The Mid Week Road Racing League - a fan's view!

The MWRRL is a series of five evening 10k races in Herts and Essex for local clubs. Striders are in the top league with five other local clubs. Points are allocated to the top 12 men and top six ladies (and vets), with the club with the best points score over the first four races winning the league. We finished 2nd in 2011.

Since it's a closed event for six clubs, the races are great for socialising and friendly rivalry with other runners from local clubs. The ability is quite mixed, with times anything from 31mins to 70mins, and up to 500 runners in each race. 

Striders’ former Chair, Sally Onn, was a great fan, so Tom Crouch interviewed her to find out more.

Tom: Tell us about your first MWRRL race

Sally: My first MWRRL was in Royston in 2008 in terrible wet weather! I turned up with a new friend I had made at the club just in time to buy my Striders vest and get to the start line. I can't remember much about the race, but I was very excited to have my first proper running club vest! It was also the first time I had chatted socially (over sandwiches and cakes afterwards) with the people I had met at the track. Doing the MWRRL was the start of some brilliant friendships at the club.

Welwyn road race, 2011

Tom: What was your favourite MWRRL race?

Sally: That has to be the WGC fixture last year. It was a lovely evening, I managed a 10K PB and finished 3rd lady - my best ever position.

Tom: Which is your favourite MWRRL course?

Sally: The mob match at Trent Park is probably my favourite. It's two loops off-road with a few testing undulations and a great flat finish. Stevenage and Welwyn are more urban, but have great PB potential. The St Albans course is tough, but as the end-of-series show-down it's always an awesome race!

Tom: What was your best league result? 

Sally: I got a trophy for 3rd senior female overall at the end of both the 2010 and 2011 series, which I am still really proud of. As I usually only managed to finish around 6th lady in any individual race, it goes to show that the most important thing is to turn up!

Tom: What do you think is the biggest MWRRL rivalry?

Sally: Well that has to be Striders vs Garden City Runners! When I first raced in 2008 we finished runners-up. In 2009 the ladies won but our men were 2nd. We had an awesome year in 2010 winning the men's, the ladies' AND the overall team trophy. In 2011 we only managed 2nd place, but that certainly means there's some revenge to be had on GCR this summer.

Tom: Finally, tell us 10 things you love about the MWRRL

Sally: Well..... 

1. It's free! 
2. You get to run on some lovely routes in the Hertfordshire countryside 
3. At least a couple of the races will be measured 10ks, so a good chance to go for a PB
4. You’ll be rewarded at the end with excellent refreshments
5. You’ll feel amazing for the rest of the week: you have bagged a race on a school night when most other people were sitting at home watching TV
6. The atmosphere is awesome - friendly marshals and great rivalry with the other clubs
7. You can use it as an excuse to skive off your hard midweek session and do a recovery jog instead (Coach Jubb even allows this on a Tuesday sometimes!)
8. There's a great feeling of bonding amongst the Striders – you’ll feel so proud in your yellow and blue vest
9. It frees up the Sunday morning race slot for a spot of gardening/baking/lying in bed
10. Every single runner can help the Striders to win the title! Trophies and glory await!

Interested? Want to find out more? More details about this year’s MWRRL are available on the forum