The Forum of Benfleet Running Club

Karl C

FROM: ROBERT TEER (ROUTE CO-ORDINATOR)

The route is in pretty good shape overall. Anything specific runners need to know will be announced before the start of their Stage.
Other important considerations:

Let Derek Atkinson know, by Friday, if you are bringing teams and how many/team names (not team member names) so he can prepare the scoresheets. Copy these to me so we have backup. deljoy2@blueyonder.co.uk or 01375 406125.
Avoid non-essential parking at the two very congested changeover points: Little Leighs (end of Stage 3/start Stage 4) and West Bergholt (end of Stage 6/start Stage 7). It is helpful if other supporters park elsewhere and walk to these places - car sharing is also to be encouraged to reduce the number of vehicles. We are expecting around 40 teams this year and gridlock would definitely threaten the Relay in it's present form.
At the West Bergholt Church finish the lane immediately after the church is private and the owner aggressive. Runners must finish the stage correctly (field edge and over final stile) and stay off the tempting parallel private lane. Also supporters must not run down that lane to encourage their runners in.
Runners should ensure they have been recorded at the Stage finish - it is just too easy to be missed with so many bodies milling about.
This year runners will be asked to sign in/indicate on paper that their team has a runner before a Stage starts - do not leave this to the last minute. This is because of the difficulty of counting a milling crowd of runners before the Stage starts.
Finally, please ask runners to observe the spirit of the event. Don't just follow other runners who have reccied the route and pick them off towards the end, follow the route as detailed on the Stage descriptions. Help other runners - as well as your own - with drinks etc. Teams were very generous in this regard last year and it's very easy for any runner to get separated from their own support team. Thanks to all who have monitored stages, helped clear problems on stages and contributed in any other way.

See you Sunday

Robert

Karl C · Posted: Fri Aug 31, 2007 10:47 pm Post subject:

Good News,

Howard Jardine (Grange Farm Trotters) has arranged the use of a field for our parking at the end of Stage 3/beginning Stage 4 near the church at Little Leighs. It's about 1/4 mile from the changeover point so Howard will knock up some signs for Sunday to help you find it. This is great as that area is one of the real Relay parking headaches. Howard is one of the most proactive helpers at the Relay not waiting to be asked - let's have a bit more of that sort of initiative before and dutring the event.

Don't forget, deadline to delare teams to Derek Atkinson is midnight tonight (31st August) as Derek prepares the scoreboard tomorrow - deljoy2@blueyonder.co.uk.

See you Sunday

Robert