Ekiden 2024 – final teams and instructions

18 June 2024 - By Jodee Mayer

Ekiden Relay 2024

Date: 07 July 2024

Time: Arrival by 9.45 am, for a race start of 10.20 am.

Whilst we appreciate not everyone will be able to, we encourage everyone to stay to support the rest of your teammates and to see our last runner over the line in true black and gold style

Location: Ipswich High School, IP9 1AZ – parking available, as always we encourage car sharing. There are over 1200 runners and so it will get busy. Some of us will be there super early to set up, and the car park is open from 7.45am.

There will be portaloos on site – we do not have access to the school’s toilets or showers.

For further information about the course and facilities please see the post here.

Course

Updated from last year with an additional field –

Teams

We have an astounding EIGHT teams for Ekiden this year. I don’t *think* Clive cried when I asked for additional budget to enter all of the teams, or when he had to pay it – something to strive for next year…

The teams are set out below, and I will set up Facebook messenger groups as best as I can – please look out for it in the message requests if we are not Facebook friends.

We need to declare the teams, including running order and so please can you confirm by 28th June at 5pm who will be running each leg, which as a reminder are as follows:

• Leg 1 – 7.2km
• Leg 2 – 5k
• Leg 3 – 10k
• Leg 4 – 5k
• Leg 5 – 10k
• Leg 6 – 5k

I have included below some requests I have had to run specific legs.

Last year, only 1 team changed their name from the very inventive below ones, and it would be great to have some different team names for this year!

Each team will also need to nominate a captain for on the day – the team captains main job is to make sure everyone turns up to run when they need to!

MENS OPEN TEAM 1		WOMENS OPEN TEAM 1
Will Radley		Claudia Baba
Chris Pugh		Claire Collins
Daniel Griffiths		Annalise Tye
Sam Hajder		Liz Stuckey
Clive Smith		Fiona Collins
Ian Cuthbert		Elizabeth Prior
MENS OPEN TEAM 2		WOMENS OPEN TEAM 2
James Attenborough		Rachel Sharp
Glen Waller		Sian Tate
Steven Alder		Maggie Mason
Luke Tanner		Nat Lilley  – first 5k
Shane Ketteridge		Jenny Layley – 7.2km
Geoff Reddin		Beth Shippey
MENS SUPER VETS		WOMENS SUPER VETS
Heydon Mizon		Sarah Naughton – 7.2km
Simon Scott		Anita Grainger
Alex Stuckey		Lisa Leader
Mick Conroy		Lysia Jiggins
David Grainger		Céline Elson
Ian Lucas		Karen Flowers
OVER 60 MEN		OVER 60 MIXED
Owen Dare		Anthony Smith
Mark Austin		Colin Short
Terry Alabaster		Ross Silverton
Andrew Read		Kerry Townsend – 1st 5km
Graham Eyre		Angela Read
David Jobling		Martin Weaire

The relay itself

The race uses batons containing timing chips which will be handed out to the A leg runners (7.2km) just before the start.

Team captains need to ensure that their runners are in position to take over when the previous runner finishes. You’ll need to wait in the “holding pen” until told to go out on the field and get ready to be passed the baton. We will cover this again on race day and have a demo of the hand over.

What to bring

Kit 

You will need to have a WRC race vest (black and gold) to run in on the day. If you do not have one, please let Will or I know ASAP and we will try to source you one to borrow, or purchase one through the members section of website which Ian Lucas can bring it on the day for you (if not before!).

Other than that, the usual things you would bring to a race – don’t forget your trainers!

Food

We have also set up a Google doc for the WRC picnic this year, in the hope of being slightly more organised than last year! This can be found here and please just add your name by the item you will bring on the day to share with your teammates. If there is something you want to add to the picnic that isn’t on the list, do add it and let me know you have done so 🙂

Don’t forget to bring water – there is a water station on course.

Food and drink will be available to purchase at the event, and do bring anything else you might want to!

Other stuff

We recommend bringing a camping chair/picnic blanket/something to sit on.

Any questions, queries, or issues let Jodee or Will know.

We look forward to seeing you there.

Your Captains