footnotes - Ware Joggers

FOOTNOTES
March 2014
THE MASTERS AND CLUB CHAMPIONSHIP LEAGUES EXPLAINED…………….
If you run in our “Club Championship” you will noticed you have been placed into a division within the league based
on your ability relative to other runners in the club. The scoring of points is independent of which league you are in
or who else from your league takes part. For each race 60 points are awarded to the 1 st person home, 59 to the 2nd
person home and so on. This scoring of points in the “Club Championship” takes no account of age or sex. A couple
of years ago the club introduced a new “Masters Championship League” to run alongside the “Club Championship”
that would take age and sex into consideration.
The WMA (World Masters Association) issue time standards for all race distances, ages and sex. These time standards
are based on the world records set by both male and female athletes for ages 18 to 100. An individuals WMA is calculated by taking their exact age on race day (including months and days) and comparing their race pace to that of the
BAGGERS
BEING
CHASED
BY the
A CROCODILE!
WMA tables equivalent. So if you obtain a WMA of 60% it means you ran at 60%
of the
pace
run by
world record holder for your age group and sex. Obviously the calculation is a little more complex than this as records are not
set for every age and so additional factors are used to allow for this. The intention of our “Masters Championship
League” is to enable all club members to compete against each other with age and sex being factored into the results
to provide a level playing field.
The “Masters Championship League” has only one division with all runners placed into the one table. Points for each
race run are awarded based on the individuals WMA% achieved in the race rather than their finish position. i.e. the
runner with the highest WMA% receives 60 points the runner with the 2 nd highest WMA% receive 59 points etc.
All the rules for the existing “Club Championship” are used, however, a runner achieving a WMA PB will be awarded
an additional 3 points. Achieving a WMA PB is something very special as it indicates this to be your best race performance ever regardless of the distance run or your age. This is a great indication of just how well you are running relative to your performances of the past.
Our website contains two WMA tables and the Club Championship tables:
“Master Championship League” www.ware-joggers.co.uk click Race & Results click Masters Tables
“Club Championship League” - www.ware-joggers.co.uk click Race & Results click League Tables
If you are still confused or have any questions then please ask and I will try
to explain further.
Colin Naman
In This Issue

Bolton Hill Marathon
x2

Club Championship
Race Report and
Update
Please contact Isabel Kucuk

Meet a Joggeroo
or Amanda Sykes.

Club Diary
Buddies' required for the
next Beginners Course, starting Thursday April 17th. No
experience
necessary!
BLOOD, SWEAT AND VERY NEARLY TEARS...
What the heck was I doing signing up for the Bolton Hill marathon, in the Pennines, in March? A fair question and all I can say is it seemed to
make sense at the time. Signing up for two was another thing all together.
Having just finished one of the flattest road marathons in the country at Abingdon it seemed sensible to find myself another challenge about 16
weeks away that would motivate me to keep my running level up and not to lose all the fitness gain I’d made marathon training. To find a marathon where an attempt at a PB wouldn’t be possible, avoiding the temptation to train for speed which in the past has left me injured. So hills it
was.
There were a couple of options for the beginning of March but Bolton Hill marathon seemed to tick all the boxes. This was to be its second year
of running having sold out its 150 places very quickly. I’d read all the reviews, brutal, brilliant and well organised seemed to sum them up. The
organisers had announced that this year the marathon would be held over 2 days not just the one, making it possible to sign up for Saturday,
Sunday or for the foolhardy, both. It took me two weeks before I finally clicked the both button. Apart from the obvious reasons why not, which
included, I’d never run hills that high, I’d never run a trail marathon, I’d never run back to back marathons, Do they really need forty members of
mountain rescue!! and why run a hill called Winter Hill in March anyway? The best I can say is there seemed no real reason n ot to. And besides I was imagining one of our members (who shall remain nameless) talking in my ear, telling me not to be such a wimp and just press the
button.
So sixteen weeks of training went well, lots of hill work, but quite hard to train for running thousand feet hills in and
around Ware. Finally with training over, the race weekend was here. I’d booked the Holiday Inn in Bolton and as it had
a pool, a sauna, a good restaurant and was close to the shops, Carol had agreed to join me. We arrived early Friday
afternoon and spent an hour or so checking out the race village at the start and the first couple of miles of the course.
Two and a half miles of road mainly uphill seemed a long way even in the car.
Nervous, eager and excited two hundred runner’s line up for the race. A quick briefing (pedestrians and
sheep have priority right of way) a blast of an air horn and we’re off.
Day 1 ~ Pace was impressive, we all seemed to have forgotten this was a marathon. Half a mile of minor undulations then a turn up a sharp hill similar to Cardiac only a bit longer, a quarter mile of flattish road then turning up
again, this time about a mile or so of a slightly steeper Wengeo Lane, at around 2.5 miles we go off road and join the
hill path up to the summit at 3.8 mile getting the first little taster of the mud and puddles to come. Wind strong and
behind us up on Winter Hill, freezing cloud hiding the views and keeping our jackets wrapped on tight. Back on the road for 2 miles of poor
visibility downhill running. I made the most of taking the energy from the hill and whizzed past quite a few people. Fuel station at 5.8 miles
stocked with water, electrolyte drink, energy gels, flap jack, jelly babies and even jelly snakes.
Day 2 ~ Someone’s stolen my legs and swapped them for Douglas Bader’s! Very slow wobbly jog out of the start, hobbled up Cardiac, C3PO
impressions along the flattish bit before hobbling again up Wengeo and hill path. Much warmer today, with no cloud and very little wind. Jacket
off at mile 1 and not needed for the rest of the day. Stop at the summit and take a minute to sit and massage my calves. Feeling loads looser I
start a fairly careful jog downhill then slowly, finally, like Forrest Gump losing his braces, I’m running again. By the time I reach the drinks station, all’s right with the world and I’m looking forward to the next 20 miles.
Day 1 ~ 2 miles of uneven stone and rock road the organisers called cobbles. Picking a route that didn ’t twist an ankle or trip you flat
on your face was nigh on impossible. And at about mile 7 I had my first tumble, both hands down hard on the wet and muddy flinty rocks before
rolling over one shoulder to keep my face from impacting too. Slight grazes on my hands but nothing too serious. A mile later however, I take a
jelly baby from my waist pouch and like a scene from Texas chainsaw massacre the poor little green fella is squashed headless between the
blood soaked fingers of a blood soaked hand. A borrowed wet wipe (not returned) soon revealed a tiny but free flowing scrape on the palm of
my hand. Quick addition of a plaster and all is well. Mile 8 brings the bog! No more than 50 ft. in I step into a 2” deep puddle and disappear up
to my knee, momentum carries me forward until both arms are also buried in the bog up to my elbows. With a very Ware joggerish cry of “mind
the puddle” the runner behind tiptoes past me. Wipe down on some tufted grass and we’re off again. A few hundred yards walk uphill and then
my favourite bit of the race both days, half a mile or so downhill through the rock strewn bog as fast as possible, trying to pick a route that
wouldn’t throw you flat on your face. Mud everywhere and with a huge grin on my face, my scream of “that’s awesome” quite startled the marshal at the end. Back on to stony, heavily undulating paths until the next fuel station at mile 12.
Day 2 ~ Feeling good on this section, another trip around mile 7, this time a full commando roll, no harm done and after a quick wi pe
down straight back off again. Loved the bog again and this time stayed upright. Taking the half mile downhill run to the drinks station at full tilt I
still seemed to be going from strength to strength.
Day 1 and Day 2 ~ 2 miles of flat alongside a lovely river, seemed to go on forever, strangely found this section quite difficult both
days. Turned onto very narrow and steeply bouldered hillside path. Lots of concentration needed to pick a sensible route through the uneven
ground. Climbing over a fallen tree an additional challenge you don’t find in many races. Drinks station at mile 16. More undulations (hills)
running alongside Angelzarke reservoir, through barrow bridge village and to mile 21.5 and the start of THE HILL that takes us up past Rivington Pike.
CONT. ON PAGE 4
CLUB CHAMPIONSHIP 2013/14
"Remember the
feeling
you get
from a
good run
Well done everyone on taking part in Race 6 of the Club Championship Season, the challenging Berkhamsted Half Marathon, on March 2nd. It was another successful outing for Ware Joggers, in a well supported and much liked local race. Updated league tables and results to follow soon.
We fielded a large contingent at the 3rd annual Cambridge Half Marathon too, as well as staffing a drinks station in the heart of the city – for which we owe thanks to Annette Fairhurst, Jo
Smith, Annie Thomas and John Mallet. The organisers were particularly impressed that they
cleared up discarded water pouches, tidied up and piled up spare water all ready to be cleared
away! They did Ware Joggers proud. As for the runners, on a fast, well supported course, in 20
degree heat, there were a clutch of well earned PBS too. Well done everyone on a fun day out.
Nice to see us featuring so prominently in the Cambridge News souvenir pull out too!
The remainder of the season looks like this:
Race 7
is far bet-
www.biggleswadeac.org.uk/sandyten
Race 8
Race 9
running."
Sarah
Condor
Hatfield Broad Oak 10k, Essex
Monday 26th May 2014
11.00am start ~ ENTRY OPEN NOW!
around
you were
Sunday 27th April 2014
www.runnersworld.co.uk
sitting
wishing
Braintree 5 Mile, Essex
11.00am start ~ ENTRY OPEN NOW!
ing you
get from
Sunday 30th March 2014
10.30am start ~ ENTRY NOW FULL
ter than
the feel-
Sandy 10 Mile, Bedfordshire
www.hbo-10k.org.uk
Race 10
TBC
London Marathon
We’ve been invited to volunteer at the start of the London Marathon this year and so
far around 15 Ware Joggers have volunteered. If you would like to help out on Blackheath first thing on the day, please talk to me – via Facebook and email is best so I can
keep track of names. It’s a great compliment to the club that we have been invited to
do this - and it will leave you free to support our Ware Jogger entrants on the day
too!
Sue Millward Race Secretary 07976 150408
5K HANDICAP CLUB RACES (Is it that time of year again!)
◊ TUES MAY 6TH
◊ THURS MAY 22ND
◊ TUES JUNE 10TH
◊ THURS JULY 3RD
◊ TUES JUNE 15TH
7.45PM START, FROM YOUNGSBURY ESTATE ◊ £5.00 ENTRY FOR ALL RACES ◊ PRIZES
FOR 1ST, 2ND & 3RD MALE & FEMALE AND SERIES WINNER ◊ BEST 3 RACES COUNT ◊
MARSHALLS NEEDED ~ PLEASE SEE TERRY
Blood, sweat and very nearly tears...continued
Day 1 ~ Fast walked the very muddy hill section through the wood and the steep road section that followed.
Day 2 ~ Strolled the very muddy hill section through the wood and the steep road section that followed.
Day 1 ~ Ran the 300 yards of almost flat section that leads to the main farm. (What was I thinking?)
Day 2 ~ Strolled the 300 yards of almost flat section that leads to the main farm.
Day 1 ~ Up the main part of the hill, fast walk, becoming slow walk becoming hobble and finally a shuffle. With only a 100 yards to
go to the summit I wanted to lay down and cry. This was my lowest point of the 2 days, it seemed impossible that I could keep moving and
reach the top that was only a short way away. My legs had never felt so heavy, pain was shooting up my lower back and my energy reserves were suddenly exhausted. Every tiny step was a major effort for very little forward progress. But ever so slowly, after giving myself
the “don’t be such a wimp, this is supposed to be fun” talking too, I did make it to the top.
Day 2 ~ Slow walking the hill became a bit of a shuffle towards the end but nowhere near as bad as the day before. Three of us
went up together and with lots of mumbled curses, forced grins and a verse of “it’s all gone quiet on the hill” we made it to the top.
Day 1 ~ 100 yards into the downhill jog I get a bad attack of the cramps. With the help of a fellow runner stretching my leg out I ’m
able to continue slowly, downhill until drinks at mile 23 a long uphill walk then virtually completely downhill again to the finish. Hobbled over
the line in a time of 4.45.49.
Day 2 ~ Stopped at the top of the hill to stretch and massage my calves to prevent a repeat of the cramping the day before. Had a
nice steady jog all the way to the finish and even had a little bit left to raise the pace over the last mile. Despite being almost 20 minutes
behind the previous day at mile 8, I had pulled that back to around 6 minutes by the end to finish in a time of 4.52.07.
200 people finished the first day, 123 the second, 41 of these did both. The winning time in a course record was 3.03.22.
After the bath water had turned the colour of Bovril, emptied and refilled I was finally clean again. An hour’s float in the pool each day was
just lovely and a good start to the recovery. This is one of the hardest yet easiest events I’ve ever attempted, the terrain was challenging,
but I smiled and grinned most of the way around and found the time just flew by. The views were stunning, organisation spot on and I would
not hesitate to do a trail marathon again. This was not a run for just the elite runners, all abilities took part and completed the course, one or
two needed the whole 8 hour limit but they can join me in proudly saying “I conquered the Bolton Hill Marathon.”.... “Twice”.
And in future races when things get tough and I again want to lay down and cry, I will remember day one on THAT HILL and again find a
way to keep moving forward.
Martin Blacker
Race Website www.hillrunner.org.uk
WARE JOGGERS ENGLAND ATHLETICS REGISTRATION NUMBER
MEET A JOGGEROO
In each edition of Footnotes I will be bringing
you a Joggeroo so that you can get to know
them better. Mr. March is:
2669597
NEW MEMBERSHIP YEAR
EVERYONE'S Club and Wodson Corporate membership expires on March 31st (no matter when during last year you
paid). You can download a 2014/15 membership form from
the ware-joggers website, or a hard copy is available at
Club.
KENNY BLYTH
Birthday: May 28th
How long have you been a member of the
club?
12 years.
Annual Club membership still costs £5 per member,
Wodson Corporate membership is now £28 (family and concession rates are on the back of the form).
Remember that if you don't take Wodson Corporate membership you need to pay Wodson reception £1 every time you
come to Club to run, to help pay for our free meeting
rooms. If you are likely to come to Club even just once for
What/Who inspires you to run? To keep
myself fit, John Butcher and the love of it!
most weeks of the year, Wodson Corporate membership rep-
Favorite race and why? It’s got to be the
ABINGDON MARATHON. Mainly because at
the age of 61 years old I achieved a PB of 3
hours, 23 minutes and 54 seconds — Not bad
for an old codger!
gives you discounted class and venue hire costs.
Significant others: My rather large family!
they may not ask to see it. Wodson is kindly honouring the
Favorite
holiday destination and
why? New
Zealand, the
only place,
but for my
family, I
would move
to.
Any hobbies? Is
there anything but running!!
Food: Heaven and Hell? Heaven; potatoes, chocolate
and custard. Hell; seafood.
Drink: Heaven; Tea, Hell; Booze.
One interesting fact that people may not
know about you: No, not really—What you
see is what I am!
resents a good saving on all those £1 payments, and it also
The 2014/15 Wodson Corporate card is yellow, to distinguish it
easily from this year's black one. Please show your card to
Wodson reception every time you come to Club, even though
2013/14 black Corporate Membership card until the end of
April.
I look forward to seeing you. Happy running.
Margaret Waddingham
Club Secretary
First Friday of the Month
Drinks
Next one: Friday April 4th
Punch House
WARE
From 8.00pm
CLUB KIT
CLUB KIT
CLUB KIT
CLUB KIT
Kit Man – Les Taylor, that’s me! If you need anything just head in my direction on club nights or contact me by email, FB
or telephone. All the details are on the web site contacts page.
INDIVIDUAL RACE/EVENT RESULTS (Run in Club Colours)
FEBRUARY 2014
4th
Watford 1/2
Julia Booker
02:04:56
23rd
Knebworth House 10k X Country
Paul Cocklin
00:53:12
MARCH 2014
8th
Bolton Hill Marathon Day 1
Martin Blacker
04:45:49
9th
Bolton Hill Marathon Day 2
Martin Blacker
04:52:07
9th
Essex 20
Rob Waddingham
03:00:10
9th
The Grizzly 20ish!
Les Taylor
03:51:00
9th
The Grizzly 20ish!
Mark Cyl
03:46:00
9th
Cambridge 1/2
Jon Williams
01:24:31
Mike Bagnall
01:25:11
Howard Roden
01:32:52
Mark Dipper
01:35:31
Gareth Tillbrook
01:38:11
Tom West
01:40:46
Annie Reville
01:47:13
James Reed
01:47:29
Hazel Clark
01:49:14
Clare Halfpenny PB
01:52:48
Kate Liddiard PB & Sam Rowe PB
01:55:35
Richard Millward
01:55:38
Sue Millward
01:56:19
Kimberley Mangelshot
02:00:39
Jon Little & Angela Little
02:06:31
Suzy Stacey PB & Julia Booker
02:07:25
Kate Hipkin PB
02:06:48
Amanda Sykes PB
02:19:10
Isabel Kucuk
02:39:47
Ros Hitchen PB
02:40:54
Dawn Collins PB
02:41:55
Caroline Reardon PB
02:47:32
23rd
Liverpool 1/2
Angela Little PB
02:05:45
25th
Hastings 1/2
Nick Cheal
02:03:09
MOTIVATIONAL TALK AND SOCIAL EVENING
Monday April 28th—Andy Blackford at Wodson Park, supported by
Ware Joggers.
Andy Blackford was a writer for many years on Runners World, is also
a former ultra runner, musician, advertising executive. He’s twice
competed in the notorious Marathon des Sables. He speaks compellingly about his running, going vast distances, about his Buddhism,
teaching in prisons, about his love of meditation and mindfulness.
It’s a great evening. Tickets on sale at Wodson Park priced £5.
“Dr Phil” Lancaster to cycle 100km to
raise funds for Isobel Hospice!
On May 25th, Ware Jogger “Dr Phil” is taking part in a
fundraising event run by Isobel Hospice called ‘On Your
Bike’. He hopes to raise £2000+ and would very much
appreciate your support. He chose this charity having
seen the fantastic work they do for the patients of his and
surrounding practices. The Hospice relies hugely on voluntary donations just to keep going.
If you can please help him to reach his goal – any amount
would be greatly appreciated and just think how good it
will feel when you realize you have helped one of the
most deserving local charities maintain their vital services
for you and your family should you ever need it.
Phil’s Just giving page is at: www.justgiving.com/Philip-Lancaster2
For more information on the event go to: www.isabelhospice.org.uk/helping-us/events/events+pages/
on_your_bike_2014
MARCH
Thursday
27th
Friday
28th
Saturday
29th
Sunday
30th
Monday
31st
TRAINING
SOCIAL & GENERAL RUNS
Paalauf Relay/Fartlek
Ware Orbital - Kingshill First
General Run
SANDY 10M
TRAINING
SOCIAL & GENERAL RUNS
CLUB CHAMPIONSHIP
SCORING RACES
Kenyan Hills - Thunderidge
Tesco's Hertford - Optional Torchlight
Run Back Along the River
1 Mile Reps (Fanshaw Crescent)
Lions' Nose - Head Torch & HV Tops
Essential
APRIL
Tuesday
1st
Wednesday
2nd
Thursday
3rd
Friday
4th
Saturday
5th
Sunday
6th
Monday
7th
Mikes: Week Holiday
Tuesday
8th
Up The Clock?
Ware Orbital - The Hyde First
Wednesday
9th
Thursday
10th
Track?
Propeller Run
Friday
11th
Saturday
12th
Sunday
13th
Monday
14th
Tuesday
15th
Wednesday
16th
Thursday
17th
Friday
18th
Saturday
19th
Sunday
20th
Monday
21st
Tuesday
22nd
Wednesday
23rd
Thursday
24th
Friday
25th
Saturday
26th
Sunday
27th
Monday
28th
Tuesday
29th
Wednesday
30th
CLUB CHAMPIONSHIP
SCORING RACES
General Run
Southside Hills
Short Hills - Thunderidge
Amwell - Optional Torchlight Run Back
Along the River
London Marathon
Easter Sunday - WODSON CLOSED
Speed Endurance - The Hyde
Tesco's Hertford - Out Via The River/
Meads - Back On The Road
1M Reps - Fanshaw Crescent. Intermediates Training Starts
Moles Farm, North Drive, High Cross
Back Via Old A10
General Run
Strength Endurance - Chadwell
BRAINTREE 5 MILER
Handicap Race Route
Contact Me
Amanda Sykes
07788 923434
Visit us on the web at:
www.ware-joggers.co.uk
OTHER RACES
Brighton Marathon/
Manchester Marathon
General Run
Timed Tempo - Heath Drive
OTHER RACES
amandaj.sykes@virginmedia.com