Entrants will race for an hour, exactly

FOR the first time in many years, Gisborne Harrier Club will hold a one-hour race.

Based at the club’s headquarters at Innes Street, this Saturday’s 2pm event involves racing laps of 710 metres.

Running watches are not allowed, and competitors will be warned only five minutes before the end of the race that the end is in sight. GPS (global positioning system) tracking devices are also a no-no, a rule that will no doubt confound many modern and technology-dependent harriers.

“These races are all about pace judgement and mental strength,” race organiser Terry Packman said.

“We used to run these kinds of races on the track, and they were very popular.”

The club now sees the race as a fun way to add interest to its winter racing calendar. This normally consists of road and cross-country races with a pretty basic aim: get to the finishing line ahead of the competition, or at least in front of the person who beat you last week.

Saturday’s one-hour race has added complexities. There are also prize categories for handicap honours and athletes best estimating the total distance in metres that they will be able to complete in an hour.

Competitors will be asked to organise their own support crew, whose main responsibility will be to keep track of the number of laps run, and to identify the spot where their dependent athlete terminates his or her effort after 60 minutes.

To add to the fun, the club has put on some prize money, and medals will be awarded.

The one-hour race will be run by seniors only. Younger athletes will race three or five 710m laps under standard rules.

As always, the club welcomes non-members to its races.