|
Who are WRP ….
and how did they get involvement with the London Marathon
Every year we get a number of new
clients who, out of curiosity or in seeking re-assurance, like to ask a few
questions about what the name stands for and something about our/my
background.
WRP stands for Weston Running Promotions. “Weston” for we are based in
Weston-s-Mare and “Running Promotions” because organising road running
events or tours to other events is exactly what we do.
Weston Running Promotions in 1990 – just twelve months after I accepted an
early retirement offer in the summer of 1989 after 30 yrs in secondary
education. I appreciated the need for a new interest and what better than
something to do with road running – my principal interest since 1981 when my
interest with the marathon began.
In those final years of my teaching career I had run quite a few marathons
at home and abroad and had had set up “The Wyvern 10” road race as a means
of fund-raising for my PTA. It became hugely popular and as Race Director I
was more than pleased when runners once voted “Race of the Year” in the UK.
In 1984 I had become a member of BARR – the British Association of Road
Races formed by the late Chris Brasher, co-founder of the London Marathon.
The founding of the Association was a milestone in road running. The
“running boom” of the early eighties led to an explosion in the number of
races being organised but few (including myself) has experience of what to
do, or how to do it, other than our own running experience. I wrote at the
time that it was much like the blind leading the blind. Through the
leadership and experience of Chris, the founding of BARR saw the gathering
together of the best race organising experience and the establishment of
standards to improve the quality and safety of road races throughout
Britain. Chris was the founding President of BARR and in 1986 urged me to
stand for election as General Secretary – a position I would hold until 2002
when I took over as Chairman before becoming Vice President. I am honoured
to still hold that office.
I had only just become Secretary of BARR when my own event, the Wyvern 10
was voted “Race of the Year” – beating the London Marathon into second
place! The first person on the telephone was the President - Chris Brasher
to both congratulate me – but also explain, in very simple terms, how easy
it was to get 1st place if you only had to deal with a mere 1,500 runners!
It was something of a relief for our working relationship when the following
year the places were reversed!
My first run in the London Marathon had been like the proverbial curate’s
egg – good in parts!
The event was fantastic and the atmosphere and crowd compelling. I had never
experienced anything like it and the enthusiasm of those lining the streets
(far fewer than today) just forced everyone to keep going. Somewhat slower
than I had hoped, the unbelievable became fact – one had conquered the
ultimate peak in road running – I had run my first marathon.
The medal, finishers T-shirt and blisters were worn with immense pride. The
next day I was back in school but too cramped to go up on stage to take
Morning Assembly and my feet so blistered that I had to shuffle around
school (wearing my medal of course) in carpet slippers!
Within days came the inevitable self-questioning. With more training could
my time be improved ? Could I run the entire 26.2 miles without stopping? My
second marathon proved both were possible – and by then the bug had struck –
every race you wanted to improve and shave a little more time off your
previous best – be warned, it can become addictive!
Remember the curate’s egg?
One of the principal reasons that WRP was established was that apart from
the actual run the rest of that weekend was ****** awful as we battled with
a host of problems. Trying to find a good hotel where I could leave the car,
which would do me a very early breakfast, was close to the trains to the
start at Charing Cross, would offer luggage storage, a post race shower, etc
– seemed impossible. We eventually got a dreadful 2 star place (“hotel” is
too grand a term to use) that backed onto a noisy railway line.
The hotel refused to do an early breakfast on race morning (I ate a packet
of biscuits) and getting to Charing Cross to catch the crowded train proved
a nightmare (I had to jog/walk most of the way). Maggie was forced to stay
at the hotel and later try to navigate London (which she did not know) and
try to link up somewhere at the end of the race. The crowds at the finish
were far greater than we had ever dreamed of and as we didn’t understand the
finish arrangements it proved to be the second nightmare of the day. The
third came with our attempts to get any post-race facilities. I returned
home, still in my race gear without a shower, a massage or any food.
Both of us left London convinced that organising travel, accommodation and
post-race facilities over the weekend seemed to be harder than getting an
entry! Surely there had to be a better way?
Throughout the eighties many further marathons followed both in UK and
abroad by which time Maggie had adopted the attitude that if you can’t beat
them you might as well join them, completing a number of marathons herself.
Nonetheless the fact remained that training for the marathon distance was
hard enough without the hassle of doing everything over the weekend – either
as runner or spectator.
Having left education in 1989, people started to ask if, using my
experiences, contacts and newly found time, I could organise a tour to the
London Marathon … and maybe some other events as well.
The first WRP tour was organised in 1990 and had just 10 people travelling
down from the West Country in a self-drive minibus. The following year that
became one coach, then two and over the years it has grown into what it is
today – as much by recommendation and reputation as by advertising. In 2007
we had 32 coaches going to the start!
In the years since setting up the business either I and/or WRP have worked
upon, or been involved with, the creation and development of a number of
events including
• The Great Race – the Glasgow to London road relay modelled on the Tour de
France and which was televised nightly.
• Chairing the organising committee which bid for and then put on the World
Vets 10k & 25k Championships in Birmingham.
• Acting as Technical Director of the “Island Race” – the 4,500 mile round
Britain Millennium relay in 2000.
• Acting as Race Director of events such as The Tough Ten Challenge, Oxford
Town & Gown 10k, North Somerset Show 10k, the Bristol Ekiden (Marathon
relays) and establishing the Cape Wrath Challenges in Scotland.
• In 2003, acting as Technical Consultant for the new Edinburgh Marathon.
Requests from runners taking part in both WRP events and on the WRP London
Tour led WRP to organising some trips to overseas events where the 8 or 14
day visit was as much a guided holiday as about running the feature marathon
– e.g. Washington’s Marine Corps Marathon, Vancouver Marathon etc.
Since its foundation, the primary aim of WRP has been to deliver personal
and high quality service. Do for others what you would wish dome for
yourself.
As our London Marathon tour has grown year-on-year I have never forgotten
the difficulties I had of preparing for any marathon – the time spent in
training as well as balancing both work and family life. Then the need to
sort out all the details for the weekend itself. At a time when I wanted
least distraction I was getting most hassle trying to cope with the
practicalities involved in marathon weekend.
Before that first tour in 1990 I sat down and listed every single thing that
had gone wrong on every trip I had ever done to any marathon - as well as
everything that I wanted.
We then knew what we needed to offer our guests. Top quality hotels,
top quality vehicles, plus fully comprehensive facilities for both runners
and spectators – all at value for money prices. Finally, a hand-picked team
of staff who I trust implicitly and who have great experience of the
marathon. Those aims still dictate what WRP do, and will offer, in 2008 –
our 18th tour to the London Marathon. How time flies when you enjoy the job!
We hope you will find our website informative and not over technical.
We hope you will find the comments on our 2007 tour convincing.
We hope you will find our service both comprehensive and of an exemplary
high quality.
We hope you will find our 2008 team of staff (now 25 over the weekend) fully
supportive – as runners themselves they know both this event and what you
will need to give you a superb and hassle-free weekend which you will
remember fondly.
John Joyner
Weston-super-Mare
September 2007 |
