Schedule of Events

Saturday

0700 - Registration opens at Brooks Farm.

0800 - 100 Mile Endurance Run/24 Hour Challenge Starts - We're not quite going to have a "mass start" but we're going to start folks off every few seconds after the briefing at 0750

We'll aim to get everyone going within a few minutes, just to break everyone up from the start, the time limits will all start from when we start you off. (Anyone starting late, i.e. after the mass start will be deemed to have started at the time the last runner in the mass start was started. i.e. if you rock up at 0845 you don't have 32 hours from then, you'll have about 31:15... and get "a look" from Rachel!)

1800 - Pacer Challenge Starts (This isn't super strict, if your runner is good to go at 17:55 that's going to be fine to go with them.)

Sunday

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.(Actually will be 32 hours after I've pressed your number on the iPad, but will right be around this time.)

Sunset: 20:48 - Sunrise: 04:55

Location

Brooks Farm, Brook Lane, Reculver, Herne Bay CT6 6SY (Map)

Parking

There is plenty of space to park at Brooks Farm but its a bit all over the place!

You must check in at each lap at the barn, you can go back out via your car through either gate back on to Brooks Lane.

For those coming along for the pacer challenges then please park considerately in one of the pink areas below.

Course

Ah... the perils of having a run over private farm land is that we're at the mercy of the farms to be there and they're at the mercy of the weather and contractors over which they have either no, or limited control!

The good news is that the weather forecast is outstanding - blue skies, sunshine, light breeze all week and over the weekend. The bad news is that crops are early and the forecast is outstanding... so this week is going to be VERY active for the farms and they don't know if they'll be finished by Saturday or not.

Firstly we are going to have to abandon the two lap concept along the sea wall at Reculver as the farm has asked us to keep the field that runs through free as they may need to work on that on Saturday.

Secondly we have half a dozen alternative routes that we may, or may not be able to use and we won't know until Friday evening which bits we may, or may not be able to use depending on if they've managed to get the crops in/work done during the week.

These routes are between 5 and 10 miles - they'll all involve Yumbelievable Junction being on the route either at the turnaround or in the middle(ish) and we're going to have a scout on Friday evening and make a call then when we know more... we appreciate this is far from ideal and do apologise, but we only discovered yesterday if we'd have an event at all which would have been worse and it's one of those in the lap of the Gods situations.

So basically we'll email around again Friday evening when we know more of what is what...

Numbers

These will be allocated at registration. For the start at least, please make sure that they're easy to see. If you are one of our Elite Number runners then please wear yours with pride!

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!

If you're in the 100 Mile event, you may need a second card and we'll trade you a full one for a new one at some stage.

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, have a cup of tea or you can just stop!

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 number of private farms and there is no excuse for litter dropping. Anyone seen deliberately dropping litter will be disqualified. There is an aid station every 2-2.5 miles so there is no excuse.
3) Runners are responsible for the actions of their crews.
4) At the end of any lap a runner may "ring out", This signifies that they are dropping out of the race and their time and distance will be recorded from that point.

Roads

A little bit of the route at the start and finish of each lap is on a live road. It's quiet but there will be the odd bit of traffic on it, so please take out the headphones and pay attention to any traffic and obey the highway code.

Noise

The course is basically split in to two parts.

1) The middle of nowhere.
2) Passing really really close to the houses where the folks who give us permission to use their farms live.

There are basically four parts of the course that go by houses, so please be really as quiet as you can going past these, especially in the dead of night. So if you want to sing, talk loudly and shout then there is 90% of course in the middle of a drained swamp that is perfect for that!

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 24 hour challenge or 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 24 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.

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

Awards

All runners completing the 100 mile run within the 32-hour time limit will be awarded a custom designed belt buckle/medal. There will be a finishers shirt that we're going to order in after the event so please do give your details to Rachel and we'll get those to you as soon as we can, be about 6-8 weeks afterwards depending on shipping times, which post Covid are still rather random.

Entrants in the pacer/24 hour event, no matter the distance covered will receive a finishers medal as long as they have completed at least one lap.

All entrants will receive a goody bag.

Toilets

There are a couple of toilets opposite the main barn plus we'll have a portaloo at Yumbelievable Junction

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 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 little cover on this route. We'd suggest both covering up and the application of sun block if the sun is out. There is almost always a breeze being quite close to the sea so this can make people believe that the sun is less of a risk than it is. Additionally much of the land around here is low laying and recovered marshland. This means its a little more humid, a little damper than you might imagine, especially at night, which equates to being colder at night than you might expect given the ambient temperature.

Pacers

All pacers are required to register for the pacer/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 aren't 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.

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.

5. If you are having a crew then a good place to be is near to but not annoying Yumbelievable Junction! You'll see runners twice each lap here, infinite parking (in the yellow areas) and you can keep your runner company for a while here if you wished without having to take part in the whole loop. Key thing to remember here is don't obstruct anything (these are active farm roads and don't park on the south side of the A299 as that's not on Brooks Farm/St Nicholas Farm land.

Aid Station

We'll have a limited assortment of sealed snacks constantly available. i.e. crisp like things and small bar like things. During the night we'll also have available tea, coffee, hot chocolate, pot noodles, soup and porridge.

There will be a basic aid station at Yumbelievable Junction.

Mugs

If you would like hot drinks during the night it would be really helpful if you could bring along your own mug (which you can leave at base camp) - one of our long term aims is to reduce the amount of waste at events and those thermal disposable cups are not recyclable so bringing along a mug would go a long way to reducing waste!

Drop Bags

There will be a designated "drop bag area" in the barn, it'll be dry in there and just a few feet off the race line. Please don't leave any valuables in drop bags as whilst there will always be volunteers around the drop bags won't be constantly watched. A camping chair would be useful as seating is rather limited in a barn!

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 Brooks Farm.