Race Date: Saturday 28th December 2024

Background

I have run the vast majority of the Striders’ summer versions since the first one in 2006, so well set up by the late Roy Kitson.

I started handicapping striders teams for both the Sheffield Way and Dronfield Way a few years later, until I got criticised when my team won!!

Anyway I have always thoroughly enjoyed running the Dronfield Way, especially the last few years with the way it has been organised and developed to its current format of everyone being handicapped, which I love, as it gives everyone the chance to win, which is unusual with only the Hallam Chase also a handicapped event.

More importantly, the team element makes it a great social event and in the old days there used to be a buffet in the George and Dragon, which was great until they thought making some money was too much trouble.

Anyway, during Covid the Striders held a winter version, when they were able, to make up for the lost summer one, and it was brilliant. At the time I suggested to anyone who would listen that DRC should hold a winter version. Unfortunately no-one had the time until now, so I was able to step forward and I got approval from Helen Smith, the Striders Chair and then the DRC committee.

I mentioned it at the buffet for the Sheffield Way to gauge interest, before getting formal approval from DRC, as quite correctly they wanted it thinking through and a Risk Assessment. I took my time doing this, which meant that I covered all eventualities. My biggest concern was bad weather and everyone’s safety and or cancellation risk to the club, who are still new and need to be cost conscious.

Hence the idea of a drink in the pub, as a way to get everyone together without the costs and potential waste of a buffet if it was cancelled. So this is why we moved the start to Coal Aston as we knew Antony at the Royal Oak would be very obliging. It was Strider Rob Davies who suggested doing it in reverse, which is a great idea as it makes it different (but same event) and with mud!

Organisation

I was on the back foot with only going public on the 27^th of October; I wanted to keep it low key to start and only invited 4 clubs. Striders. Totley, HRRC and NEDRC.

But with the late notice, HRRC had already arranged another club run that day and NEDRC did not respond.

My comm’s were not great using FB and physically going to running groups to spread the word. Chris Day at Totley AC put a great website together (thank you again Chris), which put all the info together and I spent the next month reccieing, writing Runner and Marshall Instructions. Then I waited for the Percy Pud to be out the way.

Laura Mella and Chris Day, were very efficient at getting their teams organised for their clubs, whereas we were a bit more ‘organic’ on the teams front, but got the 10 marshals I needed in a very short time.

Handicapping

As I mentioned I have had a mixed history with handicapping in the early days of this event and also getting an awful handicap in the Hallam Chase which meant I came very last and did not do it again for 10 years!

So I wanted it to be as accurate as possible, to limit the time marshals are out on the course and to make it as fair as possible, as the competition over the legs can be fantastic fun.

So times were asked for, but one of the benefits of it been a club only event is the majority of runners did the Pud which meant I was able to update the times submitted, then I went through power of 10 and local fell races I had done so I could calibrate the times against my own performance.

Then I entered the details into Joe Buckman’s Striders spreadsheet, and we ended up with 8 of the 9 teams finishing within 6 minutes of each other over the two and a half hours they took to run, which is very pleasing.

Next year I will ask for actual race results 10k or fell if they don’t do road to save me time. The solo’s I used Half Marathon results and factored towards the slower runners and only 10 seconds spliting first and second, though there was a 50 minute difference at the start!

Updated results below

Things I will do different for the next one.

1. Set the date earlier for next year. Done its going to be Sat the 27^th December morning.
2. Open invites earlier and invite other local clubs. These will open on the Sunday evening of the Sheffield Way, to strike while the iron is hot. Though I will limit to 18 teams, to keep it manageable on the day, handicapping and so we can all fit into the pub.
3. Will keep it as a core handicap event, with novelty prizes for the winning team and Solo, but will also have a novelty prize for the fastest pair on each leg. (No expense will be spared as this year)!
4. Improve Comm’s for all and internally at DRC
5. Make it clear what will happen in the event of weather like RSR have experienced

Summary

I found it harder than I thought to organise, but a lot more rewarding, so there is life after a not so elite running career, if it means I can help the local running community, DRC and stay in touch with so many fantastic people.

The actual race was the easy bit, with Striders 2 team winning in 2 hours 16 mins, 4 mins slower than the fastest team 6 Geezers Running from DRC. The first Solo was Martin Kadziola with a time of 2:27, finishing 9 minutes in front of Phil Skelton who was the fastest in 1 hour 42, oh and there was Mud.

I have not had a single negative comment, which I am actually seeking, so I can improve the event next year and for any other races I may organise.

But most importantly I believe I have added to the Striders and Roy Kitson legacy with something a little different at Christmas and create a 2^nd event on the DRC calendar. Thanks again to all who helped.