Les Tobin Memorial Time Trial
When |
Our monthly Time Trial is held on the first or second Sunday of each month at either Redcliffe or Sandgate. Start time is 6:00am in summer and 7:00am in winter. After your run, stay and join us for a free cooked breakfast. |
Distances |
5k walk 5k run 10k run |
Benefit |
Time Trials provide an opportunity to run under race conditions, and to improve speed and confidence prior to running in your goal event. |
Locations
Competing in the Time Trials
Time Trial Series
Results from each Time Trial go towards the Time Trial Handicap Series and the Time Trial Performance Series:
Time Trial Handicap Series
|
Time Trial Performance Series
|
Series Registration, Progress and Standings
Club members register for each Time Trial using the form on the Members Time Trial page. A link to the members page can be found in the weekly Club newsletter and on the MBRR Members Facebook page.
Members can also view their current handicap time and the series standings on the MBRR Members Time Trial page.
Race Timing
The Club uses a phone app for race timing, so we need two volunteers to act as timekeepers at each Time Trial.
When you register for a Time Trial, you can indicate that you would like to be a volunteer timekeeper. If more than two people request to volunteer, then the timekeepers will be chosen via random draw by an MBRR Committee member.
Since the volunteers are giving up their chance to compete at that Time Trial, they are awarded bonus maximum Handicap Series points for that event. To keep things fair, members can receive the timekeeping bonus points only once per year.
Wave Starts
The Time Trial uses wave starts, with the aim of having most Club members finishing within 10 or so minutes of each other for catering of breakfast.
We use three start waves:
Early Start | (15 minutes prior) 10km runners over 60 minutes finish time only |
On the hour | 10km over 50 minute runners |
Late Start | (15 minutes later) 5km runners and walkers |
Handicap Series Details
Handicap Times
Handicaps are adjusted through the year based on your finish time at each Time Trial:
- If you finish faster than your handicap then your handicap is reduced by 80% of the difference between your handicap and finish time.
- If you finish slower than your handicap then your handicap is increased by 10% of the difference between your finish time and handicap.
- If you don’t have a handicap in the category you enter, then your finish time plus 1% becomes your handicap for the next event.
Some examples:
- A 10km runner with a handicap of 55:00 finishes in 54:10. Their improvement is 50 seconds, so their handicap is reduced by 40 seconds (80% of 50). Their handicap at the next Time Trial will be 54:20
- A 5km runner with a handicap of 30:00 finishes in 31:00. They ran 60 seconds slower than their handicap, so their handicap is increased by 6 seconds (10% of 60). Their new handicap will be 30:06
- A runner competes for the first time in 10km and finishes in 50:00. Their handicap for the next Time Trial will be 50:30 (50:00 + 1%)
Point Scores
Points are awarded in each distance category based on the difference between finish times and handicaps.
The member who beats their handicap by the biggest margin (or is closest to their handicap if no one runs under) receives 50 points. 2nd biggest margin gets 46 points, 3rd 43 points, 4th 41 points, then 40, 39, 38, etc points down to 43rd place.
Everyone after 43rd place gets 1 point. Volunteer timekeepers receive 50 points.
Switching Categories
You can switch categories (5km walk / run, 10km) as much as you want during the year, however doing so will probably reduce your chances of doing well in the Series results.
Questions
If you have any questions or suggestions please email the MBRR Committee – info.mbrr@gmail.com
About Les Tobin
Les along with Christy McFadden started the monthly time trial as a tool for members to strive for improvement.
Les was regularly the 3hr 45min pacer at the Gold Coast Marathon, a key player in the club’s participation in the Endeavour 500km Road Relay, a true leader in guiding and supporting club members in their training for various events and quite simply a really great guy.
Les served his country as a proud military man and was an avid studier in the field of genealogy. Les was a long term member of the Club who is remembered as a true gentleman and passionate runner who was always keen to share his experience, humor and enthusiasm.
Sadly, Les passed away in January 2018 and is truly missed by those in the Club who knew him.