The 2024 Handicap series continues to throw up little twists but it takes more than a short section of closed pavement to put us off. The February event was marked by a large turnout of 25 runners, some fast times with 19 runners meeting or beating their handicap and 14 enjoying the thrill of the blanket finish.
Conditions were again perfect for racing and we were pleased to welcome one event newbie (Sam Glover-Poultney) a couple of old friends returning (Joy Radford, Janet Littlewood) plus a smattering of regulars making their first appearance of the year.
Our winner was Karen Hazlitt (8’19net), taking advantage of a slack piece of handicapping to race round relatively unchallenged with John Mills 2nd (8’18net) and Paul Oxley 3rd (8’18net) making up the podium. We’re looking forward to the handicapper catching up and setting those three off together for a real footrace next month.
On a night for fast times (despite the pavement obstacles) we had four athletes sub-7 with the fastest on the night being Bracken Dawson (6’38net) with Matt Grote (6’45), Ed Gurney (6’48) and Jack Rowland (6’55) also in our speedy club. Good performances and improving times but none of these gents are yet close to their PB’s. There were also 3 ladies sub-8 with Vanessa Monteleone (7’35) fastest and up to 23rd on the honours board whilst Mikaela Price (7’41) and Imogen Davies (7’47 and 28th on the Board) deserve mentions. The Harestock Handicap might be a bit of informal fun but these guys are pushing each other hard and bragging rights don’t come cheap.
The main thing of course is that being fastest doesn’t mean you win the race!
The overall standings are meaningless at this stage of the season but we know that consistency is key so staying fit and being there regularly is generally the best strategy. Jack Rowland is our new leader and there are now only 12 people in the whole world who still have a chance of making the fabled 12 out of 12.
New to this and wondering what it is all about? A monthly handicap race (on the first Thursday of the month) around an urban 1.14-mile loop in the Harestock area of Winchester. In handicap racing, the starts are staggered according to handicap, and the faster runners thus chase the slower runners to the finish…..the fastest in the club and the slowest in the club can literally be racing mano a mano at the finish line. It’s a bit of fun that fits perfectly as a race effort rep to round off a threshold session or as a pickup interval in a block of tempo work. All are welcome, and all running speeds can be catered for. More info here: Harestock Handicap