Boards 5km Handicap

ecoli

Have been talking with the other moderators and through a bit of thought we have decided to try and arrange a 5000m track race for any boardsies interested. This will be a handicap race meaning that regardless of your level you will be competitive and have a chance of winning.

The idea is that each race will be for runners with a 2 min variant in there PB so:

Race 1: (Pbs of 16.00 min - 17.59 min)
Race 2: (Pbs of 18.00 min - 19.59 min)
etc

The idea is that your PB will decide your lane draw so say for instance a 16 min runner would be issued lane 8 while a 17.50 would be lane 1. You must stay in your lane for the entire race so effectively the quicker runners run longer race lines.

We will be offering small prizes for the winners and race entry will be a nominal fee (2e or something to help cover prizes)

Also if there is enough interest we may consider holding a "Big 8" mile race and have a pacer for anyone looking to get an official sub 5 min clocking for the challenge.

Will be looking to hold this at the start to middle of August.

So is there any interest?

robinph

Great idea for a handicap method, but wouldn't the outside lane be doing over a km further? I doubt there is anyone doing 1km in 2 minutes, so could probably just stay in lanes for the first 4(?) laps to get sufficient handicap in the A race and 3 laps in the B race.

Or am I getting too complicated now, especially considering I'll not be around to race it. :P

BeepBeep67

If you want to do a standard hanicap I've attached a doc that I put together for the club before based on handicaps off 10 secs differentials in 3k time spread across 1M to 10k (using McMillan) so can be applied for any of those distances.

ecoli

robinph wrote: »

Great idea for a handicap method, but wouldn't the outside lane be doing over a km further? I doubt there is anyone doing 1km in 2 minutes, so could probably just stay in lanes for the first 4(?) laps to get sufficient handicap in the A race and 3 laps in the B race.

Or am I getting too complicated now, especially considering I'll not be around to race it. :P

Its about 600m actually. Each lane roughly equates to just over a second per lap per lane so the outside lane (8) So effectively someone running 16 min 5k (1.17)pace in lane 8 would be equated to someone in lane one running 1.34 laps in lane 1. This should cover pretty much a 2 min spread

robinph

I was basing my dodgy sums on a bigger estimate of the lane difference I think. 600m sounds more realistic a distance.

ecoli

BeepBeep67 wrote: »

If you want to do a standard hanicap I've attached a doc that I put together for the club before based on handicaps off 10 secs differentials in 3k time spread across 1M to 10k (using McMillan) so can be applied for any of those distances.

Only thing about these is you are given a lead on someone quicker. They hare off to catch you and normal tendencies is once you are caught up with you are demoralised as you are passed adn usually a person gives up at this stage. This way even if you are behind at some stage you know that someone has to work harder around each bend (because they are running longer)

Krusty_Clown

Great idea. Would love to have a pop at a sub 5 minute mile (even if it is a flop). This is probably the only way I will get an opportunity to give it a try.
Awesome idea.

menoscemo

Would be up for this but I would like to run exactly 5k.

donothoponpop

Krusty_Clown wrote: »

Would love to have a pop at a sub 5 minute mile (even if it is a flop).

<<puts on "A race" sunglasses>>

donothoponpop

I'd also love to do a mile, although will do the 5k if thats the only option. One thing is follow through, when Woddle organized a BAC race last year it was poorly attended, but hopefully having the race in the more accessible (only 100k from South Wicklow;)) Belfield, will mean greater numbers.

Jk_Eire

Great idea.
Would be very interested in signing up if this gets off the ground.

ecoli

5k Handicap Race
ecoli

Big 8 Time Trial (1 mile)
ecoli (sub 5 pacer)

Timmaay

menoscemo wrote: »

Would be up for this but I would like to run exactly 5k.

Running exactly 5k is better in terms of being able to take a time from the race, the other way to a handicap as such would be to let people off at different times, slowest 1st etc. That means no confusion with lanes etc, and in theory an epic battle the last lap with everyone on top of eachother trying to hit the front but stay in lane one or 2 ha.

Or is that just defeating the whole point of this race, do we want it so as the stronger runner has to run more?

ecoli

Timmaay wrote: »

Running exactly 5k is better in terms of being able to take a time from the race, the other way to a handicap as such would be to let people off at different times, slowest 1st etc. That means no confusion with lanes etc, and in theory an epic battle the last lap with everyone on top of eachother trying to hit the front but stay in lane one or 2 ha.

Or is that just defeating the whole point of this race, do we want it so as the stronger runner has to run more?

Only thing about these is you are given a lead on someone quicker. They hare off to catch you and normal tendencies is once you are caught up with you are demoralised as you are passed adn usually a person gives up at this stage. This way even if you are behind at some stage you know that someone has to work harder around each bend (because they are running longer)

This is the reason I wanted to try and avoid this and actually have a pure race rather than the usual TT we all get obsessed about

shels4ever

donothoponpop wrote: »

I'd also love to do a mile, although will do the 5k if thats the only option. One thing is follow through, when Woddle organized a BAC race last year it was poorly attended, but hopefully having the race in the more accessible (only 100k from South Wicklow;)) Belfield, will mean greater numbers.

+1
I think depending on number you wouldnt even need to use lanes,The Bhaa 3k I ran a couple of years ago had 30 people in it, and starting last had no problem passing people, traffic wasnt a problem, if the stagger is done right.

Krusty_Clown

5k Handicap Race
ecoli
Krusty_Clown

Big 8 Time Trial (1 mile)
ecoli (sub 5 pacer)
Krusty_Clown (trying to hang on to ecoli).

tHE vAGGABOND

Im only interested if there is chip timing, water stations and a medal at the end :pac:

gerard65

donothoponpop wrote: »

I'd also love to do a mile, although will do the 5k if thats the only option. One thing is follow through, when Woddle organized a BAC race last year it was poorly attended, but hopefully having the race in the more accessible (only 100k from South Wicklow;)) Belfield, will mean greater numbers.

Would be interested but won't commit until the date is confirmed, with 2 BHAA track races and the Lotto 10 mile in August there is a chance this could clash.
Are there lanes marked on the UCD track now?

macinalli

gerard65 wrote: »

Are there lanes marked on the UCD track now?

They're a bit faint but still there!

TheRoadRunner

Its a good idea if you get a few people to attend. Don't want to confuse the issue but would a 3k not be better than a 5k? The majority of people who post here may run 5ks but they are on the road. 5k on the track could be tough mentally. Also if you're using belfield it won't be kind to the legs.

ecoli

TheRoadRunner wrote: »

Its a good idea if you get a few people to attend. Don't want to confuse the issue but would a 3k not be better than a 5k? The majority of people who post here may run 5ks but they are on the road. 5k on the track could be tough mentally. Also if you're using belfield it won't be kind to the legs.

Few reasons why 5k was suggested:

• The 2 min spread worked better for a 5k race rather than a 3k
• More people prefer not to run lower than 5ks here (feel they dont have the speed)

I do get your point on 5k track race being a whole different ball game but i thought this might feel less intimidating than a 3k very few people woudl consider (tend to leave it to the track runners)

Again if there is more interest for a 3k we could revise this but as stands think 5000 is more appealing for the general Boards public

Krusty_Clown

ecoli wrote: »

Few reasons why 5k was suggested:

• The 2 min spread worked better for a 5k race rather than a 3k
• More people prefer not to run lower than 5ks here (feel they dont have the speed)

I do get your point on 5k track race being a whole different ball game but i thought this might feel less intimidating than a 3k very few people woudl consider (tend to leave it to the track runners)

Again if there is more interest for a 3k we could revise this but as stands think 5000 is more appealing for the general Boards public

My real interest would be in the mile, and would only run the 5k for the craic (hopefully after the mile!). It's handy enough to find a 5k road race, but a track mile isn't something that's a readily available option. And to have a pacer for sub5? That would be the icing.

ecoli

Krusty_Clown wrote: »

My real interest would be in the mile, and would only run the 5k for the craic (hopefully after the mile!). It's handy enough to find a 5k road race, but a track mile isn't something that's a readily available option. And to have a pacer for sub5? That would be the icing.

This will be a definite as I know a few people will be looking to craic this one and very few opportunities for people who arent reg track runners (Gradeds meets etc)

MisterDrak

Great idea, would love to get under the 20:00m for the 5k that has eluded me for ages now...

Count me in...