Ranelagh Festival of Running

Unfortunately the Green Belt Relay isn’t going ahead this year. Instead, we’ve decided to organise something a little different for everyone to take part in...

Here’s what you need to know:

When? Saturday 22nd and Sunday 23rd May

Who can take part? Anyone in the club - young and old, fast and not so fast!

What’s happening? Loosely based on the Greenbelt Relay format, runners will compete in teams, with each person running two legs - one on Saturday and one on Sunday.

Each team will need to complete specified distances on each day, split into legs of 5k, 10k and 15k distances. It’s up to the team to agree how those legs are allocated. E.g. some runners may run/walk 5k each day, whilst others may opt for longer distances, or a combination of long and short.

This race isn’t a typical relay format... Each runner can choose when and where they run each day, and your collective times count towards your team score. Each team will have a captain to coordinate legs and collate your times. If you have a GPS device, please use it to evidence your run.

Once we know who is keen to take part, we will allocate runners into teams, aiming to make them as evenly matched as possible, ensuring some very friendly competition, and enabling runners to meet runners they wouldn’t otherwise meet!

Where? You can run wherever you like (as long as it’s not net downhill)! We’ll also be arranging for people to run together in Richmond Park and Bushy Park, for those who can and would like to run with others. This won’t be a race - you’ll still have to time your own run, and it’s likely that you’d be running in smaller informal groups setting off at different times. More details will be emailed nearer the time, ensuring we’re compliant with the latest Covid guidelines. The idea will be that runners can do a 5km looped course in Richmond Park one day, and another in Bushy Park on the other day.

What about the social side? Great question! If you plan on heading to Bushy/Richmond to join the fun, please feel free to bring a picnic and drinks for after. We’ll have a think about a suitable area in both parks to convene and fingers crossed for some sunny weather! If the weather’s not that promising, we’ll have a think about some nearby pubs instead.

What else do I need to know? As with GBR last year, team names are BACK! There will be team colours as well so you can spot and cheer on your fellow team mates.

Once we have a better idea of numbers, we will allocate runners into teams in early May and set up team WhatsApp groups so you can discuss legs and tactics! We’ll also be in touch about proposed courses, timings and safety nearer to the weekend.

Any questions, please feel free to ask Clare Fowler, Suzy Whatmough or James Whistler at ranelaghgbr@gmail.com