Reevio's Running Prop Bet

[Jamier-Host]

Hi.

I've been doing the odd run here and there with mates or to raise a few quid for charity for a few years, and have decided to set myself an aggressive time target for a race in March.  Basically I am aiming to break 50 minutes for the Wimbledon Audi 10k, and seeing as this is going to take a pretty big effort on my part, I figured I would take bets on whether I could achieve it or not.

I am looking to get up to £250 worth of action at 3/1 - so up to £750 liability for anyone who fancies a go.  Chunks of £10 -> £30. (To start off I think we'll say max £50 -> £150 per person in case i've made a big error with my numbers and someone tries to snaffle the lot!)

Anyone who has met me will know i'm not exactly built like a runner!  In fact I spent pretty much my entire rugby career (technically still going if I ever get my arse back up the club) as a prop.

In terms of relevant form, I have done a few of these 10k runs before, most of them round the same course in Wimbledon:

March 2010 Wimbledon 10k - 56:07

October 2009 Wimbledon 10k - 57:22

July 2009 Regents Park 10k - 57mins (ish)

March 2009 Wimbledon 10k - 55:24

October 2008 Wimbledon 10k - 55:52

I have also kept a Google spreadsheet of my gym training runs for all of 2010 to date which you can find HERE.  I'll also keep this updated going forward so anyone involved can see how well (or not) i'm progressing.

A couple of points to note regarding my lifestyle that will have an affect:

1) I am currently about 10 weeks into a 7 month no alcohol wager (until end of 2010) which should help against losing training days to hangovers until then!  Assuming I actually win that bet of course....

2) I have a one month old baby which means I'm currently knackered and have little spare time to actually get to the gym!  First time in about 6 weeks last night.



To be honest I don't really know much about running as a sport so not sure how realistic my aim of chopping 5mins+ off a time actually is.  I'm willing to give it a shot though and hopefully with some cash at stake it will motivate me through the winter months!

Regarding rules, I originally wanted to just say that if I didn't run I lose.  But I was reminded by my sensible wife that this would be a tad unfair if I broke my leg next week!  Perhaps someone would like to suggest how I go about that scenario and other bizarre happenings like death/illness etc?  Also we'll naturally want to escrow the funds somehow so will work that out depending on interest.



One final note.  Should I manage to book the intended amount of bets and manage to win, I figured I would treat myself to a £/€500 live poker tourno somewhere next year.  If the stars align and this does happen then anyone involved will have 1% per £30 booked.

Ta.

[outragous76]

dont want to prop - but if you do it i will donate £20 to a chartiable trust

GL

[Royal Flush]

1) I am currently about 10 weeks into a 7 month no alcohol wager (until end of 2010) which should help against losing training days to hangovers until then!  Assuming I actually win that bet of course....

How have i not won this yet?

[sovietsong]

So is this prop nothing to do with charity? You will be raising money for that separately ?

[Jamier-Host]

So is this prop nothing to do with charity? You will be raising money for that separately ?

Nope nothing to do with charity, more a personal motivation thing.  Although saying that the last couple of runs have had pretty hefty money involved versus another person and it didn't help that much!

Not sure if I'll try and raise charity cash for this one.  10k aint exactly climbing a mountain or anything so feels a bit weird spamming all your mates and colleagues just because you're about to wheeze your way round the streets of Wimbledon again....

[In Form]

Just to clarify, you want odds of 3/1 that you can run 8+minute miles?


My Nan could do 8 minute miling 

GL, would prob give you a bet at levels if it was for charrritttty.

[AlexMartin]

1) I am currently about 10 weeks into a 7 month no alcohol wager (until end of 2010) which should help against losing training days to hangovers until then!  Assuming I actually win that bet of course....

How have i not won this yet?

sabotage fee?

[Mango99]

Good luck with this. I've just started running, and the times you are posting look pretty impressive to me. 50mins would be very good I think, but quite possible probably.

I'm not going to prop bet you though as 3/1 seems quite high (I'd put some down on evens)

[Jamier-Host]

Good luck with this. I've just started running, and the times you are posting look pretty impressive to me. 50mins would be very good I think, but quite possible probably.

I'm not going to prop bet you though as 3/1 seems quite high (I'd put some down on evens)

Fair enough.  Cheers for the comments guys - doesn't look like this is gonna happen then!

I won't be doing it at evens though because I genuinely don't think I have a great chance of making it.  It doesn't sound tough, and probably isn't for most people, I'm just not very good at running!  Those previous times all still took a good couple of months or more of regular training (a few times a week) to get to.  I went to the gym for the first time in ages this week and only managed to do 4k at a pretty dire pace so it's fair to say a 10k in current condition would take well over an hour of walking/running.

I'll still take part and have a separate 1v1 wager with Mike Butlin so depending how serious we both take it may need to post a PB anyway to win that.  We'll see how it goes!

Good luck with your own efforts Matt.

[AlrightJack]

Jamie, if you combine the running with drinking a shit load of Dave's Insanity Sauce, I may be prepared to have a bet.   

[Jamier-Host]

2 months training and a pathetic time of 1:00:58.

I'm sure I'd have tried harder with a bet on but think I'd have struggled anyway!