A guiders

Firstly, why Race?
We do all this training and work hard on a Monday night and all seem to be getting better but what for? Yes we want to get fitter and lose some weight but how do we measure if we are improving or running faster or further.This is where organised races come in. Events from 5K to marathon and sometimes further take place week in, week out all over the country. The course profiles may vary but most organised races have a measured course so that a 10k in Cardiff is the same distance as a 10k in Cwmavon, just one might be flatter than the other.This gives a great measuring stick to see how we are doing with our training.   We can race to beat other people, but most of the time it is a race against the clock and ourselves.Racing is fantastic in my opinion, running fast is relative, but running at best is a great personal feeling and when you do achieve a personal best time for a distance or event then there is usually a great feeling of well being (Closely followed by – I am sure I could have gone faster).

There is another side to racing and that is the competition, but from this there is also a great sense of camaraderie. Yes, someone may have pipped you to the finish but there is always the next time when you can get them, and usually there is a word of encouragement as to how the race went. Within our club there is no one who should fear racing; everyone is capable of running a reasonable distance and running well and a race time is only a measure of that. Another thing about running an organised race is getting recorded times and setting personal bests for the distance or for that particular course, so that it is worth going back the following year to see if you can do better. PBs also give a great sense of achievement and a measure of progress.

Why have a championship?

Races provide competition and athletics is about competition. Some years ago a member thought that we ought to have a competition within our club and the Championship was reborn, having fallen by the wayside for some of the club’s leaner years.  The Championship builds over the course of the year and friendly rivalries develop within club, resulting in the awards handed out on presentation night.

Which races?

Committee decides the races over which the championship will be run. We try to look at the most popular races within club to try and encourage as many members to take part. We also look to stay fairly local in order to support other clubs in the area who organise these events.   There are fifteen events selected throughout the year of varying distances and terrain. The reason for an odd number will be explained shortly.

Scoring

Each runner who competes from club scores points from 20 downwards, from their performances against other club members.   So the first club runner home scores 20 points, the next 19, next 18 etc. (no matter where they are placed within the race itself)The points are then recorded and accumulated throughout the year and it is the runners’ best 8 results that count.   There are 15 races so two runners could not avoid each other and each score the maximum points. It also ensures that two runners would have to race against each other at some point.In case of a tie a count back system operates whereby we would look at how the runners who were tied had done against each other.  If they continue tied then there would be a count back of their best positions within the races.Abyd records the championship and obtains all the results for the races in the championship and looks out all the results for our members and then scores it.

Is there only one winner?

No – there is an overall Club Female and Male Champion. There are also trophies for the Champions in each age category, Senior Men, Senior Ladies, Vet Ladies (35+), Vet Men (40+), Super Vet Ladies (45+) and Super Vet Men (50+)Within the individual age categories awards are also given for the second and third placed person and awards are only given if that runner has run in 4 or more races.The overall champions drop out of their age categories and so can not take more that one trophy.The overall Champions trophy is a permanent shield which the winner keeps for a year.The championship follows the calendar year and so the age category you enter is by your age on 1st January.

Do I have to wear a club vest?

The answer to this really is yes, but we tend to be relaxed about it. It would be great if all members were to wear the club vest in a race. It allows members to identify each other more easily and it is a sense of identity amongst the throng of other clubs. However Club has taken the attitude that it is better to have more members compete in the championship than be hung up by rules. So the answer is you should wear a club vest.

Is that as clear as mud now?

I hope it is clearer than that but if you do have some questions then please do not hesitate to contact me, Clem – 029 20703240 – 07702 287321.