how did your times  compare with 2009?

My method of working out handicap times (which has been subject to the usual criticism) is to average people's performance over the 25 or so 'club' races during the year. It is a short step therefore to comparing this year's figures with last and thereby identifying who has moved-on and who has fallen-back in 2010.

Sports psychology demands that we quickly pass over the failures and concentrate on those who have succeeded, but where's the fun in that? In any case, one of the problems of success is that it builds standards which are often unsustainable and many of those who have done less well this year had an outstanding 2009; Rob Downs, Rob Gilbert, Mark Bale, Gareth Trimble, Trevor Morris, Don Bullough. Taken a breather, then off again in 2011?

For Sally and Kate the explanation is simple, injury. It must be immensely frustrating for someone as talented as Sally to keep coming back only then to get knocked-down again. For Kate  it's a one-off and, already, she's running well again. Huma is less, I think, a matter of injury, more of life getting in the way of running and Sarah Waite has not yet quite re-found the motivation of a golden six months when every race was a PB. Cat started the year well but lost the sparkle after London. Geoff and Mike have not raced as much this year.

There are a tranche of older runners drifting downwards in the zone where you seem to have to run very fast just to stay where you are; Roy, Gavin, Jamie, Trevor, Ian and surprisingly, given the age-category prizes they pick up, Mick and Tony. In contrast, refusing to acknowledge the passing years, are Tom, Malcolm, Simon and Ray.

The analysis shows Nicky and Owen in negative territory, it is not subtle enough to identify the surge both have made since the summer. Similarly the figures don't do justice to the progress John made before his leg operation. Although Nick is in the upper reaches of the table, his percentage does not properly reflect  exponential progress made in the last two months.

Katy and Julie have edged forward this year. Injury messed-up Clare's 2009. Steve Smith's long run of success has continued through the year. James and Richard were seeing the benefit of their second year in the club, at least until Richard's injury. Steve Dempsey was able to race more often than last year.

Soraya has spent the year gracefully easing her way through the 5/6 pecking-order.  Andy's retirement saw him take on a series of 'impossible' running and cycling challenges, his improvement being something of a challenge to the other old men.  Nina found inspiration. Christine made enormous progress in the first half of the year, then lost it, partly through injury, but is now coming back. Matt spent 2009 labouring in Group 5 and then, almost overnight, discovered he was a runner of a different class.

Ian