A few races under our belt!

Nick Clark leading Reward Running

As if this isn't enough to help runners out there to focus and stay motivated: Last month we launched Reward Running in association with Sennheiser and adidas. This is a new and unique loyalty scheme for runners of all standards. It takes the form of a virtual race for runbritain's online community that finishes on New Year's Eve this year.

Between now and then you can claim Reward Running miles for achieving 13 different measures of progress within running – ranging from training mileage, frequency of racing, joining a group or club, lowering your handicap score and raising £111 or more for charity. The totaliser on the runner’s biog page updates as you claim these and work towards the perfect score of 2,011 Reward Running miles in 2011. Presently Nick Clark, of Reading Joggers, is leading the race. He has scored 1111 and is already 55% of the way to the ultimate goal!

So, the question is, have you signed up yet? I've had a look at some of your results and tried to find a celeb who is scoring around the same as you so that you can compare your progress graphs and make it your aim to steam on ahead of them on the graphs and on the Reward Running.

Tim Cooke reckons he's on the slide this year as his handicap is currently on 4.7 whereas it was 4.4 last year. He should take heart, though as he's in striking distance of Trans Alpine Challenge Champion, Andy Symonds who is on 4.0.

Gareth Irvine ran just over 30 mins for 5 miles in a South Yorkshire road league and is on 5.5.  Ian Pincher got his down to 5.4 after the Silverstone Half Marathon and Mark Kelly is currently on 5.3. All three could give Sonia O'Sullivan a good run for her money. Sonia was one of the world's leading female 5000m runners through the 1990s. She still enjoys steaming around her local 5km parkrun and is currently on a handicap score of 5.2

Rob Furness is not only from the same part of the world as Nell McAndrew but he has a similar handicap score. Rob is on 7.8 and Nell is on 7.6.

Richard Brooks is going well and has got his down to 8.4. If he takes another 28 seconds off his marathon time he will be down with previous London Marathon Champion, Liz McColgan, who is currently on 8.3.

Keri Pearson is on 9.3 and so could make a good training partner for Emmerdale star, Tony Audenshaw who is on 10.2. James Cracknell is also on 10.2 after coming back from his cycling accident and running 3:03:56 at the Virgin London Marathon this year.

Stuart Hatcher told us that his run in the marathon lowered his handicap from 17.6 to 16.0. Phil Bishop has lowered his even further, from 28.6 to 16.5. Jamie Baulch has won medals at World Championships and the Olympics for the 400m and 4 X 400m relay. He has recently taken up road running and is currently on 16.8.

Gayle Owens is on 26.1 but is hoping to chop a massive chunk off that at the Glasgow Women's 10k. She may get below Jamie's arch rival, Iwan Thomas who is on 25.2. Alan Matthews is also in that area with a score of 25.5 but he hasn't logged many races yet for 2011 and so is sure to lower that with a few more under his belt.

Andrea Edwards was disappointed with her run in the Virgin London Marathon and the fact that her score went from 29.8 to 31.0. Oh well, she can now give Opera star Ben Thapa some competition as he is on 31.1!

Leia Kane is on 31.8 but is hoping her next 10km that will be her first race of the summer will take her below that and leave Corrie star, Nicola Wheeler behind on 32.7.

If you haven't registered for your handicap score yet, don't delay. Make sure you let me know how you are doing by either leaving a message below or commenting on our facebook page! I'll see which celeb I can pair you up with!