QE Spring Marathon & Half - 2020
17 October 2020
Open start from 08:30 - 11:00 (faster runners first)
In order to run an event in the current circumstances, we are following the Government guidelines and advice issued by UK/England Athletics and Runbritain plus some additional changes required by QE Country Park to reduce the impact on other park users.
As one of the few events to go ahead in this format we are under great scrutiny. Please help to make this a success by playing by the rules.
You can enjoy a very safe run if you come prepared - there is no need to touch anything or be too close to anyone.
Preparation:
- Bring your bib/number and safety pins. Numbers & chips are to be posted to all entrants. No number = no run.
- Please ensure your contact details are up-to-date on the Fullonsport race entry website. That way if contact tracing is required, we are able to reach you.
- Do not attend if currently or recently displaying Covid-19 symptoms, have had a confirmed diagnosis of COVID-19, are awaiting a COVID-19 test or should be isolating for any reason. Current NHS Covid-19 guidance is available on: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-Covid-19/
- Keep up-to-date with all changes in regulations and guidance. Various Government publications on what is permissible, e.g. what-you-can-and-cant-do
- Do not bring non-runners on the day. No spectators are permitted at the start or finish areas.
- Use your own transport to travel to/from the event where possible.
- Plan your hydration and nutrition so that you bring with you and carry whatever you are likely to need so as to not have to rely on the water stations – which are limited to pick-up 500ml bottles of water only.
- Work out your correct start time according to your pace or time for the first half-marathon loop. This will be an open start system from 8:30 – 11:00 with quicker people starting ahead of slower people to minimise overtaking. Please see secondwindrunning.co.uk for full instructions
Be honest and sensible about this - we must spread the start times out. That is a condition of the event being permitted to go ahead and it is a rule for you to follow. Anyone blatantly cheating this will have their time and result deleted.
If you are running with others, use the pace of the slowest runner, but please keep groups to a minimum. They are harder to overtake with social distance, and can cause bad feeling with other members of the public. We will not permit groups of more than four.
On arrival
You should be able to park in, or very close to, the start field and the finish field. Even the furthest car park should only be a few minutes’ walk away.
Parking in QECP is charged (and not cheap), but we purchase an access code for participants to use on the day for free parking. This will be communicated in the next and final email (if already issued by the country park) and in any case will be signed in big friendly numbers in the finish area on the day.
We are not permitted to host a bag-drop so you’ll need to make your own arrangements. Bag-drop is identified as a high infection risk area as it has significant cross-contamination potential in addition to handling by multiple people. For those coming by car, come dressed ready to run and leave your post-race kit in your car.
Start area
- The start area will be in the Meadow – a field on the opposite site of the road from the finish.
- The start will have a timing mat running, so when you are ready to go, go. We will forehead temperature check all starters. We will hold people back if necessary to ensure good spacing after the start, but it averages out at under three people starting per minute over the course of the 2½ hours, so good separation should be easy to achieve.
- We recommend starting individually, we must enforce a group maximum of four.
- The starter will ensure a minimum gap of 10 seconds between each start group or individual. This equates to around 30 metres.
- No pre-race briefing – this will be communicated in advance to all entrants by email a week before race-day.
- No on-the-day entry.
- Ample portable toilets (with hand sanitizer) spread out before start – cleaned regularly.
- Start area design requires no contact between any persons whatsoever.
- If you need to queue for the start, maintain at least 2 metre distance and wear a mask.
The course
The course is one-way (without out & back sections).
There are a number of changes from prior years, to keep on wide trails and away from the busier parts of the park. It's still mostly off-road, hilly, hard and rewarding - as you would expect.
It will be well signposted with yellow signs with black arrows backed up by orange ground spray.
You are reminded to maintain social distancing throughout the entire event and to not run in the company of persons unknown to you.
The course has no requirement to touch any item in the park during the event with no stiles or gates to negotiate.
We have a wide course through almost the entire length to permit easy overtaking with the etiquette rule to keep left and to overtake on the right after a call-out to the person(s) being overtaken. The runner overtaking must pass with as much distance as possible, but at least 1 metre apart from the person they overtake. If overtaking is not possible with at least 1 metre separation, then wait until the next opportunity.
The uphill climb from the start (400m long) has narrow sections that should be treated as "Single file" zones.
Water stations
To minimize risk, you are strongly advised to bring your own drink, gels & food so as to not need to handle anything throughout the event. If you cannot carry enough drink for the distance, then you may pick up bottled water from water stations to replenish your own containers.
Water stations to be:
- at mid and end points of each half marathon loop (i.e. every 10½ km)
- off the racing line and by-passed if not required
- one-way through past any of multiple tables
- only one person at a time at each table
- each table to have 500ml water bottles spread out
Hand sanitizer must be used before picking up a water bottle.
Water bottles replenished by aid station staff in face-visor, mask and gloves, separated from participants by tables and taped-off areas.
Large bins with bin-bags provided after the aid station - for empty water bottle disposal
The finish
Finishers to keep moving after the finish line unless in need of medical attention.
The post-finish area to be wide and clearly directing finishers towards car parks with no post-race entertainment or other services that would discourage leaving promptly.
Finish medals are to be widely spread out on tables for individual collection by finishers (after use of hand sanitizer), Half Marathon to the left, Marathon to the right. If you would rather have your medal posted, call out your number to the medal attendant, and it will be posted in the days following the event.
Finish area staff to wear face visors, masks and gloves at all times and separated from runners by tables and taped off area.
On leaving the finish area, runners will be required to hand sanitize on exit before using the car park machines to enter the 4-digit exit code which will be communicated in advance and signposted at the finish.
Results to be immediately available online at https://racedirector.co.uk - no printed slips handed out.
Other points:
- In addition to certified first-aiders amongst volunteers, an event medical services provider is onsite with Covid-19 handling procedures.
- Medic service to provide two crews: one positioned within country park at finish, one at the far point of the course at the back of country park.
- Medic service to include provision of medical evacuation to hospital as required.
- Should symptoms develop whilst at the event, you must make us aware of this. We have medics on hand suitably equipped with full PPE.
- Entrants have provided their medical details, name, phone number, email address and postal address through the Fullonsport registration system.
- Participants are required to inform the organizer should they show any Covid-19 symptoms within the seven days following the event.
Medical cover provided by a third party specialist with medical crew at the start/finish plus crew out on course in a 4x4 vehicle.
Races run under UK Athletics rules.
A minimum age 18 will be applied for both races.
No dogs.
TRA permits: 3695 (marathon) and 3696 (half)
(a3, Just South Of Petersfield)
Waterlooville
PO8 0QE
Registration open from: 08:30:00
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