counts and the 2 hotel businesses were fined, £2,000 each, thus £8,000 in total. Oh yes, of course it was closed, but you can just (faintly) see in the above image that the flags that used to be flying from the centre Deck pavilion are not there anymore...

Anyway, these were the first two runners coming towards me, before turning around at the Halfway point and returning from whence they started, the lad on the left passed me first coming back, about 10 yards in front of the other, no idea who finished first.

The Parkrun is over 5km, and not meant to be competitive, as parkruns held throughout the country were started in respect to improving individuals' health. However, it is timed, so I'd imagine individual runners become competitive with themselves, trying to improve their own times, probably. Here (above) are not so fast participants.

Goat Ledge, taken just before opening

Now, I've not reviewed Goat Ledge cafe yet, maybe I should soon, but the fact the pavilion cafe on the Pier hasn't been open for ages must be good for them, as Goat Ledge has been open over the winter from 09.00 to 16.00 every day! Oh yes, and I have noticed some excellent comments and reviews of others, and saw a photograph on social media the other day of many people sitting outside Goat Ledge cafe, notably a number of Friends of Hastings Pier supporters. The opening times change at the end of March, when Goat Ledge cafe will be open every day from 09.00 until sunset.

Coming up to the Finish of the Parkrun, (earlier the Start), and some finishers are already wandering back, but, as you can see, participants were still finishing when I took this photograph. Over 300 participants took part today, plus many volunteers to marshal and time the weekly event; if you would like to find out more details of the Hastings Parkrun, participate, or volunteer to help, go to their website. Please note, if you want to participate in other parts of the country, and there are nearly 6,000 clubs around the country, please go to the Parkrun UK website.

And I wandered back to the town centre, when I actually took this photograph (more dull at my start), and I should like to add my congratulations to all who took part in the Parkrun, runners and volunteers alike, nice one!

Normans Bay Return, on foot...

I had a wee walk along the seafront to Normans Bay, accompanied by my brother Dan, and back, and, surprise surprise (not), Hastings Pier was closed...

Just past the Azur Pavilion and we spotted some of the regular 5km Park Run (blog), a fun run carried out around the country, our 'park' just happens to be the seafront. If you would like to know more about this healthy event, which really does cater for all levels of fitness, go to their website.

There was a very strong wind from the west (Storm Eric), though not quite as bad as up north, but still gusts of over 40mph, and the first to finish was Mark Coates (in red), congratulations to him, with the first woman to finish being Abianne Coates, I'm guessing related, whatever, congratulations to her, and to all of those who took part!

When we arrived at the De La Warr Pavilion in Bexhill (website), this wonderful 1930s building where art deco meets the modern, we had to stop for our 'institutional' cup of coffee and sit on the balcony enjoying the view and the coffee, thank you very much!

Then we carried on along to Normans Bay, now appearing ahead of us (above).

The great 'metropolis' that is Normans Bay

After eating one of our sandwiches each, lovingly created by me before we left, we stopped at the, also 1930s and once owned by the De La Warrs, Cooden Beach Hotel.

Then walking into this part of the complex, that is, a bar, and brought outside with us to enjoy, a well deserved pint each of Harvey's Sussex Best Bitter, cheers!

When we returned to Hastings it was just getting dark, but we felt we also deserved another couple of pints each at The Jolly Fisherman (blog), the micropub at East Beach Street, before heading home for dinner, and did enjoy an excellent couple of ales each, and saw a few friends too, cheers again, a good day was had!

Yesterday, no, not a Beatles' song...

The leader runs by me after approximately 1 mile of the Hastings 5K Park Run yesterday morning, ok, it's along the seafront, and not actually in a park as many are. It's held every Saturday, beginning at 09.00 at Seaside Road, down from the Bo Peep, to just east of the Pier and back.

The leading woman, 2 ahead of me

And getting closer to the halfway point, runners going away from me, and runners coming back in this shot. In all, 269 people of all ages took part in the regular weekly Park Run yesterday, not to mention the many volunteers who helped to steward the event. The first male to finish the race was first-timer (in this event) Henry Willis of Maidstone Harriers, and first female was Karen Murdoch of Hastings AC, but you don't need to run for a club to take part, people of all levels run for health or social reasons, and new entrants are positively welcomed; see website for further details, and many of these park runs are held all over the country at the same time!

Though, talking about music... Skinny Lister setting up their stage for their gig yesterday evening at the Stade Open Space, as I mentioned yesterday, a Stade Saturdays contribution to Music Month.