My involvement with the Lions Martian race goes back to the very first race in 2018. At that time the parking and race village was all at Fairoaks Airfield. We all walked off from a race briefing down to McLaren Technology Park where today’s Race Village is but finish was back at Fairoak’s.
We then moved to a start and finish at McLaren Technology park which was a great improvement and this year we have gone one step further moving the car park much closer to the start.
From then on it feels like I got more and more hooked, and my involvement expanded, until this year when my dear friend Majid passed the Race Director baton over to myself. What had I let myself in for!
Being a Race Director is very rewarding but it’s amazing the amount of effort that has to go in to make the race a success. It isn’t just my time; we have a whole team of volunteers who have been working incredible hard behind the scenes in earnest since October.
Over the course (no pun intended), of the ‘Pre-Race Period’ our workloads change, from small involvement to full on organisation. I personally can’t wait for the warmer lighter evenings, as we finish the small details and get out more over the course to fine tune things further.
But for now I must credit my team: the remarkable Mary, who is doing an amazing job on Social Media Marketing, and has been working with Hannah, to create our bespoke Martian Medal (reveal to follow); Emma, who is looking after our Sponsor Marketing and has designed our wonderful flyers; Jason, and Karl, who have been representing the runners and tweaking things from last year to make sure it is even more enjoyable for runners; Peter who is busy with volunteer coordination and making sure we have enough marshals to put on the event and last but not least Oli who is leading the set-up of the Race Village and parking.
I’ve got to say a massive thanks for the time and energy to date!
The Race Committee are largely runners and names may well be familiar to you. All our involvement is for the same three reasons:
- Create the best environment and event possible event for all level of runners.
- Community first, family friendly, and fun – all for great charitable causes and putting something back into the community.
- Making use of the fantastic facilities we have on Horsell Common and opening this up to the runners to see what a great asset it is.
So, let’s share the first bit of detail with you on the day itself:
Kim from the Gym Group Woking will be with us for a pre warm up session, starting around 8.45ish.
At the Race village apart from the necessary toilets, we will have coffee and nice bakery snacks available to purchase from our supporters – Temple Hut. Ideal for those who are just watching or need that last minute pick me up before the start…I know I will be a regular!!
Run Company Woking will have a small stand for any last-minute running bits I’m thinking water bottles and gels but who knows what treats they may have to tempt us…
And of course, secure bag collection, medic and some other things which we will unveil in the next blog…
Race timing is as follows:
With 4 individual races and with a brand-new kids 2k race we have even more to consider.
9.00 2km Kids Race
9.30 21km race
9.45 10km race
10.00 5km race
The 2km kids’ race is going to be amazing. 2km race around the tracks in the long grass, up over the small hill and back down for a fast finish in front of all the runners from the other races. What an atmosphere that’s going to be, with over 600 runners cheering them all home it’s going to be something special a great experience for them before they all go home with a finishers medal!
We hope that the kids inspire you all to enjoy your longer races regardless of what time you come back in! (We just want you to come back safe and happy!!)
There is so much more to tell you but this if the first of a small series of blogs to share a little bit of what goes on and give you latest news as we get nearer to the event. We will save more detail in the next one and we will wrap all of this up in emails to entrants prior to the event for ease! I hope you enjoyed the quick read and feel even more inspired to enter (if you haven’t already), share with a friend to get them to enter, or just become a supporter (or even a volunteer) and share the news of this great community event!
Gav
Race Director