Following a very successful cross country season, the Stragglers are turning their attention to the road running season. We are hoping that as many of you as possible will want to take part in these events for what promises to be a great summer of running.

For those new (and not so new!) to the club, the summer road series is made up of selected road races (a total 10 this year) where you can accumulate points towards the Stragglers Road Championships competition (7 of the races also form the Surrey Road league competition where we are competing against other local clubs, these are given in bold below).

This year, we will be spicing things up by having more ways to recognise member's participation and performances.  There has traditionally been the annual club 10K championships, and this year there will also be a half-marathon, 10 mile and 5K club championship.  The races are below, with web links where the races are already open for entries.

 Richmond Half-Marathon  Sunday 30th April (Half-marathon Stragglers Championship) https://www.sportsystems.co.uk/ss/event/RichmondHalfMarathon20172

• Sutton 10km  Sunday 7th May (Free to enter if you tell me by 31st March)
• Dorking 10 miles  Sunday 4th  June (10 mile Stragglers Championship)

• Richmond 10km Sunday 18th June
• Mobmatch v Ranelagh Saturday 24th June– Bushy Parkrun (5k Stragglers Championship)
• Stragglers 10km Thursday 29th June (10k Stragglers Championship)
• Elmore 7 miles  Saturday 15th July
• Elmbridge 10km  Sunday 23rd July https://www.sportsentrysolutions.com/new_race_page.php?recordID=200463
• Wedding Day 7km Friday 28th July
• Wimbledon 5km  Sunday 13th August

 So here is what you can win, and it's not all about being the fastest!

 The Championship races

 For each of the club championship races (half-marathon, 10 miles, 10K and 5K) there will be prizes for the first Straggler male and female, and

• first Senior Man, M40, M50, M60, M70
• first Senior Lady, F35, F45, F55, F65 

 10K Rankings

 There are four 10K races in the summer series, and a table of best 10K times achieved will be compiled. Awards will be given for the fastest male and female from any of the four races, and for

•  the fastest M40, M50, M60, M70
• the fastest F35, F45, F55, F65
• and the highest age grading 10K performance.

 Summer Road Series Championships

 To be 'in the running' for an award, you need to have competed in at least 4 of the races. Points will be awarded for your best 4 performances and highest scoring make and female will be the overall winners.  Also awards for:

• first Senior Man, M40, M50, M60, M70
• first Senior Lady, F35, F45, F55, F65

In addition new for this year there will be awards for the best age graded performance (male and female) achieved at any of the races.  Finally there will be team captain’s award for the most improved runner (male and female). To help you gear up for all of this, Kev Best and Structured Training group will be helping you with your training to target all of these events over the summer.

Lastly if that is not enough! we will be organising some social get-togethers post some of these races, and will let you know about these nearer the time.

 Go Stragglers!

 All the best

 Malcolm

 Malcolm Davies

Stragglers Men’s Captain