Summer Handicap

Summer 5 Mile Handicap

The last Thursday of every month 7pm At Savill Gardens, is the Runnymede Runners 5 mile Handicap for members or guests of members.

This is a free run, against the clock and refreshments are provided!

Although only paid up members qualify for prizes:

Which are: The Burrows Trophy for the runner which shows the greatest improvement in their time over the previous month and the annual prize for the largest improvement over the summer season.

Sign up:

This  can be done on the night or be done online before the race here.

How it works:

– On your first ever handicap run you will be asked to give an estimated time for your 5 miles. Your time will determine the ‘clock time*’ that you begin your handicap run (as runners will start according to their ability but attempt to complete the course by 8:00p.m.) ; once complete, this will give your first ‘race time‘ and become the basis for your new ‘Handicap‘.

*For those that have not been, there is a big yellow clock at the start/finish line, just like the big events… it starts running from 00:00:00 at 7pm !

– When you run your second race the minutes/seconds you have added or taken away between your first estimate and first actual race time (i.e. your first ‘race time’), will determine your start time of your next run. Please note that if any subsequent run in a year is slower than any previous ones, you still keep the handicap of the fastest time…in simple terms you retain your fastest handicap for the year

Example:

First Ever run:
– You think you will run the 5 mile course in 45 minutes…. so will be given and slip with a start time of 15:00 (your first virtual handicap).
– At 7pm the Clock Starts… and so you wait until 15 minutes has elapsed, and then you start at 7:15pm ( clock shows 00:15:00 )
– You finish the first race in 44 minutes, well done, 1 minute faster than your estimate.
– Result: So you will have finished when the clock time was 59:00 (15:00+44:00), and your new handicap will be 16:00 (60:00-44:00)

Second race in that same year:
– Your new handicap from above was 16:00, so you must start running when the clock shows 16:00.
– You finish in a race time of 45 minutes, 1 minute slower than your first race
– Result: So you will have finished when the clock time was 1:01:00 (16:00+45:00), and your new handicap will remain 16:00 **
**Because you can’t ‘reduce’ your handicap in a single year and therefore your Handicap remains at your ‘best time for the year’ = 16:00. (not 15:00 as you might think)

Third Race in that same year:
– You start on 16:00 Handicap, so you must start running when the clock shows 16:00
– You finish in a race time of 43 minutes, your new fastest race time for the year
– Result: So you will have finished when the clock time was 59:00 (16:00+43:00), and your new handicap will be 17:00 (60:00-43:00)

– In the following year, your start time (your handicap) will be calculated based up an average of all your race times from the previous year.
i.e. you don’t start the year with a new estimate 

– So from above example it would look something like this (assuming you only ran 3 races): 44+45+43 = 132 and an average of 44…. so next year you handicap is 16 (60-44)

Prizes are awarded in August for most improved time (not including your estimated time) and fastest man and woman over the season.. This is a perfect opportunity to achieve your goals, whatever they may be; to enjoy a scenic 5 miles in the park, to improve your times month by month or to use the route as a tempo run or speedwork.