Stubbington Green Runners & AC

Alec Parry wrote to the SGRAC website after competing in what was his first 10km run and which he vowed would not be his last.
“I was delighted to do it in less than 50 minutes,” he wrote.  “I just wanted to say thank you to all the volunteers and marshals who saw us safely round the course (with plenty of welcome encouragement) and for the welcome drinks halfway round and at the finish. “As a local, I thought this was a great advert for the South and I look forward to picking up my Stubby mug next year.  “Well done to all at SGR&AC and thanks again.”

Delia: “Apart from the wind blustering all over the place along the seafront, I thought it was a great one. Thanks to the organisers, the coppers (even the one that was telling people they could go faster - blithering idiot) and especially to the marshals who were fab right until the end.  I personally have to give a massive thank you to Carmen who I met just after the start and who (without knowing it at the time) was a fabulous pacer for me. She got me through the bits when I was tired and helped me to finish in 72 minutes despite a rather haphazard training plan over the last few weeks! I'll sort out the training and I'll go for the pb next year, when I will be back for more! See you then, everyone.”

DianaD: “I liked the lane alongside the golf course, just after the half way mark, and didn't find the traffic to be a problem really. Great that it stayed dry, after the forecast earlier in the week!”

Brian M: Excellent 10k to start the year. First of all, a very big 'well done' to the organisers, marshals and all the other helpers. Also well done yet again for managing to pick a good weather window - yes, it was a bit blustery but with what we have had in the last few days I don't think we could have dared hope for better. There seemed to be a bit of confusion at the start. More amusing than anything - it didn't seem to affect the actual race. The man with the tiny 'White Start' placard seemed to be doing the hokey-cokey up and down the road, with runners shuffling back and forth trying to do what we were being asked. The boards for '45 min start here' etc., were leaning by a wall with no-one apparently available to drive them. But unfortunately most people seem to ignore them anyway so that wasn't too much of a problem. As I said, a little amusing - no race impact, so I repeat me opening sentiments - well done SGR&AC and I'll be back for another mug next year. (Oh yes, one other thought - it would be nice to re-introduce the T-shirt option?)

Runamock: First rate organisation, PB-tastic course, Great way to kick off road racing in 2008.Organisation was very good, only minor gripe would be congestion at start of race. Current system does not overcome the jostling and bumping - maybe time pens/zones would be a better option. Rest of race went very smoothly with enigmatic marshalling along the way despite the bracing wind (particularly in first 3k). Managed to equal my PB so that was good coming off the Christmas and New Year break and hopefully means better things to come in 2008. SGR&AC great job, I'll be back.

Richard Bailey: Well organised, friendly with good facilities. This was my first 10k & having done little running over xmas was an ideal race to get back into things..the encouragement from the marshals & supporters really helped me keep going in a race where the thought of stopping did creep in. The race was a great combo of seafront, rural & urban settings & I will def come back again next yr.

Nick MacBeath: Really enjoyed it. First time runner & smashed my PB by 2.30mins

Morb: A well marshalled and enjoyable race. Fantastic support from marshals, police and spectators, despite being a long way down the field. Fears about running on some of the roads were not founded as the marshals did an excellent job of dealing with the traffic. We did not meet out target but set a new PB anyway. Agree with previous comments about the start but this did not affect the actual race in any way.

Jenny Kitchen: A well-organised race- a good start to anyone's racing year! Well done to all involved in this race and a big thank you to the cheerful, encouraging marshals on the course. This is a flat, potentially fast course, but today's winds made it challenging. This was my 1st time at Stubbington but I'll definitely be back for more!

TZ: Flat, fast and deservedly popular. Another excellent Stubbington Green 10k. This is a perfect PB course - flat, wide, no tight bends. Just pure speed. If you have the time you can see the sights - the world's only hovercraft museum, the air-sea-rescue helicopter, the boats on the Solent.  A little breeze in the first 3km slowed the times slightly, but nothing too dramatic. As usual the starts seemed to be stretched to capacity with over one-thousand runners. There was a lot of bumping and grinding going on, even relatively near the front. I'd happily pay the extra for chip-timing here. That is the only improvement I'd make to a consistently excellent race. PS: Since the race-instructions were only available on-line, it may have been prudent to have printed a slip of paper with a link to them, sent with the race numbers?

RFJ: Well organised on the day, car parking was a bit manic for some, but marshals did great job in a bitter wind, thank you. Need to add instructions in with race number.... as no indication of time of race with stuff posted, I had to check online to remember what time race started, I know some turned up late.... only a small gripe but may make race better for future, and the start was manic, time pens would be better I believe.

Mark Pocock: Very windy, but a great race. Was my first time doing this race. With so many people entering there was a bit of a problem at the start (certainly the yellow one which I was at) where we were almost falling over each other. Maybe some sort of pace indicator markers are needed to help sort the field out a bit better. The first 2-3kms were into a strong wind which made it tough. Course was excellently marshalled throughout. Didn't quite get the time I was aiming for but still got a PB so definitely a good race. One for the calendar for next year.

Michael Rix: A race to compare and contrast your running fortunes! First time of running this race. I was not looking forward to it due to it being my first race post injury and illness but quite enjoyed it. Nice to see the slower runners separated from the faster group which helps both sets of runners. Quite windy for the first 2/3 km but runners had the advantage of the wind behing them in the closing stages. Pancake flat course made this a fast one but also required a good endurance base to keep consistency in the miles. To make this race even better perhaps they should consider timing chips - especially as it has become so popular with over 1200 people racing. All in all, a pleasant season opener.

Darren Foy: Great race to start the year. Great race, weather better than forecast and nice and cool. Flat course although the first 2-3km were run into the brisk wind. Finished quicker than expected and set a good time to benchmark rest of 2008 against. Course superbly marshalled along the way, especially considering the numbers. Definitely will do again.

Richard Herrington: Tthe race was great and very well organised. Thanks to you and all at SGRAC for putting on yet another successful and extremely enjoyable event. All the best, Richard Herrington.

Angela Benfield: Brilliant organisation – friendly marshalls and loads of support coming into the village – loved it.  Great weather helped too! The only one comment I would have is that the junction into St Nicholas Avenue onto Rowner Road was not marshaled (a very busy junction) and the cars were using runners as target practice!   Also further along Rowner Road when we had to run on the road too!  Could have done with a row of cones to run inside – at one point it looked like one car was going to hit runners with their wing mirror they were that close!  We should make those idiots run it next year but I’m not sure I want to be sharing such an enjoyable race with them! Myself and my family will definitely be running again next year.   Many thanks to everyone who helped organise the event.

Ang B: Brilliant - will be back again next year to beat the hour!

Blackers: Yep, well done Mr Littlecott and all your assistants on a fantastic race as usual. The wind on the seafront had an amazing effect on the tactics in the race - I've never seen such profound bunching before!  I was in a group of about 25 runners, chasing a group of about 30 runners 75 yards ahead, with no one for 100 yards behind us!  I've never seen that before.  As soon as we headed into the streets inland, the groups broke up very quickly. After having palpitations that the start was going to be a repeat of the Chichester problems, it actually worked very well.  A sort of mini-London Marathon!

Mud lark: Well Done Stubbington. Another great day’s running along the Solent. What a well organised and well marshalled event this is. Stubbington Green is to be congratulated for such a fantastic event. A must in the early season calendar. Best of all was managing to grab a bacon butty and a cup of tea at the end, oh what days!

Lee Gardener: Well organised again, shame about the wind and the bumping at the start.

Red FBBF: Once again a well orgaised race. I really enjoy this race, it’s well organised and very friendly. Showers at the end too are always a bonus. Well done Stubbington.

1 For The Road: Great race, and excellent marshalling. It was good to see such excellent facilities at the community centre. I felt sorry for some of the slower runners at the start who got caught in the fights for position. Maybe better signage and marshalling at the start (like they have at Chichester) would prevent the significant bunching and pushing that occurred about 200m in.

Sam Roberts: I did better than I anticipated, and had a good run. Feeling good this morning, but hungry!

SuperCaz: I got a personal worst, but I enjoyed the race so much that I am grinning inanely today. Thanks for the 400 metre board and the marshal telling me when I had 500m to go.  I very nearly started my end sprint too early again, but then saw the board and held back enough to be able to make it to the line. All of the marshals were great.  I tried to thank them all, but towards the end I was struggling for breath so they had to make do with an attempt at a smile.

Hannah Taulbut: PE Co-ordinator Portsmouth High School Junior Dept. I would like to thank whoever was responsible for the fun run on Sunday for a thoroughly enjoyable event. We brought 32 girls from Portsmouth High School and the buzz in school today has been tremendous. Everyone involved (including parents) felt that it was a good distance, an interesting course and would love to be involved again next year.

Mike Harper: Congratulations to Gary and all his helpers, a really successful day, good course, reasonable weather and friendly marshals. The only complaints seem to be the slow start, but realistically not too much can be done. Either the field is reduced dramatically, and many of those complaining won't get in, or we need some common sense from the runners taking over an hour, not to start near the front of the slow start!! Pens only work if people give an honest and accurate prediction. Chip timing would be a possibilty although more expensive and I understand there were problems at the Solent Half? Two starts infinitely better than one. 

Peter Dean: Great day, although half way back at start,  had no problems with congestion. My baulk had its advantages against the wind and sail boarded with it. Tremendous feeling of youth at the end (at 60!) as I met so many runners even older than me. Was it a Help the Aged event?! Well done Stubbington Green, it must have been very difficult to organise.

Baronspill: Clockwork green organisation A good course, a mix of sea front, country lanes and suburbia. It was a shame about the strong headwind for the first 3/4K. Some runners were quite cute though as they sheltered in the pack and then cut corners after the turn off from the sea front. The facilities were very good and the route was kept clear apart from the last stretch which had a few cars coming up from behind. I'll run this again, hopefully weather conditions will be better next year.

Andy Sly: This is the 4th year I have done this event, the best start yet – yes, it was congested but only for 30 seconds or so. Surely this is not a problem. The traffic was also much better than it has been in the past few years. Superbly marshaled as always. The mug remains the best memento. Thanks and see you all next year.

David Abrams: What a great run, again, despite the wind on the seafront.  The organisation was superb, and the traffic management so much better.  Well done to all the organisers and a big thank you to the police and marshals - I managed to improve by 4 minutes!

Andy Smith: Thanks to all concerned for organising another great event.  Marshals and Police did a great job all along the route.  This was my 2nd time running this race and initially a bit disappointed not to go sub-50 this year.  Still, a whole 10 seconds faster than last year in slightly worse conditions and the atmosphere more than made up for the initial disappointment.  The finish is great with crowd support seeing you home.  I stayed to watch others finish and saw some very tired bodies given an extra boost home.  This is now an annual event for me.

Emily Morris: I enjoyed the race especially running along the coast. The only negatives were having to run on the road right next to cars which I thought was dangerous and unpleasant and because the water was in a cup it went all over me but I did not manage to drink any of it! Thanks to the stewards who were very encouraging and for the cakes and tea afterwards. I would do it again.

Steve wallis: Excellently organised as ever. Thanks to everyone involved.

David Howells: Really enjoyed the race – very well organised – thank you.  Next year I WILL be faster!

Colin Gardner Gosport RR: As always a great day. As a “yellow” starter and going the short way round the roundabout (why wasn’t that thought of years ago?) I found the start far less bumpy than usual. A bit more fiddly going on and off the pavements at Daedelus and Rowner Rd, but if that’s a measure against the threat of police jeopardising the race then it’s fine. The start remains the one bad point of this race. How about starting ½ along Rowner Rd (if that’s what the rd by the church is) and ½ at the town centre; or perhaps ½ down that road to the right 200yds down from the roundabout? The barriers could go in place 2 mins before the race and be lifted 2 mins later. These options would need barriers down the middle of the road at the point where the two starts met. A slow start’s not all that bad though; it was a shock to get into race pace quicker than normal this year; being unable to go quicker was always previously a nice excuse for a leisurely start. A mention on the kids’ race – it’s always the best race of the year as it’s impeccably organised and the only one we’ve found where there are full finishing positions and times. This is a never-miss race for my son, others he can take or leave.

Mary Holt: Hi, I just wanted to say how much I enjoyed running in the 10k recently.  I was running lopsided because of a calf-strain (but panicked into running because of a lack of preparation for forthcoming 1/2 M) but even with the 'ouch' factor I have to say that I have never before felt so positive when taking part in a race - everyone was friendly, there were marshalls everywhere and lots of encouragement en-route and so I finished the race limping but grinning.  I can't wait to come and run again, hopefully without the comedy gait. Meanwhile, while I was plodding around, my daughter took part in the fun run and my husband tells me that she too looked as if she was enjoying herself.  We found out when the results went up that she had come third in her age group which was very exciting and imagine her joy when she received a medal in the post!!!  I think you may have convinced her that running is a worthwhile pursuit. Thanks so much for an excellent morning's fun.