Wilmslow Running Festival News Round Up

It can’t be stressed how important the Festival is to Wilmslow Running Club. Not only is it so important in bringing funds into the club – which help keep our membership fee so low – but it is our chance to showcase and promote our Club to other runners and the local population.

So please read and try and understand our drive to promote the event and volunteer to ensure it goes smoothly and safely. We have at the moment just over 110 full time members and should, with the help of those members, be able to put on a Festival experience for runners to enjoy and remember.

This year we will not have Goody Bags and so will no longer need the Saturday Bag Packing Session we all used to enjoy! But there is still work to do on the Saturday! Read on to find out more.

 And although pacing is a big help to the event it doesn’t get you out of volunteering on the day 🙂

So, cue drum roll, in no particular order:

 Promoting WRF Challenges

With only six weeks to go. We still need to try and boost entries as best as possible. As Nick would say: We should never under estimate the power of our shared connections! So, can we [i.e. You!] interest any group with our Challenges? See the link below:

CHALLENGES — Wilmslow Running Festival

This is  a great opportunity to reach out to our work colleagues/pals etc. and encourage our Challenges!  If you are able to share the above link across your networks, that would be fabulous…Thank youl!

VOLUNTEERS REQUIRED – Your Club Needs You!!

There was an email and follow up sent out recently asking for volunteers to help with our club’s Wilmslow Running Festival.

To date we have received only 34 offers of help, which represents only  about 30% of the total club membership.

We need volunteers for Saturday and/or Sunday:

SATURDAY 19th MARCH

Volunteers are needed to assist in the number distribution for all runners which will be open from 11am to 4pm.

Note: Wilmslow Running Club members can collect their numbers between 9:30am and 10:30am, where hot butties and drinks will be provided.
There will also be a number of events happening at the club on Saturday morning – more later

SUNDAY 20th MARCH

• We need 30+ volunteers for marshalling the local streets prior to the start of the races. You can both marshal and run. In addition:
  2 volunteer experienced road cyclists to lead the 10k with Malcolm.
• 2 volunteers who are not running to help at the finish.
• Several volunteers to help with the Registration Desk, Baggage Drop and Lost Property.
• Also volunteers who are not running to help clean up Kings Road and the course once the races have departed.

Thank you to those that have already contacted Roy, it is much appreciated. For new volunteers can you please email Roy as soon as possible (roypownall241@btinternet.com) with your availability.

Last Call for Wilmslow Running Festival Pacers

We will again provide pacers with race entry and an exclusive pacer technical t-shirt.  This year we are using “backpack style” pacing signs for some of the pace groups.  And hopefully having clearer pace markers in the start pens.

No pacer experience is necessary but you should of course feel confident that you can manage the distance relatively comfortably at your target pace.  It’s sensible to aim at least one notch down from your current race pace.  This allows you to maintain a steady pace and have enough puff to interact with your runners.  Having said that, there is no pressure to perform – you are just doing your best.  The runners in your group will appreciate you pulling them along steadily towards their target and hopefully you will have breath enough to point out a few sights and give some encouragement along the way.  We will meet before the race to share pacing tips.

Rob already has had a number of volunteers. And so this is the last call for anyone else wanting to join the pace party. See slots below. If interested, please email Rob your preferred slots and t-shirt size.

You will need to allow say 30 minutes for collecting your kit, warming up and taking up position on the starting grid.

Current Allocation

HM	10K
1.15  Rich Coen(M)	35
1.20  Charlie Batho* (S)	40
1.25  Rob Downs(M)	45
1.30   Richard Harrison (S), Andrew Cleal (M)	50   Oliver Johnstone(L)
1.40  Jez Bygrave (M),  Jim Pendrill (M)	55
1.45  Janine Ellis (S),  Jarrod Homer(M)	60   John Porteous (M)
1.50  Alan Turner(M),  Nic Copock(S),          Richard Lawson(M)
2.00  Andy Watts(S), Lydia Merret(XS)
2.15  Nicky Mowat(S), Amanda Bradbury(S)
2.30 Gareth Trimble(L)  Brian Shaw*(M)

Please let Rob know if you have been accidentally left you out or given a mission impossible.  We’ve had to guess some t-shirt sizes.

We could do with more 1.20, 1.25 pacers for HM and 40, 45 for 10k if anyone is available.  Please nudge any members who you think might be interested.

***  please reply to me on RunningBob@gmail.com ASAP with your range of pace times and your t-shirt size. ***

 Thanks Rob Downs

Who will win in 2022? Who will get Bear Hugs?

   Heather   Phil