The next Serpentine Handicap will be on Saturday… I know it doesn’t even feel like 2009 yet.

MEET AT THE BOATHOUSE
Because of the Winter Wonderland spectacle, we will NOT be starting (or finishing) at the “normal” location this month, but will meet at the boathouse (the one with the nice wooden shop) – between the Dell cafe and the bridge.

We plan to meet by the bench at the boathouse and register, then we will drop bags at the finish line (probably lamp post #118), and proceed to the start (probably lamp post #130). You must not leave any bags at the start! Although the finish line will be guarded during the race, as normal belongings are left at your own risk.

MARSHALS NEEDED
We need lots of marshals again this month – for the Dell cafe corner, for the finish, and for the half way mark – at least 8 people in total. If you are not running and can help, please get in touch at handicapper@serpentine.org.uk asap!

IF YOU WANT TO RUN
The course is about 7km, which is two clockwise laps of the serpentine, plus an extra bit along the shoreline equivalent to twice the distance from the bandstand to the Dell cafe (because normally we start at the bandstand). This means that the course *distance* is unchanged from the standard distance (which we will run from the normal place in February).

Registration opens at 8:15 and closes promptly at 8:55 or earlier if the race limit of 100 is reached. First time runners should turn up before 8:30 so we can sort out your initial start times.

To run in the race you must be a fully paid-up member of the club by the end of 2008 (Wednesday night).

Entry costs £1. If you are running for the first time, you will also need to pay £1 for your race number, which you need to bring to every handicap. If you lose or forget your number, you will need to buy a replacement.

You should also wear your serpie shirt (red, two gold bands) to run, unless it is one of your first or second “scratch” races, when it is optional.

The rule is now that new runners have to run the course twice to establish a legit start time before they can win medals; so, if you have NEVER run the handicap, or have only ever run it ONCE, or have not run it for MORE THAN A YEAR – then you will be running for a scratch time on Saturday.

AFTER RACE AND MORE INFO
Mere seconds after the last runner has finished we will present medals to winners, and probably trophys to the overall winners of last season’s Tom Hogshead challenge. Post race, we will retire to the Dell cafe to defrost and speculate on who will win the next Hogshead.

Further info.