Tony Phillips – Pacer at the Tunbridge Wells Half Marathon 2011
My best half marathon experience..
but my slowest ever time!
MAKING A DIFFERENCE
A behind the scenes look at the
Lifestyle Renault Tunbridge Wells Half Marathon
H
ow often do you stop and think about what goes on behind the scenes of a
race? Who organises it? How much work goes into it? What are the costs and logistics? And most importantly how many volunteers give up their time to support the event, allowing you the opportunity to take part or get your next PB? The Lifestyle Renault Tunbridge
Wells Marathon is on Sunday 26th February and is organised purely by volunteers from host club Tunbridge Wells Harriers. The event which is now in it’s 29th year, has grown from a small club race to one of the top races in the South East, attracting close to 2800 entrants this year. All profits are donated to charity and the race has raised over £60,000 over the last 5 years. The award-winning event has always been a race organised by runners for runners and Tunbridge Wells Harriers are justifiably proud of their success. But success comes at a price. That price is the hours and hours of hard work that goes on behind the scenes. “Race day is the highlight of my
year,” explains race director Sarah Russell, “seeing all our efforts
56 n
www.runningfreemag.co.uk
come together, so many happy faces and the buzzing atmosphere, makes all the hard work worthwhile. On the day of the race, we need 400 volunteers to marshal the route, hand out water, direct parking, marshal toilets, medals, tidy up, the list goes on. It pulls the whole community together. The way we work with local Rotary and Lion groups, scouts, guides, local schools and community groups, is fantastic and we couldn’t do it without them. It makes it a whole community event. Last year we had mugs printed up with ‘I made a difference,’ which we gave to every volunteer to say thanks. So the next time you’re at a race just stop and think about the organisation behind the scenes” urges Sarah “and offer a word of thanks to the marshals. It makes our hard work all worthwhile. When I’m racing I make a point of saying a breathless ‘thank you’ to every marshal and watch their faces light up. It really does make a difference.”
The race is now sold out, but charity places are available, for more information visit:
www.twharriers.org.uk
“The 2011 Tunbridge Wells Half Marathon was my sixth half-marathon. It ended up being my personal worst time, but it was the most enjoyable race I’ve ever done!
I had volunteered to be the pacer for runners aiming to finish in just under 2 hours 20 minutes. And it was my job to help them achieve their goal.
I had to be very aware of my pace, particularly the checkpoint times I had set myself. Getting there too early might mean that I’d left some runners behind, disillusioned and disappointed that they weren’t going to achieve their target. Getting there too late... well that would have been a disaster!
My role was also to encourage and motivate everyone around me - whilst keeping a close eye on the clock - and to make their race experience the best that it could be. I absolutely loved it.
There were several high points of the race, although truth be told the whole 13.1 miles was a high. The camaraderie of the runners around me and the atmosphere of the enthusiastic and encouraging spectators along the route was just fantastic and I’ll never forget it. In particular, nearing the finishing line, I noticed several runners behind me who I knew could also make it in under 2:20. I called them on and waited for them to shepherd them over the line. When they made it with seconds to spare, their faces were pictures of pure delight One of the reasons I love running is because, apart from the few at the front of a race who are trying to actually win, most of us are purely competing against ourselves, trying to achieve a personal best or simply get round and enjoy the experience (my personal recommended goal).
Since 1st January 2010 I have been running at least a mile every single day and because I blog about it and the difference it makes to me, it has intensified my enjoyment of running. But if you ever get the chance, try foregoing your personal goals altogether and run a race helping others to achieve their goals. I rate the enjoyment as somewhere between ten and a hundred times greater.”
Visit Tony’s ‘Mile Each Day Blog’ at:
www.coachingapproach.co.uk
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64