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Just a quick update from us today about “Under the Bridge” entries.

Some of you may know that there are a few clubs around who accept members based on the number of time they’ve run a marathon. There are strict criteria as to what constitutes a marathon, an ultra or a timed challenge.

For the 100 Marathon Club, inclusion on the club events calendar is sufficient for the event to “count”. All our events are on the 100 Club events calendar for this season, and therefore all of them will “count”.

“Under the Bridge” counts under the “Timed Challenge” criterion, and therefore anyone who completes a marathon distance will be credited as a marathon runner, anyone who completes 9 laps or more will be an ultra-runner.

However, there are criteria about the number of participants in order for an event to “count” in future years, and some folk, who are aiming to join the 100 club, like to be sure that the event meets those criteria before entering.

I’m pleased to be able to advise, having checked with Craig at EventEntry this morning, that the adult Day 1 Challenge at “Under the Bridge” has now passed the 15 entrants bar and will therefore count for future years as well. Day 2 is not far behind, if you fancy getting two runs in a weekend.

Those of you who I know have been waiting for the number to reach 15 can now feel free to enter.

We have a target of 24 entries per day to cover the costs of medical care and medal ribbons, although the event will be going ahead whether we reach this target or not. We do have to pay for ribbons now, though, so if those of you who have been holding off could  get some entries in that would be really helpful!

Vigilantes Maravan presents:

UNDER THE BRIDGE JUNIORS

A chance for younger runners to take part in this challenge alongside their parent/carer and win a medal.

As this is run under ARC regulations, ARC rule 80 applies to maximum permitted distances:

12 years+ 3km (one small lap)

14+ 5km (one large lap)

17+ 10km (two large laps)

This is a cupless event, please bring a drinking vessel.

Although they may run unaccompanied, under 18s must arrive with an adult and remain with an adult known to them at all times on the race village. 

Entry limits to all Under the Bridge events are based on medal availability. Once the event is full no further entries can be taken.

DAY 1

DAY 2

We’ve been asked a few times whether there’s any prospect of younger runners taking part in the Maravan. Sadly, the event format as it is has never allowed that. 

However, I have been speaking to the Association of Running Clubs, who provide our race licences and insurance every year about the possibility of younger runners taking part in our new event with their parents and receiving a medal.

I’ve had the go-ahead this afternoon that I will be able to open “Under the Bridge” up to runners aged between 12 and 18, subject to the rules of the Association of Running Clubs with regard to young athletes.

Children aged 12 and over are permitted to run 3km. This is equivalent to one small loop on the course we’ve planned. 

Children aged 14 and over are permitted to run 5km, which is one large loop.

Over 17s-18s can run 10km, or two loops.

Kids will need to be accompanied by an adult at the race venue.

Entry fees will be the same for children as for affiliated runners, ie £20.

We’ve just got to work out the finer points of this and we’ll open entries, hopefully this weekend.

Since 2013, when Darren first had the idea of running a race around a campsite, the Maravan has been run as a one-man-band, never turning a profit, but run year-to-year  Legally, Darren was working as a “sole trader”, so he couldn’t carry any revenues over from one year to the next without it becoming liable for tax. So every year he’d start again from scratch, underwriting all the costs until there was enough in the coffers to pay him back.

As the Maravan has become bigger, and with one eye towards a future with a few more races, that particular business model no longer works. We need to be able to carry money from one year to the next, to be able to sell merchandise, and to be able to put surplus made from one event into supplying other events as a year round concern.

It’s all still a labour of love, though, with one man at the helm and a gaggle of willing volunteers working alongside, doing this all for fun. It’s never going to be about profit, or even eking out a living. It’s always going to be about bringing people together for a bit of fun a couple of times a year.

So we’re pleased to announce the arrival of Vigilantes Maravan CIC, a community interest company with, at its heart, a focus on providing fun, low key and accessible athletic events for runners of all abilities in Lincolnshire and the Humber.

As a community interest company, we don’t have shareholders, we’re not obliged to make a profit, but we can operate all year round, commercially, and this is going to guarantee the sustainability of the event, and any new ones, going forwards. 

We’re now very much on the lookout for new events and new ideas, though, so if you know of a venue that might be fun, and would suit a Vigilantes Maravan day out, or if you’re thinking about setting up an event yourself but want some support doing it, please get in touch.

Vigilantes Maravan CIC is a Community Interest Company limited by guarantee.

Registered with Companies House: 13984584.

If, like us, you’ve received the rejection email, AGAIN, from the London Marathon, all is not lost.

Ask any member of the 100 Marathon Club, they’ll tell you, there are marathons going on the length and breadth of the country each and every weekend who would be delighted to have you run with them.

And if you want to run a marathon in autumn, come and experience the friendly fun of Cleethorpes’ own Maravan, a jewel in the running calendar of the East Coast and an superb event for established marathoners and first-timers alike.

Or if you have got into London, and you want a decent, fun “catered” training run with a fun atmosphere, friendly people and an iconic viewpoint, then we’d love to see you in June at “Under the Bridge” as well.

Enter the Maravan here.

Enter “Under the Bridge” here. 

Vigilantes Maravan are very excited to have received the relevant permissions for a pilot new event for June 11 and 12, 2022, at the foot of the iconic Humber Bridge in Barton upon Humber, in Northern Lincolnshire.

Taking inspiration from events that we’ve taken part in “down south”, we’ve decided to put on a simple, six hour daytime challenge, where we challenge you to run as many or as few 3 mile laps as you wish within a 6 hour time limit. There’s even a shorter final lap possible to round up to 26.2 miles if you want to stop there! That said, if you only want to do three miles, you can still have a result and a medal – this event is for everyone!

(We’re looking at whether we can find a way to allow accompanied children to do a short run on the course, but at the moment, it’s adults only.)

In fact, you’ve got a bit longer than six hours, as that’s the time you  have to begin your final lap.

We’ve been looking for a suitable venue for an event like this for a little while, and we’ve settled on the Humber Bridge Park in Barton because it’s flat, there’s plenty of parking, there’s a train station nearby, and there are toilets and a cafe on site.

For those of you who know the Viking Way, Barton is the start point of that particular long distance footpath, and that’s where we’ll be starting the run from.

This event is a bit more “no-frills” than the Maravan, it’s a first running, there might be teething troubles, so we’re charging what we’re hoping will be just enough to cover the costs of a smaller entry field. We reckon £20 is cracking value for 6 hours of permit race, with medical cover, food and a decent chunk of metal as a medal. 

We’re redeploying an old classic “Vigilantes Badge” medal for this event, with a new ribbon to make it bespoke to the event. This makes the event even more sustainable.

More info can be found here.

Entries can now be made through Timing Monkey, here.

Vigilantes Maravan are pleased to announce the seventh running of the Maravan Festival of Running will take place on the 19th and 20th November 2022.

More information about the events can be found here.

I have received an email from the park today.

They’re delighted that we had such an excellent weekend, and have granted us permission to hold the event there again next year.

MARAVAN 2022 WILL TAKE PLACE AT THORPE PARK HOLIDAY PARK, CLEETHORPES, ON 19-20 NOVEMBER 2022

I need a couple of weeks to work through some admin and to set the entry platform up, but I hope to be able to start taking entries before Christmas.

In the meantime, grab your diaries or calendars, and block off that whole weekend. Let’s have ourselves another party in the park!

Four key points, if you read nothing more than this:

1. Numbers and timing chips to be collected on race day from approx. 7.30am;
2. No parking on any grass areas in the park, nor on the hard standing next to established mobile homes;
3. Toilets are at the start/finish area, please don’t water, despoil or litter the park.
4. We may not be able to marshal all the road crossings this year, please take care and give way to any traffic.

Expo	Numbers will not be given out at the Brewer’s Fayre this year. However, we will have a “pop-up” information desk and social area at the pub from 6pm on Friday night, for last-minute questions, or just to meet up with the team and relax. If you have anything important that you need to let us know, or if you need to discuss any aspect of your race, then you’ll find us in Maravan Corner to the right of the bar.  Brewer’s Fayre is next to the Premier Inn at DN35 0PN.
Race Location	The race takes place in Thorpe Park Holiday Park in Cleethorpes, DN35 0PW. To find the race village, follow signs to Touring Reception. There will hopefully be flags to show where to go.
Parking	There are several parking options close to the start/finish area. Please do not park on any grass, or on hard standing next to any mobile home pitches. A map showing parking options is here A video showing parking options is here
Numbers	Numbers and timing chips will be given out on the morning of your race. We have some pins, but would prefer you to bring your own if possible. The numbers will be given out in the race village from about 7.30.
Start	You can start as soon as you have attached your number and chip. However, if you would like to participate in a group start, marathon and relay runners will start together at 9am on Saturday. Marathon runners will start at 9am on Sunday, and half marathon runners will start immediately afterwards.
Route	Marathon and relay: A 0.6 mile starting stretch, followed by 7 laps of 3.7 miles. The course is signposted using yellow signs on street furniture and poles, and with arrows marked using flour on the floor. Although the course is well marked, you do still need to keep your wits about you as there are a number of turns on the course.  There are two road crossings across a public road which is open to traffic. These may not be marshalled at all times during the race. Please take care crossing. The course is not closed to traffic, although the traffic will be slow, you must take care on all roads and give way to vehicles. There are 6km markers in approximately the correct position, they are more an aid to route-finding than an accurate gauge of time/distance, though. (The measured distance for the marathon is 26.6miles, although it usually measures long on GPS devices.)Half Marathon: Four laps of approx. 3.25 miles with a short starting stretch.  Please note, the half marathon on Sunday has a shortcut marked by a green arrow at the end of the grass track. Please take care not to miss it.
Route Map	Marathon and Relay Half marathon (although the start is in a slightly different location)
Facilities	Toilets are located at the start/finish area. These are the only toilets that we can guarantee being open on the park. Please do not use bushes or the open countryside. Bags can be stored in a gazebo at the start/finish area.There is medical cover at the finish area. Please notify a marshal if you require medical assistance or if you see another runner in difficulty.
Refreshments	There will be a feeding table at the finish line, you will therefore pass this seven times. There will be water, squash and cola available, with the possibility of beer later on. We’d prefer you to bring your own drinking vessel, but biodegradable paper cups will be available. Please use the bins/boxes provided to dispose of these. There will be a variety of nibbles also available. These will be served to you by volunteers wearing gloves. Please don’t help yourselves this year. There will be space available for you to bring your own nutrition and hydration requirements if you so wish. We can provide water to mix energy drinks if you bring powders. If you wish to bring some food to be shared with the runners, please feel free to do so, and let the feeding station know if something is available for anyone to eat.
Finish	As you finish your 7th lap, please move promptly through the finish area. You may help yourself to more food if you wish. Please remove timing chips and place them in the bucket. Once you have done this you can collect your medal and a goody bag with a drink and some snacks for soloists, and some chocolate for the teams. I have bought some beer from Docks Beers to share with my friends, even those who aren’t running, which I’m happy to share with you subject to there being enough available for those who would like to share it with me.
Results	Live results, courtesy of Timing Monkey: https://www.timingmonkey.co.uk/results/Maravan21
Leaving the site	Please take care when leaving the site if the race is still ongoing.
Sponsors	Thanks to AM Electrical of Grimsby for supporting the Maravan this year. Thanks must also go to Haven Holidays Thorpe Park for their continued support of the event.
Organiser	The Maravan is organized by Vigilantes Maravan, a not-for profit race organiser, with a mission to organise low-key endurance running events with a social emphasis for the running community of Lincolnshire and Humberside. The event director is Darren Rowe, who will be available on the park site for the duration of the event. EVENT DAY PHONE NUMBER 0788 816 9370