The Grizzly 2014
Unnamed as yet

Grizfest at 13:00 on Saturday 8th March
Grizzly at 10:30 on Sunday 9th March

Held under ARC rules (permits TBC).

Grizzly 2014 entries

Grizzly 2014 will be on Sunday 9th March and follow the usual format, subject to approval of road closures and other traffic matters from the local highway authority and police. Rumours about its potential demise were well-founded but the race's future is secure with new race director Dave Thomas who is very capable and is an excellent man for the job. Don't give him grief if you don't agree with any decisions, almost all of which are made, or at least ratified, by the race committee. I will remain involved as advisor, timekeeper and other roles.

The entry fees will be £28 for the Grizzly and £18 for the Cub Run, both plus £2 for unaffiliated runners. The organising committee put a lot of work into the event and like their efforts to have a lasting benefit in helping many local charitable organisations as well as meeting the primary target of staging an outstanding race.

The route will not change substantially after next year's race for at least a few years to make our life easier. I believe that at least a quarter of the planning leading up to race week is due to the course changing each year and that is not sustainable.

Given the exceptional and increasing demand for places in the race, we wouldn't be surprised if first-come, first-served entries closed in under ten minutes. This isn't fair on those who can't be at a computer as soon as they open, nor does it allow postal entries, so we will be offering next year's places by lottery. You will need to register with complete details, but no payment, during August, opening sometime on Sat 27th July and closing 9am Sunday 1st September. The draw will be made and runners notified of success or failure that day. Successful runners will be given one week to pay (either by card on the entry website or by cheque) after which their places will be lost (unless agreed in advance e.g. being away) and they may be banned from future Grizzlies - only enter the lottery if you are committed to doing the race.

Groups of up to 20 entering together (i.e. one runner adding the others' details) can choose to be drawn as one (so that either all get in or none do) but there will only be one place in the draw for the entire group so that the chances of any one runner being drawn don't depend upon how they enter. (If any statistician believes this not to be true the please let me know.) This is offered for couples, groups travelling a long distance, etc. who only want to run if they all get a place, but the default will be for all runners to be drawn individually. Anyone identified entering the lottery more than once will be disqualified from the draw and may be banned from future Grizzlies.

We appreciate that this approach is likely to upset some runners but the race committee has considered the options and chosen what we all feel is the fairest approach so please don't complain to us about it.

Once entries have closed the usual system will apply - no waiting list, refunds or deferrals but changes of runner will be accepted.

Rules

You must agree to abide by these rules in order to enter, or to accept a place from someone else:

• If you have entered another person you have their permission to do so and their agreement to these rules.
• If you wish to subsequently transfer your place in the event to someone else you will obtain their agreement to these conditions before agreeing with them to do so and either you or the new holder will advise us of the new runner's full details. On race day this must be done at the info desk in Race HQ. You will not resell your place for more than you paid for it.
• If you report a number as missing and obtain a replacement you should destroy the former if you subsequently find it. You must not use a number once it is reported as missing.
• You agree to abide by the trail running rules of the Association of Running Clubs as published on their website runningclubs.org.uk.
• You agree to behave in a reasonable manner to the promoters, organisers, competitors and other persons associated with the event.
• You accept that this event is a running race and agree to accept any decision marshals or medical personnel may make to direct you on a shortcut or withdraw you from the race.
• You understand that participating in this event is potentially hazardous and that you should not participate unless you are medically and physically fit to do so.
• You agree to not wilfully drop litter on pain of potential disqualification.
• You agree to carefully read the race information which will be made available a few weeks before the event.
• You will not hold the promoters, organisers or other persons associated with the event responsible for any loss or injury incurred as a result of your participation in, or travel to or from, the event.
• You will not embark on the course before the official race start.
• You will not set foot on any private land used by the Grizzly in various years other than during the race itself or with explicit permission, on pain of potential banning The Grizzly.
• You accept that no refunds or deferrals will be offered under any circumstances other than the cancellation or postponement of the event.
• Dogs and walking poles are banned from the race.
• You are advised not to wear earphones or headphones.

Our policy on places, transfers, refunds, etc.

We sometimes receive complaints that we should give Grizzly regulars priority when entries open. We have also received complaints that we should give newcomers priority. We clearly can't please both bodies of runners. Our policy is simple: no one gets priority.

If you are looking for a place in the Grizzly once entries close or have a place but can't use it then I'm afraid that we can't help much.

• Congestion on the course and limited parking in Seaton limit the numbers we can handle but we accept more entries on the basis that a few hundred won't turn up.
• We therefore don't have a waiting list, don't put runners with a place in touch with those looking for one or vice versa, and don't suggest how you can go about finding or selling a place.
• However, we are happy for runners to arrange transfers between themselves as long as we're told of the change for which purpose you can use the change of runner form at the link above. We prefer that to phoning them since it's less prone to potential error and far less intrusive on our personal lives.
• We do not offer refunds or deferrals under any circumstances other than the cancellation or postponement of the event, and then possibly only partial if we have incurred significant costs.
• There is no need to tell us if you won't be able to make it although doing so before the numbers are sent will obviously save us some postage and reduce waste. You would still be able to transfer your number to someone else since we keep a record of all entries.
• We could obviously accept fewer entries up-front and operate a waiting list but:
  • Managing this would add significantly to our already high workload.
  • Many people want to know in September if they've got in so they can book accommodation (which is limited).
• Please don't be tempted to run the race without having a place. It's not fair on those who accept the situation, and anyone found doing could be disqualified and even banned from our events.

What it's all about

Twentyish muddy, hilly, boggy, beachy miles of the multiest-terrain running experience you will find this side of the end of time. It's by no means the toughest race around (honestly!), has changed over the years and nearly died on a few occasions, but hundreds of you keep coming back for more so we must still be getting it right. Whatever it isn't, it is an experience.

I have run in a few races but have never been in a race that manages to create physical challenge whilst taking a sideways glance at running, allowing all involved to emerge with a crooked grin on their face! - A Grizzly runner

Media

Writing
The Grizzly is featured in two articles in the anthology The Best of the Fells; there are also three other pieces by the LMRBean.
There's lots to read on our writing page (including the infamous songs and poems) and on the Lean, Mean Runner Bean's website.

Photos
This is just a small selection of what's out there ...

2013	Hardley Runners
2012	Hardley Runners
2011	Hardley Runners Seaton Bay
2010	Hardley Runners Seaton Bay
2009	Seaton Bay
2008	Seaton Bay
2007	Seaton Bay
2006	Seaton Bay
2005	Seaton Bay
All years	Memorials - Tshirts

Videos
There are a few Grizzly vids on You Tube which you can search for but these are some of the best. The last link is a short piece from the local news.

2012	Trailer for the Grizzly DVD.
2011	Plumstead Runners.
2010	Plumstead Runners (Cub).
2007	ITV Westcountry news.

Replay the race
You can follow some runners' progress on an aerial view at RunReplay.com: 2010 2011. If you ran with a GPS and still have the data you can upload it and follow your own progress as well. Some of the hashes on the site make particularly fascinating viewing with all their false trails.

Grizzly history

With charitable donations and t-shirt colours as far as we can recall. (Many people seem to identify each year's race by the shirt rather than the name!)

Year	Donation	Tshirt	Name
1988	?	No shirt	Unnamed
1989	?	No shirt	Torment Ten
1990	?	?	Grizzly 12
1991	?	Green	Hillocks and Rowlocks
1992	?	Light blue	Eye of the Storm
1993	?	White	Sting of the Butterfly
1994	?	Light grey	Magical Memory Jog
1995	?	Dark blue	The Nightmare Returns
1996	?	Yellow	Revenge of the Lemmings
1997	£1K	Royal blue	Apocalypse, Yes!
1998	£3K	Grey	Flight of Fancy
1999	£4K	Black	Insanity and In Health
2000	£9K	Dark maroon	Another Brick in the Wall
2001	£9K	Tan	A Race Oddity
2002	£9K	Yellow	The Joker in the Pack
2003	£9K	Purple?	The Jurassic Jaunt
2004	£15K	Dark blue?	Infinity and Beyond
2005	£17K	Off white	One Thousand Steps For Mankind
2006	£18K	Red	O'Limpiyak Dilemma
2007	£23K	Light green	Armageddon NowHere
2008	£15K	Dark green	Armageddon Again
2009	£29K	Black	Trails And Tribulations
2010	£18K	Pink	Beauty and the Beach
2011	£22K	Tan	Valley of the Bogs
2012	£42K	Royal blue	Every Hill Has A Silver Lining
2013	£30K	Orange	Grime And Punishment
	£273K		Grand total

Sport has to be the most convergent of all human activies because athletes know that there is no fundamental difference between body, mind and spirit. To be truly great, an athlete must develop all three together, exercise them all together and bring the strength of all three to bear on the contest. Only then is greatness possible and only then does victory have universal meaning because it reflects the fullness and richness of the human heart.

- Mohammed Ali.