How do you become a star? How do you attract the public recognition and acclaim that is reserved for only a few club athletes? The answer is simple - you have to win a race or two.

"But how can I win a race?" you will ask.

The are several methods that can be adopted. Being a born runner, a natural, having talent. This is something you've either got or you haven't. If you've got it, you won't have read past the first line of this article; if you haven't got it you won't get it here. So what else is there?

Putting in 200 miles plus per week in training is one way which has proved successful - seems like hard work to me but it gets results. Getting old is another method that more and more athletes are turning to. Once you've perfected this technique the ripe old age of 40 or even 50 can be reached. This way vets and super vets prizes are within your reach and your name is prominent in press coverage of the event. Getting old, however, seems to be gaining in popularity as the years go by and the competition becoming stiff.

There is another way! - a way in which the ordinary runner in the street can suddenly become a hero, a way which demands a complete reversal of training techniques. OUT are things like interval training, more miles, hill reps, warm ups, warm downs, speed sessions and the like. IN are slow short runs, frequent stops, injuries, not going out in the rain and more beer!

The way to stardom is via the handicap system.

It will immediately be obvious that any athlete who has achieved stardom by any other means is at a serious disadvantage in a handicap race. The 'scratch person' sets off days behind the first away and is virtually eliminated from the competition before its start.

What you need is a flying start - a good handicap.

This makes the handicapper a very important person. In their eyes you must be a no-hoper, a scrubber, someone to whom they can safely award a generous allowance without fear of recriminations from the other competitors. Your pre-handicap performances are, therefore, very important. There is a lot you can do to improve your chances of getting off to a flyer. A word here about bribery. Besides being 'offside', 'not done' and 'not cricket', most handicappers are just too expensive so forget it!

Here are a few tips.

• When training adjust your speed to suit the conditions. Normally this means slowing down or even stopping, thus ensuring that you never overtake the handicapper and, in the unlikely event that they come up behind, you can be passed with ease.
• Always be aware of who is behind you. A limp or a bout of heavy breathing at the right moment can have a marked effect on your start time.
• Never get involved in long conversations when out training. People who run along telling jokes or reminiscing about the war are having an easy time of it. If a jaw wagging jogger does accost you, the odd grunt before gradually falling behind will suffice.

The most difficult obstacle to overcome is when you have a freak result in a proper race. One or two freak results can spell disaster for the budding handicap hero. More than two freak results and you're on your way to becoming a star in your own right. The best way of dealing with the one-off freak result is to ignore it, pretend it never happened. If it's brought up in conversation, quickly change the subject or remark "Yes, my twin brother did have a good run".

Attention to detail and success is nailed on, but here's the rub. One handicap victory ensures the end of your handicap career and it's back to growing old.

Personally, I feel that handicappers are people of immense integrity who do a very difficult job under pressure and I have the greatest of respect for them.

Good handicapping!!

Bingley Harriers Handicap Events - "Everyone gets a good handicap!!"

By Stan Wimock