From the Front Row – HARP 24 – Southend 2015

August 3, 2015 by Louise Johnson

From the Front Row – HARP 24 – Southend 2015

HARP 24 is an annual running event in aid of the homeless in the local Southend area. It’s a 24 hour relay race over a cross-country 4.2 mile course, for teams of up to 8 runners.

2015 was the 4th year for HARP 24 which was held on 27th/28th June, the original race had approximately 40 runners, but it’s almost doubled in size each year! The final number of runners this year was around 270! HARP hope to facilitate in the future for up to 1000 people, so if you want to be a part of this event, get a team together and visit www.harpsouthend.org for information.

I’m in charge of providing sports therapy to the runners of HARP 24 so when arriving at the venue, Westcliff Rugby Club on Saturday at 10am for a midday start, I thought that I would be one of the first to arrive, how wrong I was!

I got parked up on the field ready to set up the marquee in order to provide sports massage therapy to the HARP 24 runners. For the second year running I have had a great person offer me a marquee for the event. Not only did this person supply the marquee, he also delivered it to me and helped put it up! All out of the kindness of his heart. Andrew Kenyon, I once again give you my gratitude, and will see you next year!

Clive, one of the HARP members behind the scenes, gave me a wonderful greeting as he has done every year, with a quick rundown of what was planned. And in comparison to previous years, the HARP team were wise to have a P.A. system this year for such a large crowd. I had asked previously if I could give a quick notice over the microphone before any announcements were made; which I did, however I think I may have been a bit too nervy. One of those beautiful moments where you had planned exactly what to say, and then when it comes to it you forget everything, even announcing your own name!

When the event started everyone bounded away up the hill and out of sight. From then until 5pm, we had no runner approach us with any problems. Ultimately this is a good thing, the last thing we wanted was to advise a runner to pull out. In this period we used the time well to observe, socialise with any passers-by and ultimately enjoy the sun!

As the sun started setting – the runners started complaining. Luckily nothing too serious at this point, just a bit of aching muscles and soreness. This is unsurprising considering that even in 6 hours some of these guys had already covered 30 miles and were nowhere near done. By 11pm I had decided to pack in for the night and come back for the morning.

By the sound of things, when I returned I was needed a fair few times in the night, but unfortunately for the first year I chose to be a “part-timer.” I did feel like I cheated a little, but I needed to be on form if these runners needed my full expertise!

The weather in the morning seemed to be a lot cooler than the day before thankfully. I think two straight days of incredible heat would have been a serious problem, bringing a downer on the event with runners feeling even more drained than they already did.

My first client was a bit of a worry. As she limped through the door she asked what she could do to keep running. The injury itself seemed like a problem, I advised her to sit out and rest up for a good couple of weeks at least. After treating her I asked her if her camp had access to any ice, which it fortunately did. She had 90 minutes before her next run, so I said to ice that knee up 10 minutes on, 5 minutes off for the whole time. After doing so, she managed to go and do another 2 laps! I honestly don’t know how runners commit to do so much, even when the odds are against them. It’s a great mindset; to never be beaten.

Once the treatments came to an end and the midday mark started to show an appearance, it was time to set up for prize giving and winner announcements. During this period there were still runners finishing their laps, and even though there were speeches being given, it didn’t stop the audience screaming and clapping to those last laps being completed. It must have been an amazing feeling running back to a cheer like that.

With existing clients as well as new faces making an appearance in the massage therapy tent it was great to have such a varied group of people from all different backgrounds, but that’s never what makes it so special.

It’s the quiet periods when I get to watch how every single runner for 24 hours gets applauded out, and applauded back in. How runners even after 30 miles of running, decide “just one more.” How the HARP team manage to keep high spirits throughout the event; keeping the runners supplied with hydration and fuel in the form of what I can only explain as a portable bakery catered for 300. Events such as these are ones to be proud of being a part of, whether it be as a marshal or participant. I’d highly recommend it to anyone.

This article is by Louise at The BodyMatters. To book an appointment please call 01702 714968