Schedule of Events

Saturday

0700 - Registration opens. (if you are taking part in one of the timed challenges can you please plan on arriving no earlier than an hour beforehand)
0800 - 100 Mile Endurance Run Starts
0800 - 24 Hour Challenge Starts
0830 Onwards - Saturday 6 Hour Challenge Starts (we'll set runners off individually as and when they are ready to go)
1700 Onwards - Pacer Challenge Starts (we'll set runners off individually as and when they are ready to go)
1900 - Access IN to Samphire Hoe ends (you can drive out at any time)

Sunday

0700 - Access In to Samphire Hoe resumes
0800 - Last cut off to drop down to the 24 hour event for 100 Mile runners, if you leave the aid station on another lap after this time you'll be deemed to be continuing in the 100 mile run.
1600 - Absolute cut off for all events.

Sunset: 18:50 - Sunrise: 6:42

Location

Samphire Hoe, A20 Folkestone to Dover road, CT17 9FL (Map)

There are driving directions and more information about the location on the Samphire Hoe page here.

Parking

If you're coming along for the 6 hour or pacer challenges (or have a big vehicle) then please park in the red "wasteland" parking if you're in for the 100 miler or 24 hour events then please park in the "cliff" car park (just above the word Base in the image below and very obvious at ground level!) the route will pass through this car park so you can use your cars as giant drop bags.

There is a charge of £2 per day for parking. The is a machine near to the cafe and opposite the main structure. For entrants to the 24 hour or 100 mile event we'll have printed parking permits available for £5 to cover the entire duration of your stay, cash only and these must be displayed in the windscreen of your car. 100% of this is donated to the Samphire Hoe Nature Reserve.

If you really want to get in to Samphire Hoe overnight then it's only closed to vehicles, you can walk in or out. In which case park in St Davids Avenue or Old Folkestone Road in Aycliffe and cross over the footbridge and then down the path in to Samphire Hoe.

Course

The loop is 3.71 miles, 27 loops for the 100 Mile Endurance Run. For the 6, Pacer or 24 hour challenges its as many laps as you can complete in the time available, you must leave for your last lap within the time limit of your event, even if you finish that lap afterwards. i.e. if you are completing a 6 hour challenge event you can leave for your last lap 5:59:59 after you started and that lap will still count. More information is available on the course page.

If the sea wall needs to be closed due to weather conditions then the back up 2.92 mile route can be seen on this page. If that happens then apologies in advance for the confusion this will cause!!

Lap Counting

At race registration you'll be handed a small laminated lap counting card, attach this to yourself with a safety pin or cable tie. At the end of each loop get this punched through by one of the hole puncher chaps or chappesses. So basically at the end of each lap, get your card punched, or ring the bell!

You'll have to tell us when you're finished, not the other way around. As it's a timed event, if you wish you can stop, have a rest and continue, eat cake, go have a cup of tea in the cafe or you can just stop!

We'll have an “official finishers bell” for this purpose, (Rachel will be the keeper!) when you're done for the day, ring the bell and the goodies will be yours!

Cupless

SVN have gone cupless so please bring along your reusable cups / bottles / mugs. For the first Samphire 100 we had an incredibly 33 sacks of rubbish. We want this event to have about 2 maximum!

Race Rules

1) Numbers must always be visible and tally cards easily accessible. It is the runners responsibility to ensure that their tally card is punched each lap.
2) Absolutely no littering. We're on a nature reserve and there is no excuse for litter dropping. Anyone seen deliberately dropping litter will be disqualified.
3) Runners are responsible for the actions of their crews.
4) The course is mostly out and back, please run on the left of the path as to avoid the need to dodge runners coming in the opposite direction.
5) At the end of any lap a runner may "ring out" ringing the bell, this signifies that they are dropping out of the race and their time and distance will be recorded from that point.

Dropping down events.

For those in the 100 mile run and if things aren't going as planned you have a number of options.

1) Before 0800 Sunday morning you can drop down to the 24 hour event, get a finishers medal, a 24 hour challenge finish, goody bag.

2) There are actually 3 events in total and what you can do is drop down to any of the timed challenges, some people for example have already dropped down to the 6 hour challenge and pacer challenge. If you decide to do this there are two important factors

i) You MUST TELL US IN ADVANCE - so you can't at 0300 Sunday with 60 miles on your feet decide to call it a day and say you did a 6 hour challenge and a pacer challenge with 30 miles in each. You're in the 24 hour event with a single 60 mile finish.

ii) The time periods cannot overlap. So you can't knock out a 4.5 hour 30 mile run and then immediately start the pacer Challenge. You can only start the second event 6/24 hours after your time from the preceding event has run out, in the above example 6 hours after the start of the first six hour challenge.

There is no dropping down from the timed challenges, once you've rung out then that event is concluded.

Marathon/50k Distance

7 Laps is 25.97 miles which is cruelly close to a marathon but not quite and we do appreciate that some folk coming along for the timed challenges won't necessarily want to do a 29.68 mile ultra. So if you "just" want to do a marathon after 7 laps pick up a flag and go out on a short lap, this short lap is out as normal but turning right after the "zig zag" section. You'll be credited with a 26.5 mile marathon finish in the results. This will not be signed on the course to avoid the risk of confusion and this short lap option obviously only available after 7 laps, likewise 50k is exactly 8 Laps plus 3 x mini loops so if you want to do that then we'll allow that as an option too to get to 31.1 miles..

Final Lap

On the final lap of the 100 mile event pick up a St Georges flag to carry around with you. This will let others know that you are finishing off to receive their congratulations as you pass!

Awards

All runners completing the 100 mile run within the 32-hour time limit will be awarded a custom designed belt buckle and a finisher’s shirt. Those finishing within 24 hours will receive a 2 tone buckle. (Note that for 2 time plus Samphire 100 Finishers we're commissioning a special "Autumnal" version of the shirt which will be ordered in after the event)

Entrants in the 6, pacer or 24 hour event, no matter the distance covered will receive a finishers medal.

All entrants will receive a goody bag.

If you complete the 100 mile event and wish to purchase an additional finishers shirt then these will be (subject to availability) £25 and a couple of people have expressed an interest in purchasing a medal also, again subject to availability these will be £10.

Some folk who entered late have been advised about the non-guarantee of the shirt size, if we're unable to give you one on the day then these will be ordered and delivered as soon as possible after the event, probably around 8 weeks.

Toilets

We'll have several portable toilets in the rear car park a couple of steps off the running line and there are also toilets behind the cafe.

Medical

Each runner is responsible or their own actions. It is crucial that you are physically and mentally prepared for the stresses of the race. We will have on site medics from around 1800 on the Saturday till the conclusion of the event. In addition we will have the usual first aid supplies to hand in case of issues.

It is important for the runner to recognize the potential physical and mental stresses that may evolve from participation in this race.

These include, but are not limited to, extreme temperatures of heat and cold, hypothermia, dehydration, heat stroke, renal failures, seizures, hypoglycaemia, disorientation and total mental and physical exhaustion. Each participant must continuously monitor his/herself and understand their limitations. Remember that you are responsible for your own well-being during this race.

Please note that we will not issue pain killers and whilst we'll hand out plasters to help with blisters etc runners are responsible for the supply and application of such things as tape, blister shields, vaseline etc.

Exposure

Please be aware that there is 0% cover on this route. We'd suggest both covering up and the application of sun block. There is almost always a breeze being just a few feet from the sea so this can make people believe that the sun is less of a risk than it is.

No matter the actual temperature and wind, at night it's going to be colder than you think it will be...

Pacers

All pacers are required to register for the 6, Pacer or 24 hour challenges, in return they will receive a finishers medal, a goody bag and a result.

Crewing

This event will be set up so that having a crew won't be necessary however if runners wish to have a crew/supporters then of course they can. However crew/supporters are not allowed to hang out in the aid station/base camp area simply as there won't be the space. This is for runners and race event people only. Crewing will only be allowed in the green zone.

1. Runners are responsible for the actions of their crew and pacer.
2. Crews are not allowed in the aid station/base camp area
3. No Littering. All litter must be taken away with you. We operate on a leave no trace basis and we expect any crews to follow this concept.
4. All animals must be leashed at all times. If at all possible do not bring them to the site.

Aid Station

We'll have an assortment of sweet and savory snacks constantly available. Including but not limited to crisps, cookies, nuts, crackers etc. We'll have water, squash and coke. During the night we'll also have available tea, coffee, hot chocolate, pot noodles, soup and porridge. We'll have sandwiches and toast available (which will be made on request as 8 hour old sandwiches one of my pet hates!) too.

We'll have an outdoor table for water and the food will be inside.

Drop Bags

Indoor space is going to be very limited and especially during the night going to be full of runners! The concept we have is that you'll use your cars as drop bags and only bring things inside as and when you need them, the cliff side car park is right on the race line and that way you can basically have unlimited space. If you've not got a vehicle then we'll have some space immediately outside the building, which is covered, but limited and likely if its windy and wet to get a bit wet so make sure that's adaquately waterproofed.

Sleeping

There will be no facilities to sleep in the base camp area either during or after the event.

Camping

Camping is not allowed at Samphire Hoe, we've had several requests about setting up of tents or gazebos. Unfortunately as the location is one of designated Special Scientific Interest this is not allowed.