Brian Warner
8 May 2023
Sinfin 5 2023 Round-up
Sinfin 5 2023 Post-Race write-up
Thank you for all that attended our 2023 Sinfin 5 Race.
This was the first time since 2019 that we'd held an event but this time it was to be at a new venue. It was highly stressful to arrange but fortunately turned out to be a very successful event. There were many meetings prior to the race to organise everything so it would run smoothly – and the closer it got to the date, the more the planning meetings increased!
On our club nights we scoped out the route and the marshal positions needed to ensure runners' safety. This happened a few times at the venue with a couple of occasions involving all of our members to run the route to ensure they knew the positions and possible problem points.
Race Day (and Timings)
The race started at 9.30am but the race committee members arrived at 6.45am as we needed to get those barriers and gates open as well as the signs out.
We started by ensuring that the first marshals were sent over to the Asda car park so that entrants could be directed to our allocated area. The runners could then be directed to the course and then follow the signs we'd put out along the route 66 cycle route. Other members put the other signs out in the park and on the rest of the route.
The portaloo toilets arrived at 7.00am and whilst they were being set up we started setting up the tables in our HQ area. AV timing arrived at 7.30am - nice and early to ensure they had time to set up, put the timing matts in place etc at the start and finish line.
At 7.45am our marshals were in place Sinfin Moor Lane to stop traffic entering the event area.
By 8.00am the majority of our club members who would provide valuable assistance during the day / marshal etc had arrived and at 8.10am we had our members setting up the start / finishing area.
The Medical Support team arrived at 8.30am and at the same time our marshal leaders begin their huddles to ensure all knew the spots they were marshalling, their responsibilities, who their contacts were etc. We had assigned specific sections of the park and route areas for these leaders as runners safety is important and we wanted the race to run smoothly and without incident. Soon after that they set off, in groups to their areas. The timing of all the above was so important as some areas further out on the course obviously took longer to reach than others.
The race started at 9.30am. At this point I was still returning from the turnaround point to give my additional support to those running the route. It was a bad choice of clothing by me – jeans instead of shorts – I definitely should have chosen the latter!
Fortunately I made it back to the HQ area in time to shout and encourage runners coming past the café for the first time. It was important to ensure that those at the rear of the pack kept over to the left-hand side of the path because of the possibility of the fast runners returning in the other direction. Luckily all got through this section before the leaders got back into the park.
We wanted to make sure everyone all enjoyed the race so it was vital our marshals encouraged runners you during the race. I’m hoping you all certainly felt encouraged!
I didn’t get to the finishing point but the videos seem to show that this all went pretty smoothly – with those entrants getting their medals (if they had entered the race early enough). The finishers then started to head back to the HQ area to get their t-shirts and goody bags.
Interest in our cake stand was good – there were plenty purchased with the £100 of takings presented to the Friends of Sinfin Moor Park that run the café.
At 10.45am (approx.) the race finished and the prizes were presented to the 1st, 2nd and 3rd Men and Lady runners in the HQ / Café area.
Soon after that we started to pack everything away. Signs where already on the way back, collected by the marshals after the last place person had passed them.
The HQ area was all packed away by 11.30am with mine and Steve's cars packed to the brim with the race equipment. We then left the site just leaving the portaloos to be picked up at 12.30pm.
The feedback we had was fantastic!
Runners loved the new course, the support we gave them and the T-Shirts & Medals.
The café owners on the park were over the moon with how the day’s takings went for them and the additional donation of the cake takings.
The money gathered for the race was sufficient to provide support to our preferred charities - The Air Ambulance, The Mountain Rescue and The Friends of Sinfin Moor Park – look out for additional posts on our presentations to them.
Of course, there are always things we can learn from the day and we will take these on board – we intend on continuing the success and improving our race (now we know how it works and the timeline involved) so we look forward to 2024 as much as you do.
Our 2024 race is provisionally set for Sunday 12th of May so keep an eye out for the details being formally announced. Once confirmed and booked we will post further details!