I received an email from Peter Wedderburn of the Stragglers yesterday giving feedback on the River Relays this year and also promoting a new race he is putting together with Richard Xerri of Perseverance Events Ltd. They are putting together a new half marathon to be held on 31st March 2013 which falls just right for those looking for a half marathon towards the end of their marathon training. The email read as follows:
Hi all
Just a quick note to bring you all up to date with our plans for the River Relay in 2013. Following positive feedback from teams this year on the new 5 stage 26.2miles format, we are planning to stay with the same route for 2013, although we may make some minor changes where we feel improvements can be introduced. We have provisionally decided to run the event on the equivalent weekend as this year, on Sunday 8th September 2013, so please pop that date in your diary. We will be seeking to get more clubs involved this year and I am aiming to achieve an entry of 50 teams. Further information will follow in the New Year.
In the meantime, I would also like to draw your attention to a new race I am promoting, the Richmond 13.1 Half Marathon which will take place on March 31st 2013. This is a new venture with a company I have set up with Richard Xerri, Perseverance Events Limited, and is separate from the Stragglers, although I do hope to get plenty of support from the club.
The course is on mixed terrain taking in Road, river path and the Ham Avenue tracks, and will run from the Old Deer Park in Richmond to Kew, back through Richmond to Ham and returning to finish at the Old Deer Park. It’s a very flat course and should be quite fast, and running on Easter Sunday, just three weeks before London and two weeks before Brighton, will work well as a pre Marathon run or as a Spring Half in its own right. 10% of all entry fees will go to support the Poppy Factory, the nationally renowned charity for disabled ex servicemen based in Richmond. The entry fee is £29 unaffiliated and £27 affiliated, with all finishers receiving a technical shirt. We are pleased to offer any club/team that entered the River Relay a £2 discount on the race fee, for all entries received prior to Christmas Day. If you could publicise the event within your club this would be much appreciated.
For entry details simply go to:
www.sportsystems.co.uk/ss/event/Richmond131 – To gain your discount, enter the code 13point1 in the discount box at the bottom of the online entry form.
Many thanks and look forward to seeing all of you in 2013.
Best Regards
Peter