The 2024 Handicap Series

Last year in the Stevenage Striders 5k series, we had 74 different runners that took part in at least 1 race, it was a fantastic turnout!! A grand total of 36 of the team qualified for the series medal as they took part in at least 3 races, well done! There was some great running throughout and quite a few PB’s smashed and all in the mix of runners attending the midweek league too!!

Massive thanks to all our volunteers and tech support, without you guys these races are not possible!!

The dates for this years handicap series as below with a 7pm start time for the first runner:

• Tuesday 21st May

• Tuesday 11th June

• Tuesday 9th July

• Tuesday 16th July

• Tuesday 30th July

Links to each race will be up in due course with one race being available to sign up for at a time. All we ask when signing up is to put you latest and most accurate 5k time, preferably taken from a Parkrun or race and for each subsequent race in the series you’re using you last race time in the series.

Looking forward to painting Fairlands Park bright with diamonds and Strider colours and seeing you all smash it this year, good luck!

The start and finish of each race is adjacent to the car park at the Showground (Fairlands valley park south, opposite the football ground). The race route is an out and back and part of it utilises a single lap of the Stevenage park run.

How does a handicap race work?

Each runner is given a target time based on their current form. This target time is used to work out the order in which runners are started, with the slowest runner going first and the fastest runner last. Each runners handicap is calculated by taking the difference between the slowest runners start time and the runners start time. As each runner finishes, the race stopwatch time is noted against their name. Their actual race time is calculated by taking the recorded stopwatch time and subtracting the runners handicap. The winner of the race is the runner who beats their target time by the greatest margin.

The race route
From the start follow the pathway that takes you across the length of the Showground (approx 1km). At the end of the path turn right on to the cycleway going down the hill. At the bottom of the hill turn left and go through the under pass (under six hills way). Turn left and after approx 100m turn right to go into Fairlands Valley park (north).

The next stage of the route follows a single lap of the Stevenage park run. Follow the pathway keeping the Avenue of trees on your left and the large lake on your right. Stay on the upper path. Where the path forks stay on the left hand (upper path). As you pass the small car park on your left, turn left at the end of the pathway and then immediately right. The kids play area will be on your right and you pass the school on your left. Continue on the path for approx 200m until the pathway junction. Turn right and cross the bridge. Immediately after the bridge turn right and follow the pathway ahead keeping the lakes on your right. Where the pathway forks just after the next bridge (do not cross this!) stay right and DO NOT go up the pathway on the left. You will pass the cycle hub on your right and approx 50m later turn right ahead of the large climbing tower. Do not take the first left turn on this pathway but take the next left turn (the second. This is the start of the Stevenage park run). Follow the path ahead staying on the lower pathway with the large lake on your left. Follow the pathway around the end of the lake and where the path forks take the right hand fork through the small wood. As you follow the pathway through and out of the wood proceed ahead to cross the cycleway and pass through the underpass. Immediately turn right, go up the hill and then turn left to go into the showground (fairlands valley park south). Proceed ahead for approx 1km to the finish line.

Finished!!!

Race series – 5 races with the best 3 results of each runner to count. You must have completed at least 3 races to be eligible to be considered for the race series. Each runner is given a target time for each race. The target times are based on recent race and training data. The aim is to beat that target time by the largest margin. Runners are started in reverse order with the slower runners going first. The winning runner is the one who beats their target time by the largest margin.

Runners are allocated points based not their final position. Winner 1 points, runner up 2 points etc… The winner of the series is the runner who has the lowest aggregate score over their best three results. In the event of a tie the results of the fourth scoring race completed will be considered and then the fifth to separate the runners concerned. If this still results in a tie between two runners then the aggregate of each runners margins over their best three races between their finishing time and target time will be considered.