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So, we’re creeping into the final few weeks before this year’s Maravan, and like many other events this year, numbers are down a little on previous years. 

We’ve still got plenty of time, and we’ve got more than enough runners for both days to count fully for the 100 club and other similar events.

Of course, this means that there is still plenty of time to get entries in.

We’ve had a bit of interest over the past few days because of the cancellation of the Hull Marathon, but there are still plenty of spaces in all events, and we’ve got enough in the kitty to cover the compulsory costs this year of chip timing, toilets, medals and medical support. So the event is definitely go-go-go!

We’ve spoken to the park about the necessary arrangements, and they’re happy as usual, and I’m just waiting for the final bits of paperwork to come through. Insurance is provided, as always, by a permit issued by the Association of Running Clubs, with whom we have registered the Maravan Festival as multi-terrain races.

Therefore, the only decisions left to be made is with regard to what we are putting in the goody bag. That’ll all depend on how much money we’ve got left after everything else has been paid, but I’m still hoping for crisps, chocolate and a drink of some sort, and I’m sure there’ll be some decent beer sitting around somewhere.

In other news, Maravan Mum, Norma, will be back in her traditional role. We’re trying to go cupless this year, but we’ll still have the usual spread of foods at the feeding station-cum-buffet. However, Sue Burton, who has ably assisted us over the years and has recently made the post-run welfare tent her own, is having a well-deserved break this year. If anyone fancies giving up a couple of days to support our runners with post run hot drinks, then please let us know, as you’ll be wonderfully welcome.

Darren’s off to Chicago next week to remind himself how big city marathons feel, but we’ll be back in touch with you on his return. Will he see any of you there?   

Hi folks, I hope everyone’s OK.

 

I’ve been keeping a respectful silence for the past couple of weeks, but rest assured, I’ve been working in the background putting together the less glamorous elements of Maravan weekend.

 

To that end, I’ve now confirmed our usual toilets, and full medical cover for the whole weekend. They’re easily overlooked, but as important as the medals, timing and food.

 

Medals have arrived from China, are sat in Lincoln just waiting for my final payment. I’m due a final meeting with the park soon, too.

 

On a personal note, I’m racing a couple of times in the next few weeks. Chicago at the beginning of October, and a little trot round Milton Keynes in very early November.

 

Unfortunately, these are taking up time that I would normally spend shopping for the event, so I’ll have to use some of the next couple of weeks getting some stuff together. We’ve got entries open until the end of October, but to avoid too much wastage it would really help if you could get entries in early.

 

As is my custom, I’ll keep you informed about the preparations between now and the big weekend.

 

See you all soon.

 

Enter The Maravan

I’ve just had a chat with Matt at Timing Monkey. There are still plenty of spaces for all events.

I’m a little down on where I would like to be at this stage in proceedings, but both days have the necessary number of entrants to count as official marathons for the purposes of those multi-marathon running clubs that we all so enjoy hearing about.

Personally I’ve got quite a busy October, which is when I’d normally go shopping for stuff for the event, so I might have to go early and guess how much of everything I need to buy. Consequently it would be a bit helpful if you could get entries in in the next couple of weeks, so given that it’s payday today, why not go ahead and buy yourself something nice.

Relays are filling nicely, though, and I always find that I’ve got people trying to get late relay places, although for that one, when it’s full, it’s full,  so if you’ve got a team of four like-minded friends, I’d get an entry in for that sooner rather than later.

Enter at: https://www.timingmonkey.co.uk/results/Maravan22/registration.html

Good morning friends,

We regret to have to advise the cancellation of the Under the Bridge challenge, which was due to take place during the weekend of 11th and 12th June in Barton Upon Humber.

Despite our best attempts to keep prices and costs down, it’s become apparent, as we approach the last month before event date, that in order to meet North Lincolnshire Council’s requirements, as well as the requirements of our permit issuer and our insurer, that we are not going to be able to afford to use our contracted medical provider, and as such, without medical cover, we cannot proceed.

It is a busy weekend locally for events, so we had to bring our medical team from outside the area, and there are significant extra costs that this incurs.

The event would have left me out of pocket personally to the tune of several hundred pounds, so, regretfully, I have been left with no choice but to cancel.

I have asked Event Entry this morning to begin the process of making full refunds. In order to do this I need to transfer the costs of these refunds to him, this will take me about a week, so hopefully refunds should start being processed before the end of next week.

I believe that the format would work, and am looking to revisit the idea some time in the future, possibly with a little more notice than this year’s event.

Once again, I’m sorry to have to cancel.

Be assured, the Maravan in November will still be going ahead as planned.

Thanks for your understanding,

Darren

I’ve been saying since the start of the “Under the Bridge” pilot that the event would be run on a low-cost, sustainable model. 

As it’s the first ever running, we’re reusing lovely old medals that we just can’t use at the Maravan any more. It would be totally unfair, though, to not give you something bespoke, so we’ve had a brand new set of ribbons created for this event and I’m really please with the design.

As it was cheaper for me to have 100 made rather than paying a short-order surcharge, I’ve ordered 100 ribbons, so there will be 100 medals of five different designs (so if you’re doing two days you can have a different colour or design, or have a pair of interlocking ones if you want), which means that there are 50 places available for each day.

I’ll even make some places available on the day if people want to run with a younger runner in our junior event

There are still places left for each day, I’d be keen to fill early so I know how to provision my feeding table. Norma’s coming over for the weekend so it’ll be a good fun time for everyone, as usual.

Entries are available at EventEntry.

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.