The Forum of Benfleet Running Club

admin · Last edited by admin on Thu Jul 16, 2009 9:19 am; edited 1 time in total

The 20th Essex Way 10-Stage Relay will be taking place this year on Sunday 7th September.

This will be their final year as organisers.

Characteristics of the event as follows:

• No marshalling or marking – clubs support their own runners and see to all their needs (drinks, support etc.). When possible, help other runners out as well.
• Identification by wearing of club colours. If more than one team entered then wear a number (1 – 2 etc.) to differentiate them. Note numbers only – no letters or names this year to aid recorders.
• Runners need to have walked/reccied to learn their stage previously.
• Weaker runners, navigationally challenged runners, could be accompanied (perhaps by someone who has already ran) BUT must identify themselves immediately as competitors at the finish. Non-competitors should walk in the last 50 metres, not wear club colours and keep well away from the recorders!!
• Three competitions this year: overall, women only and 45+ all decided on overall points (1st – 1pt etc.). The 45+ is a new section – Sarah Colbert is kindly presenting a trophy in memory of Andy who was such a great supporter of this event. Teams can be either sex or mixed for 45+.
• Runners for each stage start at the same time.

Essex Way Guidebook – Cost £3.50 (including p&p) available from: Essex County Council, Public Rights of Way, Chelmsford CM1 1QH. It can now be downloaded free from www.essexcc.gov.uk – go into public rights of way section and then ‘publications’

RUNNERS TO BE AT THEIR STARTING POINTS AT LEAST 15 MINUTES BEFORE ESTIMATED START TIMES – we cannot normally wait for latecomers.

ONLY EXCEPTIONAL CIRCUMSTANCES ON THE DAY WOULD ALTER START TIMES

Andy F · #2 Joined: 21 Oct 2006 Posts: 272 Location: Hullbridge

Cant wait, really enjoyed this last year. Hope it continues in the future.
Andy

Coach · #1 Joined: 18 May 2007 Posts: 65 Location: Daws Heath

I have put the team lists up at club now and we are starting to get volunteers to come forward and run. If you are interested in running and haven't put your name down to run then either do so at club, leave a message here on the forum or e-mail me on IAN.PIKE@BARCAP.COM and let me know if you have a preference for which leg you wish to run.

Last year we had 5 teams running (3 Men & 2 Women) and as there are more members now we should be able to have 5 teams again. With the addition of an over 45 team category and the fact there's no lower age limit, there's no reason why anyone shouldn't put their name down to run

If you have any questions reagrding the race you only have to ask....

gmike · #2 Joined: 26 Mar 2008 Posts: 259 Location: Benfleet

Count me in coach as a runner and / or support if needed. Any leg for me.

Coach · #1 Joined: 18 May 2007 Posts: 65 Location: Daws Heath

Thanks Mike, you're in !!

Will speak to you soon about a suitable leg, any preference on distance or morning or afternoon run ?

gmike · #2 Joined: 26 Mar 2008 Posts: 259 Location: Benfleet

Any bit 'll do for me Coach.

Coach · #1 Joined: 18 May 2007 Posts: 65 Location: Daws Heath

That's the sort of runner I like, thanks

JBD · #3 Joined: 15 Sep 2007 Posts: 316

Sorry Coach, tennis finals that day, any chance of changing the date to suit me ?? I can do a Thursday morning in December....

I know....I'm rubbish....

Coach · #1 Joined: 18 May 2007 Posts: 65 Location: Daws Heath

You're sacked JBD !! Join Pitsea....

andyken · #1 Joined: 25 May 2006 Posts: 33 Location: Hullbridge

Coach, have you got me down for a section, got a an old niggling injury again but hoping to be ready for the day. Ernie said he has seen you about it but would prefer to let you decide.

Alan · Joined: 12 Dec 2007 Posts: 3

i done leg 9 last year was great fun!! a little muddy but i do love to test the inov 8's out!!

Coach · #1 Joined: 18 May 2007 Posts: 65 Location: Daws Heath

GMike - how do you fancy doing a nice easy 11.2 mile leg for me ? It's leg 7 from West Bergholt to Dedham and starts at 2.40 pm. The bonus is that Capt'n Dessie is on that leg so with his past experiences on that leg you're bound to beat him !

Alan - you ran a blinder last year on leg 9 wading through the mud, fancy doing the same leg agin this year...please ?

gmike · #2 Joined: 26 Mar 2008 Posts: 259 Location: Benfleet

Sounds good to me Coach

Stevie · #3 Joined: 10 May 2006 Posts: 452 Location: Benfleet

I'm running the 1st leg and will be going for a practice run if anybody fancies it sometime during August.

I wont be running fast as I would rather run/walk it and remember the route for the race

Stress Head · #1 Joined: 08 Oct 2006 Posts: 120 Location: Benfleet

Steve, if it's run/walk ur after, me and the 1st leg go back about 10 years, know every stile and pothole!!!!
We can have a neighbours day out........sadly I'm on holiday this year for the race :sad10: !!!

Andy F · #2 Joined: 21 Oct 2006 Posts: 272 Location: Hullbridge

I have Mapped Relay leg 5

http://www.mapmyrun.com/route/gb/cressing/467362984

will try to do leg 6 next week after run/walking it.

admin · Posted: Fri Aug 08, 2008 12:19 pm Post subject:

latest news can be found here

http://www.peterjane.co.uk/h10k/essexway/

bobby · #2 Joined: 06 Apr 2008 Posts: 257

I am hoping to reccy leg 2 on Sunday with Bob. Brian will run us o the start and pick us up at the finish. Anybody wanting to join us we will have two seats in the car. Speak to me Tuesday or Thursday.

Karl C · Posted: Wed Aug 27, 2008 8:08 am Post subject: Latest News 27th August 2008

DEAR ALL,

PLEASE READ CAREFULLY - VERY IMPORTANT

Derek Atkinson, who normally collates/compiles entries and keeps the scoreboard is probably not going to be able to assist this year due to unforeseen circumstances so please follow the revised arrangements below:

Number your teams (No letters, names etc.). Use the prefix 'L' for female only teams. If any of your teams are also running in the new 45+ class let me know so I can indicate that on the scoreboard - probably with an asterisk. No need to number if you only have one team competing.

On the day team members should wear club colours and team numbers on front of their vest/t-shirt. Before the start at Epping please reconfirm your teams to us. Let us know before the start of any stage when one of your teams is not fielding a runner. Tell finishers to ensure they've been recorded and non-competing runners/buddies to walk in and don't go within 100 miles of the recorders!

Peter Woodard, our webmeister, will be taking over Derek's duties on the day so he'll keep the scoreboard ticking over and do the rollcall at the start of every stage. I'll be involved with the recording this year so we'll do our best to ensure accuracy.

Don't forget teams are solely resposible for supporting their runners - we won't be doing unofficial drinks stations this year so plase help each other there - it's very easy for any runner to get separated from their support team.

Keep an eye on the website for any 'breaking news'! Peter has very recently added maps of the entire route to it, a huge task and very well done.

http://www.peterjane.co.uk/h10k/essexway/

Sometime next week I'll send out some final thoughts - at the moment most of the route seems to be in very good shape and the relevant Public Rights of Way officers are aware where attention is still required.

Karl C · Posted: Thu Aug 28, 2008 12:45 pm Post subject: we've got a problem on Stage 9

Hi All,

Just to let you know that we've got a problem on Stage 9 - it's going to be high tide (5:15pm) at just the time we run by the river soon after the stage start.

SO - there's going to have to be a route alteration there: either using the footpath from the railway bridge through Ragmarsh Farm or - if the farmer will give us permission - using the bottom edge of the fields.

I've contacted the local Public Rights of Way officer (Sally Bartrum) and I'll be going down there late on Monday afternoon to reccy and rewrite the instructions for that section. please warn your Stage 9 runners about this impending change and I'll confirm exactly what will be happening on Tuesday.

Cheers...

Robert

Karl C · Posted: Thu Aug 28, 2008 4:31 pm Post subject: PROBLEM SOLVED - RAGMARSH FARM

Hi Everyone,

Just to let you know that I've now spoken to Mr Mitchell of Ragmarsh Farm and he's agreeable to us using the field edge this year to avoid the foreshore which is likely to be covered in water! Therefore, from the start of Paragraph 2 runners should use the field edge to avoid the foreshore. He's also agreeable to runners out reccying/learning their stages using that route - if challenged they should just explain what thry're doing. I don't know how passable that is at the monent but he expects it to be cut by the time of the relay.

I'll still have a look down there on Monday evening and aim to send a precise written version through (sometime on Tuesday) as to exactly what runners should now do. Please ensure it's passed on to your Stage 9 runners or I'm wasting my time!

Thanks

Robert

Coach · #1 Joined: 18 May 2007 Posts: 65 Location: Daws Heath

Thanks Karl, I'll pass this info on to the relevant runners. They can save their wetsuits for next year !

Karl C · Posted: Mon Sep 01, 2008 10:53 pm Post subject: update for Stage 9 runners

I've been down to Bradfield now and can confirm that the field edges we're now using are good running as the crop has been cut.

Following description now replaces last line of Paragraph 1 and the first three lines of Paragraph 2 for this year only. Please forward it to your Stage 9 runners.

'Pass under railway bridge and turn HALF R to X field 350M on obvious wide TK to hedge gap (do not go THRU).

TR along field edge for 50M to TK junction. TL along field edge towards river and turn R at field corner.
CONT 250M along field edge (now parallel to river) to pass large wooden barn (on your R) and tree stumps (on your L).
CONT on next field edge to willow tree 30M from the corner. TL THRU gap by tree and TR on grassy TK (you may get wet feet here!). CONT 40M to WM & TR THRU hedge gap to next WM. CONT 10M to tarmac TK.'

Peter will also put this in the 'Stop Press' section of the website so runners can access it directly if preferred. We'll not alter the whole stage description on the website as this varaition is for this year only.

Robert

Karl C · Posted: Wed Sep 03, 2008 10:43 pm Post subject: FINAL INSTRUCTIONS 4/9/08

OK,

Listen carefully - I will tell you this once...

Also, I know it's teaching granny to suck eggs for most runners but running in the countryside is not risk free. There's uneven ground, slippery surfaces, rabbit holes, animals, brambles, nettles, slippery footbridges/stiles if wet, etc. and, of course, the River Stour! Please advise team members to take the extra care any countryside user should. Special care should be taken with road crossings and EXTRA SPECIAL CARE on the few stretches where runners have to go along roads. Most dangerous stretch is probably the road stretch after the Wrabness RSPB Reserve (stage 9) - I've seen competitors running there like idiots. Above all runners shouldn't take any risk in race conditions they wouldn't take otherwise.

Otherwise:

Avoid non - essental parking at West Bergholt Church (end Stage6/start Stage 7) as we don't want gridlock. It is helpful if supporters can park away from there and walk to the church - car sharing is also to be encouraged to reduce the number of vehicles. At the other bottleneck - Little Leighs Church (end Stage 3/start Stage 4) please use the field Howard Jardine has arranged for us to park in. Howard will have it signed on the day.
The Essex Air Ambulance Motoecycle rally to Harwich is also on 7th September so allow for extra congestion on the main roads when travelling to Stage starts. It shouldn't affect us at Harwich at they pack up around 5pm.
Buddies/people running a stage as a non-competitor should NOT wear club colours to avoid confusing the recorders - we're Nomads therefore we're easily confused.
We walked Stage 6 recently and there's a wild honey bees' nest at an awkward place - the end of the 80 metre enclosed section soon after the start (paragraph 3 - lines 2 & 3). If it was me I'd miss it out and run round the parallel field edge. On the bright side at least bees only sting once... Also we encountered a nasty snarling farm dog at Bacon's Farm ( paragraph 4 - line 3). If you encounter it our advice is walk calmly to the left of it and don't put hands anywhere near it. These problems have been reported to the Area Public Rights of Way Officer so will hopefully be addressed by Sunday. Please pass this information to your Stage 6 runners.
At the Stage 6 finish (West Bergholt Church) the gentleman who lives to the left of the church is very anti. Don't go down the lane past where runners cross the final stile to support finishing runners. If your members want to do that go over the stile and back down the actual Essex Way.
Finally - as always - please observe the spirit of the event and help each other and each others teams with drinks/encouragement etc. It's not a matter of life and death (except perhaps for Springfield Striders 1 and Colchester Harriers 1!!!).

Robert

Karl C · Posted: Thu Sep 04, 2008 4:04 pm Post subject:

FINAL TEAM LIST 2008

http://www.benfleetrunningclub.com/ewr.08/ewr.teams.08.htm

Stress Head · #1 Joined: 08 Oct 2006 Posts: 120 Location: Benfleet

Good luck to everyone running Sunday and to each team. Enjoy the day.

Sadly the lure of foreign climes v my Epping - Ongar leg at 8am in the morning won out.

Note to all you Essex Way Virgins - don't assume the person in front knows where they are going!!!!

Sarah

Lee O · #3 Joined: 30 Aug 2006 Posts: 385 Location: Canvey Island

Yes good luck to all, and dont get lost..

_________________
My mind says I am still 19 and in My Prime......Body Suggests Otherwise!!!!!!

mikemoreton · Posted: Sat Sep 06, 2008 8:06 pm Post subject:

Good Luck to all.

Shouldnt get lost, as MM1 isnt reading your maps

debbie g · #6 Joined: 11 May 2006 Posts: 706

Good luck everyone I'll be there to cheer everyone on from leg 4 until the end apart from departing to run my own leg.

To the Team 1 guys "go for it" and make those Springfield Striders sweat

To my fellow L4 team members "run your hearts out" and I bet the opposition are quaking before we even start

Looking forward to the pub at the end

Mike Mason · #7 Joined: 02 Jun 2006 Posts: 1055 Location: Hockley

heard from Ernie that he had finished his leg and was following race to Harwich..nice and wet. How are they all doing?

ps MM2 that quip about my navigation prowess cut me to the quick..I had to have a cuppa and a bscuit......

_________________
'sometimes I am running so fast it appears that rocks and trees are standing still......' 'I may be slow, but you are ugly and I can train harder.' '90% is mental, the other half is physical'it's going to get a lot worse, before it gets worse'.

gmike · #2 Joined: 26 Mar 2008 Posts: 259 Location: Benfleet

What an excellent leg 7

Very wet, very muddy and chuffing good fun

There was some serious rain on the way back to pick up the car from West Bergholt ... hope it didn't catch up with the leg eighters

Well done all who ran, everyone at the finish, all the organisers and Coach for sorting us all out ... count me in for next year

mikemoreton · Posted: Sun Sep 07, 2008 9:04 pm Post subject:

MM1,

Couldnt resist the quip.
However, still proud of your Mont Blanc endurance. Did you know that an average of 60 people per year die on Mont Blanc?

Scary thought

debbie g · #6 Joined: 11 May 2006 Posts: 706

Okay I'm seriously well oiled (dangers of having a presentation in a pub!) so apologies for any glaring faux pas ! Brilliant day well done to all. I stayed to the end and some very impressive results recorded not least Graham Booty 3rd after being on te razz till 5am and Adam 5th on the last leg flying home and Alan 2nd (awesome). Ernie 7th on his leg in the B team, very impressive. We recorded some great A and B team performances so all of you be very proud.

I hestitate to say this but our ladies won the team prize, we beat Springfield into 2nd place

I was the only lady to stay so I had the trophy in my hands for several minutes before Ian took it off me!!

Catherine Vanessa Jacqui Karen and Lucy were 1st on their legs, Nicky and I were 2nd on our legs. All the girls ran brilliantly well done to all - proud to be part of the team

Not sure on the mens teams position and the ladies 2nd team we should know in the next 3 days but really well done it was tough out there - some top runners and you all did absolutely excellently.

Springfield men were 1st and I think Thrift Green 2nd Grange Farm 3rd (or the other way round!! - Sorry I had had a few!).

Thanks to everyone who ran Benfleet had a really impressive turnout

debbie g · #6 Joined: 11 May 2006 Posts: 706

P.S. Mike it chucked it down for the entire duration of leg 8 ! Never known the like! Last time I ran it in 2006 it was blistering sun! Slipping all over the place!

Graham · #3 Joined: 11 May 2006 Posts: 395

Well done girls!! Hope the head's OK today Debs. Glad I got my celebrating in the night before, although I have never felt worse than yesterday afternoon. Never again.

I think the biggest rap should go to Lucy. She completed the Virtuvian triathlon on Saturday (a very tough half IronMan distance) and then anchored the girls to victory in the final leg on Sunday. IronGirl indeed.

bobby · #2 Joined: 06 Apr 2008 Posts: 257

Well done to all of you who took part. Very impressive turnout, especially the ladies. Was I the only one who did a Klinsman in the mud.

debbie g · #6 Joined: 11 May 2006 Posts: 706

I agree totally Graham I meant to say that last night but the wine clouded my brain. I said to Luce afterwards I just couldn't believe she powered home ahead of all the other ladies and very high in the field after having done a half ironman! She was truly awesome. She sealed it for us for sure and I'd like to mention Deb Smith too drafted in at the last minute and finishing ahead of Springfield's 1st team lady on the same leg as Lucy, Deb had a brilliant run.

Feeling slightly hung over today but I'll live!

I would like to say that a lot of ladies and some of the men felt quite a lot of pressure doing this relay, including myself and I'm pretty competitive. I lost count of how many times I heard that someone didn't want to let the team down. To everyone who took part you should be very proud of your achievements we wouldn't have had 5 teams out there if you hadn't shown your support for the club by running and in my view that's something to be proud of in itself.

Lucycat · Posted: Mon Sep 08, 2008 10:17 am Post subject:

Hey we won!!!!

Am off work `tom and dick' today ...very dodgy stomach took the mop bucket to bed in the spare room. Not great.

Not sure if it was the lake water on Saturday, the dodgy cheese sandwich jez procured afterwards (which I hate half of and fed the rest to paddy in disgust - although hes fine), the ibuprofen I was taking all yesterday or just my body saying `inuff'. Glad I didnt go for chips at Harwich now.

On the plus side - lost half a stone overnight. Bonus.
_________________

Lucy and Paddy

debbie g · #6 Joined: 11 May 2006 Posts: 706

Oh Luce you poor thing. Take it easy and get well soon. The things you put yourself through for Benfleet! We are very grateful though

And you don't need to lose half a stone!

I lost 1 lb after yesterday somehow doesn't sound quite as impressive

mArKw · #2 Joined: 15 May 2006 Posts: 291 Location: Benfleet

Well done to all yesterday. Runners and supporters did a brilliant job all day. Big congrats to the girls. The competition was fierce but you all pulled through to the win.

Colchester Harriers have some piccies on their website, one of which shows Kev at the start in Great Tey, with Jason hanging on to his shoestrings close behind....

http://colchesterharriers.myphoto...Name=album09&id=essex_way_002
_________________
The hills are alive........

Graham · #3 Joined: 11 May 2006 Posts: 395

Just looked at the results. Nick lose his compass? Makes a change from Dessie I suppose. Think he's been at the club long enough to get a good slating tonight. Haha!

Ernie · #2 Joined: 26 May 2006 Posts: 240 Location: Hockley GORC

I'll make this short !

I'd like to apologise to everyone for all the rain on Sunday.

debbie g · #6 Joined: 11 May 2006 Posts: 706

Just to let those of you who weren't at the club last night know Nick came down to let us who were really worried about him know he was fine.

It was nice to see he was okay though he has not run since the relay and wisely won't do so till he gets checked out by his GP on Monday. He thinks it was probably just exhaustion or over-training that hit him on his relay leg but it is always wise to get it checked out.

He will not be doing Abingdon marathon as he wants to get fighting fit and back to full speed first.

As far as I am concerned I think Nick was a real hero for finishing that relay leg. He was clearly not well and no one could have blamed him for dropping out. However all he was thinking about was the team and he was determined to finish.

Get well soon Nick don't run before you are ready and when you are it will be lovely to see you back at the club again and if you fancy an easier ride I'd be happy to be your running partner as it was a pleasure to run with you on the relay practice run as long as you promise to slow down for me!

And I won't hear anything about "you're getting old now!" as I'm the same age as you and quite frankly we're both getting quicker

P.S. Ernie those of us on leg 8 who suffered with the flash flooding are very grateful to you for the weather....

Graham · #3 Joined: 11 May 2006 Posts: 395

Yeah - should have got the story before I suggested the rounds of the kitchen for Nick. I just assumed (especially given his recent half marathon times) he must have got lost otherwise he would have been way up the field. Now I found out he was struggling with illness and pushing on regardless. Well done Nic, glad to hear you're feeling OK and see you back real soon. But if you do ever get lost........