38th DARTFORD HALF MARATHON
Sunday 13th July 2014; 9:00am start
Organisers: Dartford Harriers Athletic Club
Venue: Dartford Harriers AC, Central Park Athletics, Cranford Road, Dartford DA1 1JP
DHAC web site:
Email address for DHM event correspondence only:
RACE INFORMATION
Please visit this web site frequently to ensure you remain up-to-date with
event arrangements, including any possible changes
Welcome - and thank you for entering the 38th Dartford Half Marathon! This event is the longest, most continuously-held road race in Kent. Dartford Harriers AC is proud to have been involved with its organisation since its inception. Race organisers endeavour to provide a high-quality event for competitors of all abilities. The race is held under UK Athletics rules and retains its EA Gold Standard. Licenses and course certificate numbers have been applied for.
On-Line Entries: On-line entries via Runner’s World will be available via 21st February 2014. This link will close electronically at midnighton Friday 11th July 2014.
Postal Entries: Entry forms may be downloaded from this web site. Entry forms and cheques (not cash, please) should be sent to: Race Entry Coordinator, 225 Hurst Road, Sidcup DA15 9AL. Hand delivery through the letterbox is OK, but no callers please! Postal entries will be accepted until last post on Friday 11th July. Entries received after this deadline WILL NOT BE PROCESSED. Written enquiries may also be posted to this address, or emailed to . (Email preferred, please).
Chip Timing: a disposable timing chip will be attached to the reverse of each race number and covered by a foam strip. Please do NOT remove the chip or the foam strip, or your finish time will not register. Please do NOT cut or fold your number as damage to the chip may cause it to fail. Please ensure you do NOT pierce the time chip or foam strip with your safety pins!!
Race Numbers: Please collect your race number on the day, with timing chip attached, from the appropriate Race Number Collection desk, according to the first letter of your surname. Your race number must be worn on the front of your running vest. At the request of the organisers and the First Aid provider, please ensure essential medical and contact details are entered on the reverse BEFORE YOU PIN IT TO YOUR RUNNING TOP.
YOUR RACE NUMBER IS NOT TRANSFERABLE, for UKA and safety reasons. Each competitor’s details will be recorded on a timing chip which will be attached to the reverse of the race number shortly after the entry is received; these cannot be changed. In addition, the transfer of race numbers can lead to inaccurate results and the incorrect awarding of prizes, etc, as well as possible medical ‘false alarms’.
Registration on race day: is not necessary. Just turn up, collect your race number with timing chip attached - and run!
On-The-Day Entries: These will be accepted up to the limit of 1200; entry fee is £25.00 for all competitors. Upon receipt of a completed entry form and the fee, you will be handed a running number with your timing chip already attached. Please ensure you complete the medical information section on the reverse.
Race Finish:Once you have crossed the finish line, please remain in your running order until you exit the finish funnel, to ensure that you obtain your correct time and position. UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES SHOULD RUNNERS RE-CROSS THE FINISH LINE(eg, by returning to support a slower runner), as this distorts all subsequent finish positions and can adversely affect results.
There will be a ‘sweeper bus’ that will collect any runners who feel they cannot complete the race and are unlikely to arrive back at the finish line under their own steam; such runners will be taken back to Race HQ. However, if you do pull out but decide to make other arrangements to leave the course, you MUST inform a marshal to advise him/her of this and also provide your bib number; this will then be relayed back to the race HQ. This is to ensure that every runner that crosses the start line is accounted for at the end of the race.
Water, fruit and first aid assistance will be available on the infield area.
Blind and Visually Impaired Runners: The race organisers are seeking to recruit volunteer runners from local clubs to act as guide runners to visually impaired or blind competitors. If this applies to you, please contact us via the event email address (above) and we will try to assist; however, we cannot guarantee this service (for which there is no charge).
Team Entries: Three competitors from the same running club will automatically qualify as a ‘team’ as long as the club name is declared on each competitor’s entry form. Unaffiliated competitors may qualify as a team as long as the team name is declared on each entry form.
Directions By Car: From the M25 at the Dartford Crossing approach: Exit M25 at Junction 2; take the A225 towards Dartford on Princes Road; straight across next roundabout (junction w/Green Street Green Road & Park Road); down the hill on Princes Road. For competitor parking, turn right at traffic lights (opposite David Lloyd Leisure Centre) into Darenth Road. The entrance to the car park is on the left, about 200m past the Ivy Leaf pub. Please note that the car park entrance will be closed after 9:00am. Exit from the car park will be via the lower car park in Acacia Hall.
Free Car Parking: will be available in the Acacia Hall Car Park. The entrance is on Darenth Road. Pedestrian access to Central Park is via a gate at the south end of the grass area of the car park. There are also commercial car parks in Dartford town centre, about 10 minutes’ walk from the club house. Many of the roads closest to Central Park are narrow with terraced houses, so most street parking is used by residents. Please park considerately.
Directions By Rail: The nearest main line train station is Dartford - please visit for timetables. The race venue is approximately 10 minutes’ walk from the station, through the town centre. It is suggested you arrive at Dartford Station no less than one hour before the race start time, to allow sufficient time for the walk from the station to the race venue, and to collect your race number and chip.
Fun Run: A Fun Run will take place on the track, starting at 9:15am, and is open to all ages and abilities. The course is approximately one mile, comprising 4 laps of the track, so it is entirely enclosed and off-road. The entry fee is £3.00 on-the-day only, and all finishers will receive a race memento. All proceeds go to DHAC’s designated charity, Cancer Research UK.
Facilities: Male, female and accessible changing rooms, toilets and showers are in the clubhouse. Additional portable toilets will be situated at the rear of the building. Refreshments will be available from the club snack bar. Sports massage will also be available.
Baggage: There will be a baggage store on the infield. If you wish to use it, a baggage label will be provided on which your race number will be written. Bags will be handed back only on production of the corresponding race number. Although this area will be supervised at all times, the organisers can accept no responsibility for the loss of, or damage to, personal belongings.
Race Start: The race will start promptlyat 9:00am in Central Park. At 8:50am, runners will be called to assemble in their appropriate time zone behind the start line. The route starts on the perimeter footpath of Central Park before exiting onto the road. Please listen for announcements and follow marshals’ directions. If you require any help or information, please do not hesitate to ask a marshal or race official.
Course Safety: Marshals will be in place all along the route which - including crossing points - has been planned and agreed with both Police and the appointed Traffic Management Company. Therefore, all directions must be adhered to by all runners for their own safety and that of spectators, the general public and other road users, and also to ensure you run the correct distance – including not running further than you have to!
Personal Stereo Equipment: In view of a raised awareness of the threat to safety by the use of personal stereo equipment, such as headphones, during races, the organisers have taken advice from EA and others. Therefore, runners are requested not to wear personal stereo equipment during this race. There are sections of the route which are not traffic-free and there is concern that runners wearing headphones will not be aware of potential hazards to themselves and others, in particular by not hearing directions given by marshals. There have been instances in which runners using headphones have been unaware of their proximity to other people, and have caused trips and falls. The Race Referee has advised that anyone wearing such devices during the event will be disqualified. (Please visit the BARR and UKA web sites for further information).
Water & Sponges: Water and sponge stations will be at several points along the route and also close to the finish line.
First Aid: First Aid support will be available along the route and at the end. If you have any medical conditions, please enter details on the reverse of your race number. You must not hesitate to report to the First Aid staff if you feel unwell at any time before, during or at the end of the race.
General Advice: If you have been unwell recently, you must consult your GP before racing. Please do not run if you have been advised not to, as exertion while suffering from an infection or a virus can be dangerous. Wear kit appropriate for the conditions: if it is hot and sunny, dress to avoid sunburn and heat exhaustion: use sun screen on exposed skin and wear a hat. Avoid wearing brand new kit, particularly footwear that you have not used before. Ensure you are well-hydrated before and during the race, but do not drink to excess as this can be just as dangerous! After the race, rehydrate with still, non-alcoholic fluids and eat something such as a sandwich, banana, or similar. If you have a medical problem (eg, diabetes), thenbefore race day you should ensure you are fully prepared to manage your post-race condition, know the effect that vigorous exercise has on your body and how to recover; you should also have suitable refreshments with you for when you finish the race.
Presentation & Results: The presentation of prizes is scheduled to take place at 11:30am in front of the clubhouse. Provisional results will be displayed in the clubhouse as they become available. Final, verified results will be published on the Dartford Harriers AC web site as soon as possible after the race.
Prizes: All finishers will receive a medal. Other prizes: Individual: Male & Female: 1st; 2nd; & 3rd. Age Categories: M40; M50; M60, F35; F45; F55: 1st; 2nd; & 3rd each category. Team (3 to score in each): Men & Women: 1st, 2nd & 3rd places (per gender). Each runner is eligible for one prize only; in the event of qualifying for more than one, s/he will be awarded the one with the highest value.
Withdrawals: If you wish to withdraw from the 2014 DHM, you must do so before the start timeby email to: . All competitors who withdraw before the race by this means, will be guaranteed a deferred place in the 2015 DHM, at no further cost. However, deferred places can be carried over only once. Deferred places are not available to runners who start the race but fail to finish. Withdrawals after the race commences are not subject to a deferred place, other than in exceptional circumstances (please send full details to the above email address as soon as possibleafter the event). Entry fees are not refundable under any circumstances.
Acknowledgements
We are grateful to Simon Clubb for his continued support and interest in the event.
We would also like to thank the following organisations for their support:
►Dole Fresh UK, for fruit ►McDonald's, for water cups
►Sainsbury's, for drinking water ►Sweatshop, for prize vouchers
We could not stage this very popular and well-supported event without the help of the following organisations:
►1st Dartford Scout Group ►8th Dartford Scout Group ►1st Stone Guides Group ►Dartford Air Cadets
►Dartford Sea Cadets ►West Kent RAYNET Group ►Kent Police ►The staff of CPA Ltd
►Dartford Borough Council ►Club members and friends who help with marshalling, administration and countless other jobs
PLEASE ENSURE YOU VISIT THE DARTFORD HARRIERS AC WEB SITE FREQUENTLY TO KEEP UP-TO-DATE WITH ANY CHANGES TO RACE ARRRANGEMENTS.
I hope you enjoy the Race!
Markus Graves,
Race Director