Southville Running Club Championship 2019

Sunday, February 3, 2019 - 10:12

Chris Hopes

What’s it all about?

The SRC Championship started in 2011 to encourage runners of all abilities and experience to compete against each other more equally and to expand their running horizons. A chance to win something, to get to enjoy the social side of racing and make it more interesting for those who already appreciate it. After most races people stop off at a pub or coffee house to have a drink, something to eat and chew over the events of the day. Celebrate a personal victory or soften the pain of a bad day. And most importantly have fun.

The last 8 winners of the SRCc have not been the fastest of runners by any means just kept plugging away, slowly improving at each event. Now in its 9th year I look forward to a new bunch joining in. There’ll be prizes and a trophy for the overall winner and their name engraved on the club shield for posterity.

What does it involve?

The Championship is 9 races this year, only 3 to count. They are chosen to be no more than 10 km long and within 20 miles of Southville except for 1 event which will be further a field and a little longer. They take place on weekends and weekday evenings enabling you to find races which fit in with your running life. The’re road and off road races, others combine the two into what is termed multi terrain. The Championship starts 30th March and will finish in early June.

All you have to do is pick 3 or more races and enter them. Some races can be entered on the day such as the Towpath race or Tyntesfield but it’s to best enter in advance to avoid disappointment as they fill up quickly. Please look at each race’s website for details or ask around the club. Prices range from free for a Park Run but most fall with in the £7 -£25 range.

It’s up to you to do your race entries. You must enter as a Southville Runner with an up-to-date EA card, a valid SRC membership card and wear a club vest too.

Nearly all races offer discounts to runners who are attached to a club. To become attached to Southville Running Club talk to Tom Lacey (our club sec) about purchasing an England Athletic Card plus an SRC card (£15 combined) and Dave Shattock about a racing vest (about £20). The EA card will pay for itself after 4-5 races; a club top is a requirement of being an attached runner plus it has the benefit of making it easy to spot a friendly face amongst hundreds of people at the at the start of a race. Entering as a Southville Runner also means I'll be able to pick your name out from the results so if you don't I'll miss you.

How do you get points ( and what do points mean….prizes)?

For each road race an individual target time is given to every runner. The target is based on a combination of previous results, feedback from group leaders and a dose of guesswork at the start by myself. Unlike previous years where a point was awarded for every second you beat your target time and a minus point when you don’t hit your target this year it will be banded. Why? Cos I want to cut down the time it takes me to process everything and and reduce errors too.

Beat your target:

0 - 15 secs = 1 point

16 - 30 secs = 3 points

31 - 60 secs = 5 points

61 + = 10 points

Miss your target:

- 1 - 15 secs = -1 point

- 16 - 30 secs = -2 points

- 30 - 60 secs = -3 points

- 60 + = - 4 points

For example:

Runner A	Target time for 5km flat road race	= 21.30
	Achieves	= 20.55
	Points	= 5

Runner B	Target time for 5km flat road race	= 23.15
	Achieves	= 24.55
	Points	= - 4

Off road and multi terrain races are calculated slightly differently. Weather conditions and/or course variations can affect these races disproportionately. Heavy rain can make a course very slow going or organisers add or cut bits of a race due to other incidents like a fallen tree etc. which would rarely happen with a road course as they are measured by the licensing bodies. A different way of scoring has been devised. Your target will be based upon a % of the race winner’s time plus other points for where you come in the race.

Beat your target:

1 point per 2% faster than target to a maximum of 20

Miss your target:

-1 point per 2% slower than target to a maximum of -20.

For example:

Runner A	Target of winner’s time for a Blaise Blazer	= 132%
	Winners time	= 23.15
	Runner A's time	= 28.54
	Runner A’s % of winner’s time	= 124%
	Runner A’s points	16 (2 x 8%)

Last year it was felt runners who did really well in off road races were unfairly 'scored' so in addition to the scoring system above for off road races,

Top 10 finish or better = + 5 points

3rd = + 10 points

2nd = + 15 points

1st = + 20 points

Plus for anyone who wins their age category you get an extra 3 points

No Joker this year and the Gilwern Grunt?

In previous years there has been a joker available for people to double their scores or halve their losses at one race. This year I’ve decided to do away with it. Instead I’ve ‘included’ the marvellous Gilwern Grunt 7.5 mile race in Wales. As this will be a challenge no minus points will be awarded so the worst you can do will be to have an amazing running experience. A route which takes in a quarry, slag heaps, hills with ropes, scrambling on hands and knees up coal finings and sliding on your bum down other hills as well as moorland and fabulous views and a lot of laughter at the end …...lots of cakes after it too.

What do I do now?

If this has galvanised you into having ago - which I hope it has - all you have to do is fill in the attached form. Next look at the list of races and decide which you want to do.

FAQ’s

How much does it cost to enter?	Nothing, gratis, free.
What if I do more than 3 races?	Your worst scores are dropped so the more you do the better your chances.
What if I do less than 3 races?	At the end of the championship, anyone who has 3 race scores takes precedence over someone with 2 races or less even though they may have fewer points. Someone with 2 scores takes precedence over a runner with 1 race scores etc.
What if I disagree with my race target?	You will have to be patient for your first race or two if you have no racing history, it usually comes out in the wash at the end. You can moan if you want but it won’t get you anywhere.
Where do I find race entry details?	All race websites and entry can be found below. You have to enter the races not
Where do I find my target?	At the bottom of this page and the link on the FB page before each race