Brj : Mayor of Huntingdon Charity Race

Ouse Valley WayMarathon

Sunday September 17th 2017

FINAL RACE INSTRUCTIONS

TRAPermit836

Thank you for entering the Ouse Valley Way Marathon. We hope you enjoy running on this attractive rural course.

TIMINGS
Eynesbury registration (the FINISH) opens 7.30am for number collection
Eynesbury One Leisure building (The FINISH) opens at 8am (for toilets, bag drop etc)
Transport from Eynesbury to the START leaves sharp at 8.30am
Race briefing on coach
Earith registration (the START) opens at 8am
Registration at EARITH closes at 9.00am
Race Briefing for those registering at Earith 9.05am
Move to Race Start 9.15am
Race start – Wave 1, 9.30am
All waves have departed by 9.45am
First runner anticipated at finish at 12.30
Last runner anticipated by 17:00

REGISTRATION

Chipped race numbers and your emergency cards must be collected from the Registration Desks on the morning of the race. The race numbers will be allocated by estimated finishing time, with the fastest runners getting the lower numbers. A list of runners with race numbers will also be published. Medical and contact details should be written on the reverse of the race number. Your race number should be visible at all times during the race.

REGISTRATION–Eynesbury
St Neots One Leisure, Barford Rd, Eynesbury, St Neots PE19 2SA.
Registration will open at 7.30am although the building itself will be open from 8.00am.
The coach to the start will leave promptly at 8.30, if you are late we will not wait for you. You must have pre-booked the bus at a cost of £5 to be able to use this service.

REGISTRATION - Earith

Earith Village Hall, High Street, Earith, PE28 3PN
You must tell us before the race if you plan to register in Earith as we need to make sure your number is in the right place.Please can you be dropped off with no baggage as there is limited parking and there will be no transport back to Earith from the race finish. There are limited facilities at the village hall – it only has 3 toilets.

Registration will be open from 8.00am

GETTING TO THE RACE HQ

There is car parking at the St Neots One Leisure Centre, please car share if possible. Follow marshal’s instructions so that cars are safely parked.

By Road: St Neots One Leisure is easily reached from the A1 and A428. From the A1 take the A428 signed for Eynesbury and Cambridge. At the second roundabout turn left, cross three roundabouts and the leisure centre is on your left.
By Rail: St Neots train station is approximately one mile

To get to Earith Village Hall, 28 High Street, Earith, PE28, Latitude 52.353626, Longitude 0.031680912. From the A1, exit at A14 Huntingdon and Cambridge and take A14 east. At the next roundabout turn right. Follow the A14 towards Cambridge and exit at St Ives. Follow the A1096,at fourth roundabout turn right for Needingworth, Ely. Follow road through Bluntisham until you arrive in Earith. The Village Hall is on the right, just before the Crown public house.

From the M11 or A14 westbound, merge from the A14/M11 on to the A14 westbound. Exit at Bar Hill and follow directions for Willingham. Go through Willingham and at mini roundabout turn left over river. The Village Hall will be on your left, just after the Crown public house.

Please note there is no public transport to Earith.

THE START

As the first ¼ mile is along Earith High Street, you will be set off in waves of 10 runners, 1 min apart. The fastest runners will go first. Your race number will reflect your wave – so numbers 1-10 will go first, followed by 11-20 and so on. Please listen to the Marshals and be ready to go when called forward.

ABOUT THE RACE

This is a trail race. The paths are a mixture of grass, gravel, tarmac. If the weather has been dry, road shoes will be fine. The paths are uneven, it is your responsibility to keep a careful eye on your surroundings as there will be trip hazards (including roots, holes, fishing poles, mooring ropes and mooring pins), eye height hazards (low branches, brambles) and other path users (including pedestrians, dogs, livestock, fisherman and boaters). Part of the route runs very close to the river bank, please extra take care along these stretches. You may wish to put some insect repellent on as well.

You are expected to self-navigate but the route is way marked with the following:Ouse Valley Way signs (not normally this pristine!)

Our own signage, and white spray paint on the ground. There will be maps at each water point outlining the next stage.

There are a number of road crossings along the route. There are no road closures, but there will be marshals to help you cross. Marshals do not have the power to stop traffic, but will help with activating pedestrian lights, or signaling if it is clear to cross. Do not put yours or other people’s lives at risk, take the chance for a quick breather and cross when safe.

CHECK POINTS

As much of this route is away from easy access, we need to be sure that all participants are off the course. At registration you will be issued with your numberand a card with emergency numbers on. All water stations are checkpoints. Please ensure that the marshals at water points have taken your number. If you decide to withdraw from the race please inform a marshal.

COURSE MAP

See attached. Maps will be posted at both Earith and Eynesbury before the race. There will be maps for the next section at each water station.

MARSHALS

We are grateful to all the volunteers who marshal the races, organise the registration and manage the car park. Marshals are wearing high-vis vests and are there to help you. Please follow the marshal’s instructions.

CHANGING FACILITIES

Toilets and changing rooms are available in the St Neots One Leisure. There are very limited facilities at Earith.

TOILETS ON ROUTE

There are toilets close to the route at St Ives Guided Bus car park, Houghton Mill and Godmanchester.

BAGGAGE

Baggage can be left at the FINISH, St Neots One Leisure. This will not be manned throughout the event so please do not leave valuables. The car park is on the same site and you may want to leave baggage in your car. If you want to wear something to the start please make sure it is something old that you don’t mind getting rid of – items will be given to charity.

REFRESHMENTS

The leisure centre has a cafe. There are limited facilities at Earith.

SPORTS MASSAGE

The Sports Injury Clinic will provide a 15 minute sports massage for a £5 donation to charity at the finish.

WATER STATIONS

There are water stations at approximately 4, 6, 9, 12, 14, 17, 20, 22, 23miles and at the finish. There will be some snacks on offer at water stations, eg bananas, flapjacks, crisps etc. We can’t guarantee that all dietary requirements will be catered for.

FIRST AID FACILITIES

First aid on course is by trained first aiders and at the end by St John’s Ambulance. Runners will be given cards with emergency contact details should they run into difficulties on the course or find another runner in difficulty.

RESULTS

The results will be on the BRJ race website soon after the race.