HRRL Preview
STAND by your beds, but there are several big changes to the Hampshire Road Race League this season.
For starters, there are 12 races in the series for the 2008/2009 season; two 5 mile races, four 10km races, three 10-milers, two halfs and a 20 miler at Bramley.
As a club, we count our best 8 races from the 12. As individuals we score our best 7 finishes. So if you run all 12 then you can drop your worst five results. If you can just run seven, that would be a big help to your club’s chances of staying in the top Division. Please DO NOT think you are too slow to help the team.
This year the ‘B’ division has been split into two divisions. The ladies are in the top division and the men placed in the second division.
So the men can win this division but need MORE runners of all abilities to do so. All finishers count for the club. Last year we only had a ‘B’ team in 4 of the 10 races. So we had less than eight runners in six of the eight HRRL races!
Two of the races that we often do poorly at are the first two. So if you can run the Overton 5 on Saturday, September 6th or Hardley, now known at the Solent Half Marathon, on Sunday, October 12th, then please do so to get your season, and the club’s, off to a good start.
The Overton 5 is the only Saturday race of the series. It is a week after the Test Way Relay and starts at 3pm. It is a hilly course, but has a great downhill finish!
There are children’s sprint races across the grass, and a 2 ½ fun run for children with a minimum age of 11, and adults who think the 5 miles may be too much.
The Hardley Half does clash with the Chichester 10k, so if you aren’t doing Chichester and prefer a good fairly flat half, then the New Forest roads beckon.
Probably, along with Ryde, this race offers the best chance to get high individual points.
HAMPSHIRE ROAD RACE LEAGUE CALENDAR
September 6th: Overton 5 mile
October 12th: Solent Half Marathon @ Hardley
November 2nd: Lordshill 10 mile
November 16th: Gosport Half Marathon
December 7th: Victory 5 @ Portsmouth
January 18th: Stubbington 10km
February 1st: Ryde 10 mile
February 15th: Bramley 20 mile
March 8th: Salisbury 10 mile
March 29th: Eastleigh 10km
May 10th: Alton 10 mile
May 17th: Netley 10km