Handicap Race 2012

The Striders Handicap 2012

The race director shows off his algorithms

Ok, twas time for the greatest club race of them all, a chance to be the slowest runner known to the club and still be able to win.

This year, I was busy organizing the event so had to bow out of running it, that was the bad news. The good news was that I could pinch a Jam tart or two whilst awaiting everyone to come back. So with a great turnout of 17 runners competing it was time to get the algorithm sorted to see who went when.

Heather storming to victory

At this point I think an explanation is called upon on how the handicap works. A simple principle really, Mark has a 10k of 50 mins Brian has one of 45 mins, and Peter being an Olympic hopeful has one of 20 mins.  Mark sets off first with Brian setting of 5 mins after him, then Peter goes when the clock strikes 30 mins gone. The idea of which is that come the end of the race, all the runners no matter how fast should finish very close to one another.

Evonne has plenty of time for a cheeky wave

So in order to make sure any elements of cheating were ruled out, I casually spent a few days searching personal bests of competitors that I knew were taking part. Then upon the runners' arrivals I asked for the PB making small adjustments in view of age fitness levels etc. For example, I think Tom’s PB was set when he was about 10, now 20 years on he had slowed somewhat.  

I have to say that all bar 1 person was completely honest, and the person that wasn’t hadn’t had a 10k time to offer me. Therefore I worked backwards for a couple of people from the well known marathon expectation time of doubling your half and adding 10 mins so halving your half and removing 5 mins!!!! Confused? Well you can bet I was!!!

So the start commenced with the Lady vet Liz setting off on her way followed by Mark Harby, Evonne, Kay etc etc. This continued all the way down to Giles who set off with a huge deficit of 14 mins to make up and 10 seconds behind Alan Pearson. Cleverly though, Giles had adopted a technique whereby he would keep Alan talking so that he would miss his start time and therefore reduce the deficit further. 

Oi! Stop checking out my algorithms you!

Over the next 54 mins I sat around preparing food and water for the runners to come home. It seemed like an eternity but it wasn’t. A few jam tarts later and a couple of slices of coffee cake gone I spotted the first runner. Heather was coming through the gates and across the field to take a well earned first place. Heather was closely followed by a very determined Alan Pearson who was struggling to hold off an even more determined Giles finishing just 5 seconds in front of him. Kay was to come home to take the second Lady prize and each of the runners strolled in one by one and all within 3 mins of each other. 

Meaning I could safely say the algorithm was successful. 

An album of photos taken by Paul can be found here.

Full results

1. Heather Carter

2. Alan Pearson

3. Giles Hodges

4. Martin Coleman

5. Rick Kelso-Davies

6. Michael Escolme

7. Kay Masters

8. Gordon Hutchins

9. Chris Brumby

10. Liz O'Keeffe

11. Paul Barnett

12. Tom Mayell

13. Evonne Foulkes 

14= Perry Wyatt

14= Terry Coppenhall

16. Mark Harby

17. Jo Smith