Isobel Mann is 50,000th handicap claimant!

Isobel Mann (handicap 22.1) is runbritain's 50,000th handicap claimant!

Isobel, who recorded her first performance at the Bupa Great North Run in 2010, claimed her handicap last Wednesday and became our 50,000th runner to do so!

After recording this one performance in 2010 and getting a score of 15.7 she didn't race again until September 2013 but is now racing more regularly. Her handicap score went up through lack of racing but it is on its way down again now. We have congratulated Isobel on becoming our 50,000th claimant and she told us that she became aware of the scoring system after running in the Manchester Christmas Pudding Dash at Wythenshaw Park. Isobel completed this 5 mile course in 45:29 and knocked 3.2 off her score to take it to 22.1. She said, "I appreciate being able to track my performances. It will certainly inspire me to train harder and run faster"

In order to keep reducing her handicap score Isobel would need to race more regularly. She said that she was disappointed to see her handicap sliding back after each performance and this is because the system rewards regular racing. Although she has been racing more (approximately every six weeks)  she would benefit from increasing this to every three weeks or so.

runbritain's revolutionary handicap scoring system (a bit like a golf handicap!) is designed to give distance runners, of all levels, the ability to benchmark their progress and compare their results across a range of distances and terrains. The system rewards good performances but also factors in the degree of difficulty for slower courses as well as rewarding regular racing and so, to prevent your handicap from slipping you need to turn out regularly for races or parkruns.

Well done Isobel! We look forward to seeing a regular reduced handicap score from you!

If you haven't already done it, claim your handicap score without delay!