Ekiden Relays – Sunday 07 July 2024 – information and sign up

15 April 2024 - By Jodee Mayer

Many of you will have seen the save the date and Facebook event for this year’s Ekiden Relay, an annual race held by Ipswich Jaffa.

Originating as a popular race format in Japan, Ekiden involves each team of 6 people taking on legs of different lengths which add up to a marathon. One runner will tackle 7.2km, three will complete a 5km leg, and two will take on 10km legs.

Venue and Course information

Ekiden this year will be held on 07 July 2024 at Ipswich High School, IP9 1AZ, with arrival by 9.45 am, for a race start of 10.20am.  

The course is off road, mainly on a flat lawn course, though it is a slightly different course to last year with, we are told, less loops in the main race arena and the back field ( I think we can all agree “yay!” on that one!).

There will likely be food and drink (hopefully a working coffee machine!) on sale, and we will also do a (slightly less last minute and slightly more organised!) picnic again.

The day should be good fun with the team members not currently running being able to support and cheer on their teammates throughout the race. The write up of the 2023 event is here for anyone not quite sure about taking part – it really was a great day!

Sign up

We have reserved some teams based on last year’s participation, but need to confirm and pay for the teams by 22 June.

Teams are, as usual for this type of event, based on age on the date of the race.  Therefore, if you wish to take part please complete the below form, with the category you will be in on 07 July 2024 (open is for women aged under 35 and men aged under 40 on race day) before 5pm on Friday 14  June 2024.

This will allow us some time to search for specific runners using that app JB is building (or, failing that, Facebook) before we have to submit the teams.

If you do not have an EA licence, you can still run, but please add a comment when you sign up to advise of the same so that we can try to create the teams appropriately. You will need to have a WRC race vest (black and gold) to run in on the day.

Cost

The race is free for members, and we absolutely encourage anyone that would like to run to do so.

We understand that injuries and emergencies do happen. However, as Jodee probably made very clear last year, organising the teams for Ekiden is more stressful than planning a wedding, particularly when there are (arguably avoidable) drop outs in the few days leading up to the event. Therefore, if you sign up please put the event in your diary/calendar/filofax and let us know ASAP if you can’t run.

Please note that, at the discretion of the captains, anyone who drops out after 22 June 2024 will be deducted 100 club champs points.

Let us know below or on Facebook if you have any queries.

Will and Jodee

• Sam Hajder – Men’s Vets (40+)
• Will Radley – Men’s Open
• Ian Lucas – Over 60 (any gender)
• Sarah Naughton – Ladies Super Vets (45+)
• Annalise Tye – Ladies Open
• James Attenborough – Men’s Vets (40+)
• Lisa Leader – Ladies Super Vets (45+)
• Glen waller – Men’s Vets (40+)
• Terry Alabaster – Over 60 (any gender)
• Shane Ketteridge – Men’s Open
• Kerry Townsend – Over 60 (any gender)
• Daniel Griffiths – Men’s Open
• Colin Short (no EA licence) – Over 70 (any gender)
• Lysia Jiggins – Ladies Super Vets (45+)
• Owen Dare – Over 60 (any gender)
• Andrew Read – Over 60 (any gender)
• Angela Read – Over 60 (any gender)
• Claire Collins – Ladies Open
• David Jobling – Over 60 (any gender)
• Ian Cuthbert – Men’s Open
• Fiona Collins – Ladies Open
• Max Leech – Ladies Vets (35+)
• Mark Austin – Over 60 (any gender)
• Claudia Baba – Ladies Vets (35+)
• Rachel Sharp – Ladies Vets (35+)
• Steven Alder – Men’s Open
• Céline – Ladies Super Vets (45+)
• Simon Scott – Men’s Super Vets (50+)
• Graham Eyre – Over 70 (any gender)
• Karen Flowers – Ladies Super Vets (45+)
• Rachel Sharp – Ladies Vets (35+)
• Ross Silverton – Over 70 (any gender)
• Jenny Layley – Ladies Super Vets (45+)
• Anthony Smith – Over 60 (any gender)
• Maggie Mason – Ladies Super Vets (45+)
• Martin Weaire – Over 60 (any gender)