2021 summary and a look forward to 2022
What a year…! I wanted to give a summary of the year and also look forward to 2022.
I’ll caveat all this with, I know it could be much worse and has been much worse for many people personally and professionally and in many industries, locally nationally and globally. But the year has been pretty rough for event organisers and I felt the full force of that.
Events were cancelled until April and then the come back was tentative. We had events with only 35 people at them and then the next week nearly twice that. Better obviously but still down on pre-covid levels and not where numbers need to be to make Big Bear viable. There seemed to be no trend or reasoning to the numbers of entrants. Not great for forward planning! The autumn was even trickier with major events shifting from Spring to Autumn, rollovers from last Autumn and still a bit of apathy in the air impacting numbers. The recovery never quite got going until the last couple of events. The knowledge that others were in the same boat was comforting (it’s not just me!) but not particularly helpful to my predicament either.
However, the events that did go ahead were pretty awesome. Everyone was happy with our safety measures and pleased to see and run with others. We managed to get to 3 new venues at Fermyn Woods, Coombe Abbey and Sywell Country Park. All were very successful and we’re likely returning to all 3 in 2022. The Warwickshire Bear Ultra finally took place after 2 years of planning and was a roaring success. I feel 3 months post-event is probably long enough to say this without tempting fate… it was huge success! The volunteers at that event were spectacular and really made it, a real team effort for which I’m very grateful. The Gato Sports Summer 10K series also was great fun, if not scorching hot, a really good way to go into the summer break.
As has now become the norm at Big Bear there have been incredible stories at each event. There are too many to mention and I’d leave so many out. The sheer number of people running further than they ever have before, returning from injuries, at the beginning of running journeys, running twice as far as they thought they would on the start line etc at our events is very humbling. The “this is my first half marathon/ marathon/ ultra marathon” conversation never gets old. The hope is to have many more of these conversations over the years.
The success of the Big Bear Brigade has been amazing too. What I thought might be of interest to 4 or 5 people is now 48 members strong! Effectively half the spots are gone as I’ve only set aside numbers 1-98 for Brigade members. It was great to see the start list of a recent event was about 20% Brigade members! The camaraderie between what are effectively strangers is great. Just the extra knowing nod or glance on each lap or when they arrive. Perfect! It’s great to have a core group, Brigade members or not, who are regulars and set a perfect atmosphere at the events. That has been the most lucky of accidents!
The work I’ve started doing with Centurion Running has been a personal/professional highlight too. Even if you’re deep inside the Centurion Universe you’ve probably seen very little of me so far but I’m beavering around in the background and learning lots as I go to improve the Big Bear events (and the Centurion ones where possible too!). 2022 will be a big year as I’ll RD the North Downs Way 50 and the Wendover Woods 50 too. If you’re at any Centurion events during the year I’ll be popping up too – make sure to say hello!
2022 is set to be our biggest year yet. With 2 new ultras, the Salcey 50 and Cannock 50, selling well and with 5 (or maybe 6!) new venues there is no standing still! I’m really looking forward to broadening our reach in terms of venues and formats. The 50/50 (50 mile/ 50 km) ultras will be absolutely great. The 50 mile option will be challenging for a lot of runners with testing cut offs (especially with the Cannock Chase elevation!). Running a 50km alongside that though means the event is really accessible for those wanting to do their first ultra. A 50km with a 50 mile cut-off time takes the time pressure off. It’s just down to the legs, stomach and mind then! It hopefully allows some people to see that the “proper ultra runners” (if there is such a thing!) alongside them are human too and with training, dedication and on the right day a 50 miler might be in their grasps too.
I have high hopes for 2022. Our year starts with race 2 of the Gato Sports Head Torch 10K series and then a few 6 hour events and the Salcey 50 in late March. It’ll be a fast and furious start to the year and that will carry on until our summer break ready for a big autumn/winter to finish the year with lots of new venues towards the back end of the year. It’s going to be great and I’m hopeful I’ll see you, and your friends, at lots of events throughout the year!
Have a good festive break, “fuel” well on mince pies and chocolates and I’ll be on the other side waiting for you. With more chocolates and the start of “hot cross bun season”!
Paul
Big Bear Events
