Tabbing the Hastings Half - One down, four to go.

For those of you who’ve not heard the original story, James Chinnock has taken on the challenge of ‘tabbing’ five events for Children on the Edge this year. 

TAB stands for ‘Tactical Advance to Battle’ and means that the runner has to complete the course in heavy boots, wearing army trousers and carrying a back pack weighing 35lb.The Hastings Half is the first of these events that James is taking on in this get up, with the last one being this year’s Chichester Half.

So.. without further ado, here’s James’ Hastings post race report: 

With 1 of 5 events now done and dusted I can report that pretty much every part of me aches, inside and out.

 Event: Hastings half marathon
Conditions: Chilly and cloudy but dry – perfect!
Course: Hilly, very hilly!
Injuries: 4 badly bruised toes
Weight Carried: 35lbs

T’was a cold and soggy morning on Sunday 22nd March… when I woke up to start thinking of elaborate yet acceptable excuses not to stumble 13 miles around Hastings with the weight of my 6 year old on my back (although including hair she is possibly twice that weight). However, having failed to come up with any reason not to do it (or at least none that anyone would believe), I donned my army surplus combat boots and trousers, and headed off into the crowds of spandex-clad athletic-looking types… dressed as a middle aged extra from an Andy McNab novel.

I lined up at the start with Tom and Jerry, a Rhino and Spider Man (who all beat me but we won’t mention that –  now I see why the Paras turned me down!), however, as the event unfolded I found myself running along most of the way with a group of girls dressed as Belly Dancers…..it’s not my fault! It’s just the random nature of sports! It just happened.

The first half of the course itself was shockingly hilly. As far as my tired legs were concerned by the 5th mile of uphill trudging, I might have entered an ultra-marathon in the Andes. As such I was forced to walk (sorry…stride purposefully) up the steep bits, and jog till I thought I would ‘be ill’ on the flat and downhill bits. There is a road called Queensway… I guess its best described as a longer-yet-paved version of Chichester’s famed Trundle.

I won’t drone on about every step, but essentially: I didn’t suffer any “chaffing related injuries” (to put it politely) I can however report 4 badly bruised toes (I think that was caused by running downhill in boots with the weight). All in all I am just very tired and hungry, I don’t think any long term damage….the ankle pain I started with seems to be in the same state as before so fingers crossed that was just from running with weight in trainers not boots.

The crowds were amazing though, it’s a big event of approx. 5000 people with the whole centre of the town closed off so tons of people cheering you on. Should they spot this write up I would like to thank the girl from the Reme who was running for help For Heroes, oh…and the Belly Dancers.

…and so home for a well-earned bottle of Hobgoblin….I mean erm….Lucozade obviously.

If you'd like to sponsor James in this epic 2015 challenge just go to his Justgiving page or text TABB95 and the amount you would like to donate to 70070.

If you’d like to sign up for the Chichester Half yourself.. (wearing normal running gear we assume) then sign up here.

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