As it seems unlikely that mass participation road racing will return in the near future, we have decided to launch a virtual standards scheme.
Suggested Rules
- Your safety and that of others is paramount. Think carefully about where you will do your run, avoiding busy roads, road crossings, busy times of day and pinch points where social distancing may be difficult. Make sure someone knows where you are and have your ICE details with you. Don’t over-reach and risk becoming an unnecessary burden on healthcare and essential services.
- Choose a route that avoids excessive net loss of height (i.e. not predominantly downhill). A circular or out and back course is good (to balance up and down) and multiple laps of a quieter, flatter course may be best of all.
- The distance of the run should match the standard distance i.e. don’t pick the best bit of a longer run. Only one standard per run.
- If you were lucky enough to run any official races before lockdown, you can count these (using the virtual standards tables, see below).
- If you are shielding and can’t safely run outside, you can count treadmill runs as long as you set an incline of 1% to compensate for the lack of wind resistance and the movement of the belt.
- There are special, slightly more generous, standards tables for this scheme to allow for the fact that you will have to concentrate on staying safe and avoiding hazards more than you might in a race.
- Standard distances are 1 mile, 5K, 5 miles, 6 miles or 10K, 7 miles or 8 miles, 10 miles and Half Marathon. A standard will be awarded for 5 different distances (with 6 miles/10K and 7miles/8 miles being either or choices).
Each club that wants to participate will need to nominate someone responsible for administering the scheme and checking that runs match the criteria. Anyone who is not in a club can send their claims (e.g. Strava/Garmin traces) to (davelodwick@gmail.com).