HARP24 2014

This weekend was the Southend Homeless Action Resource Project (HARP) 24 hour running event known by all as the HARP24.  Over 150 runners took part running either individually, in pairs, or in teams of up to 8.  The format was to run as many laps – in relay – of the 4.2 mile lap around the parkland and River Roach between Hawkwell and Eastwood.  The event was based at the Westcliff Rugby Club.  I was there as the ‘official’ photographer.

Be sure also to visit HARP’s website at www.harpsouthend.co.uk

I took around 2,500 over the course of the weekend.  I have uploaded an album of (240) the best of these to my Google+ site which you can find clicking the link below but please read the paragraphs under these links first.

Album of my favourites from HARP24 2014

I have now uploaded pretty much all of the photos I took warts and all so there are plenty of near duplicates #TriggerHappy. Not really worth my time filtering them out – just scroll past them 🙂

HARP24 Album 1
HARP24 Album 2
HARP24 Album 3
HARP24 Album 4
HARP24 Album 5
HARP24 Album 6

As is my usual way of doing things you are welcome to download and use the low resolution photos from these Google+ albums free of charge.  I would appreciate being credited as the photographer where this is appropriate and I do not permit you to use them commercially for your personal gain.  Stick with that and we’ll be fine.  See the bottom of this email for further information.

Ans so to my blog proper…

I know a fair number of the people who took part over the weekend from the Flyers Southend running group and the other local running clubs and groups taking part so I had decided a while ago that I would spend much of the weekend there supporting the runners and taking a load of photos (as I like to do).  I was particularly keen to try doing some night-time photos of runners.

A week or so ago I contacted HARP to see if they had an ‘official’ photographer and that if they didn’t I would happily do that for them and provide copies of all the photos I took.  Catherine at HARP took me up on my offer and so this was my first real photo shoot as opposed to just taking some snaps.  I didn’t do anything different to normal frankly but I did make sure I captured all the main aspects and wearing a hi-viz did allow me to take photos that just a Joe with a camera may not have got 😉

And so I spent much of the weekend out in the sunshine taking around 2,500 photographs (actually quite a small number for me – I took 3,700 at the Southend Half).  Oh and I provided, erected and dismantled the marquee that Kieran Mote from BodyMatters was using for doing his massage in.

I arrived at around nine and with my daughter Lizzie’s and Kieran’s help put up the marquee before milling around taking photos of the build-up.  After dropping Liize back home and capturing the start I spent 2.5 hours walking the course in the reverse direction snapping runners on the way.

A few of the first runners past me shouted something about a poorly signed right turn up in the woods.  After an hour of not seeing runner no.1 Valerie Bloomfield pass me (I was following Valerie particularly as a twitter friend of mine) I was getting a bit worried and checked with HQ via Kieran a few times.  Eventually I received wood she had finished her first lap.  Not long after that Valerie came trotting up the bridleway toward me and stopped for a quick chat.  She had indeed missed the dodgy right turn and run an extra 2 miles to get back to the check-in point.  It didn’t affect her much however as her total distance covered showed at the end 🙂

Once back at race HQ I ambled and photo’d a bit more before heading home only to return again later in the afternoon with Liz in tow again.  We walked out to the country park and I snapped a few more photos then we took some more on the path just before the underpass.  Some tired looking runners passed us and some very smiley ones.  Sam Coombes rushed past me and shouted something about Mikki having take a tumble and may need help getting back followed soon after by Mikki looking totally unscathed and smiling as usual.  I thought I must have missheard but it turned out to be correct and that Mikki was putting a very brave face on it.  Hope it heals quick Mikki.

I headed home once again and returned around 9.30 but this time I drove to Gusted Wood at the far end of the lap to try and get some night-time snaps.

To be continued…..

 

And so to the photos.

I took around 2,500 over the course of the weekend.  I have uploaded an album of (240) the best of these to my Google+ site which you can find clicking the link below but please read the paragraphs under these links first.

Best photos selection

I have now uploaded pretty much all of the photos I took warts and all so there are plenty of near duplicates #TriggerHappy. Not really worth my time filtering them out – just scroll past them 🙂

HARP24 Album 1
HARP24 Album 2
HARP24 Album 3
HARP24 Album 4
HARP24 Album 5
HARP24 Album 6

As is my usual way of doing things you are welcome to download and use the low resolution photos from these Google+ albums free of charge.  I would appreciate being credited as the photographer where this is appropriate and I do not permit you to use them commercially for your personal gain.  Stick with that and we’ll be fine.

https://www.justgiving.com/NOYNEK-HARP24
For donating to HARP

https://www.justgiving.com/Noynek-RLS2014
For supporting my RideLondon for the BTA

If you would like to receive any full resolution versions then email me at noynek99@gmail.com with details of the photos and I will email them to you in return for a modest donation to one of two charities.  You can either donate to HARP itself or you can donate as sponsorship toward my taking part in the Prudential RideLondon Surrey 100 later this year raising funds for the British Tinnitus Association – or both of course.

Thanks for reading. Enjoy the photos.