April 2008

HELENSBURGH AAC ROAD RACE CHAMPIONSHIP SUMMER 2008

For the third year running, the club is running its road race championship. The aim is to encourage runners of all abilities to compete in organised events. As before some races are local but some further afield have been included to encourage day and weekends away.

An accurate handicap time from the monthly hanicap will allow an individuals time for each race to be adjusted. The monthly handicap is 4 miles so the handicap time will be adjusted for the various race distances and added to the actual finishing time. For example, if the 4-mile handicap time is 10 minutes, for a half marathon will be divided by 4 then multiplied by 13.1 giving 32.75 minutes.

With handicap times added, the fastest time will score 20 points, the next 19 points down to 1 point for the 20th Helensburgh finisher. There will be separate categories for male and female. A runners best 6 scores will be added together to find the overall winner.

This process will mean that any runner regardless of his/her standard can win the championship

11 races have been selected with scores from a runner's best 6 counting towards the final total. Trophies for the first 3 males and 3 females will be presented at the Christmas handicap in December.

The races are as follows:

  1. Balfron 10k - Sunday 27th April
  2. Troon 10k - Wednesday 7th May
  3. Tour of Clydeside (2 best races to count.)
    • trail race, Rouken Glen - Monday 12th May
    • hill race, Old Kilpatrick - Tuesday 13th May
    • road race, Dumbarton - Wednesday 14th May
    • river bank race, Dawsholm - Thursday 13th May
    • cross-country race, Pollock Country Park - Friday 14th May
  4. Clydebank 10k - Thursday 29th May
  5. Dumbarton 10k - Thursday 5th June
  6. Vale 10k* - Sunday 15th June
  7. Glasgow 5k* - Thursday 3 July
  8. Harris Half Marathon - Saturday 5th July (or Arran/Barra/Benbecula/Islay/Mull half)
  9. Isle of Coll half, 10k or 5k - Saturday 23rd August
  10. Great Scottish Run (Half marathon)* - Sunday 7th September
  11. Jedburgh Half Marathon* - Sunday 19 October

Notes

  1. The handicap system tries to encourage competition amongst runners of all abilities. To enable this to work, runners need to have completed in at least 3 monthly handicaps from July 2006 until July 2008. The handicap time as of August 2008 will form the basis of the handicap time for the series.
  2. For the Island half marathons in the summer, maximum points will be awarded for the best (handicapped) time followed by the next best time etc. So half-marathons from these events will be regarded as one race.
  3. Runners must ensure that they are registered as running for HAAC to ensure that their name will be recognised and awarded points. If not, then please let Paul Thompson know asap after the race.
  4. Races marked with an asterisk (*) are included in the 2008 Stewarts Scottish Road Race Grand Prix series organised by Scottish Athletics