What do I get?
You will receive
1) A really special finishers medal, custom made and designed, not a generic one.
2) A goody bag at the finish, which has goodies in, not a bunch of adverts. There will be nothing healthy in our goody bags, things they contain for example, chocolate, crisps, cider.
3) A well stocked base camp with plenty of nibbles and refreshments for during and post race replenishment, including the legendary Rachel's Rocky Road!
Where do I park?
Parking is limited on site and we'll have to leave it till quite late to ascertain what "on site" parking we'll be able to utilise as the number of days that the main parking area can be used is strictly controlled and whilst we have several other alternatives these (especially for the Winter and Spring Challenges) will be dependant on the weather and the workings and requirements of the farm and reserve.
Winter Challenge Parking Maps - On Site - Off site
We also have a couple of "off site" areas that can be utilised too and again we'll advise runners before each event where are the best places to park. It's possible in some instances that it will involve a bit of a walk to the start/finish area, but we'll try to keep this to a minimum of course and in all cases we do encourage people to car share/car pool to both be environmentally friendly and to take the pressure off the parking areas.
How do I get there?
Train : The main entrance is just under 1 mile from Cuxton station on the Medway Valley Line. Strood station, served by the High Speed Rail Service and the North Kent Coast line, is 2 miles away.
Car: Take the exit at junction 2 of the M2 motorway, and follow directions to Cuxton, Snodland and West Malling on the A228. The entrance to the Reserve is just a few hundred yards on the right as you head down the Sundridge Hill. Click here to view a map of area
Bus: Bus route 151 from the Medway Towns runs regularly through the week. The nearest bus-stop to the reserve's main entrance is on Sundridge Hill by Pilgrims Way.
Bus timetables and maps can be found here .
When do I get my race number?
You'll pick this up on race day morning from the race base camp.
Are there time limits?
Yes, eight or twelve hours to run as many laps as you can. You can finish at any time within the time limit and your final distance will be recorded along with your finishing time. Only complete laps within the 8hrs/12 hrs will be recorded or you must have left the aid station for your last lap by 45 minutes from the final cut off. Any runner completing 7 laps will have completed marathon distance and will count as a marathon finish for the purposes of the 100 Marathon Club, if you complete 8 or more laps then you've completed an ultra. As long as you finish one lap then you'll receive an official finish time, medal and goody bag. With timed events there are no DNFs.
Do you have secure baggage facilities
No. But you're free to leave bags at the start/finish. There will always be someone around but we can't guarantee their security, in the event of rain we can't guarantee things won't get wet. You'll be able to park close to the start/finish don't forget.
Trail shoes? Road Shoes?
Trail shoes! Though even in February after the rain this winter, the majority of the paths were very runnable in road shoes, with the exception of a few patches where trail shoes would have kept me stable on the more slippy parts!
Is the course closed to the public?
No. We are using the Ranscombe Farm Reserve which is part of a network of local footpaths and trails and is shared with ramblers, dogwalkers, horseriders and cyclists. Runners do not have the right of way and need to be considerate of other users of the land. Please don't litter, we'll have a bin at the base camp.
What on course facilities do you provide?
Water, squash, nibbles, starter, timekeeper and encouragement every lap! Base station will be well stocked for all runners.
Can I leave personal drinks at the drinks station?
Yes, you may want to label it and we will not be responsible for folks drinking the wrong drinks!
Are there any facilities at the start/finish area?
There will be portable toilets at the race base camp for you to use.
Can I use an ipod or mp3 player on the course?
Yes. Though please be aware that you are running on public footpaths with the general public so make sure that you pay attention to farm vehicles, cyclists, people, dogs, horseriders, wildlife and so on.
Are these events official?
Yes. They are held under UK Athletics Rules. Permits from the Trail Running Association will be available for inspection at base camp if required. Additionally our races are recognized as eligible events by the 100 Marathon Club if you complete the seven laps required for marathon distance then that counts as a marathon, 8 or more and that counts as an ultra.
Can I run with my dog?
Unfortunately no. Running with dogs isn't permitted as we operate under UKA rules and they state that they aren't permitted and aren't included within the insurance coverage that we operate.
Will there be a back runner?
Yes. No one gets left behind.
What are the nearby hotels?
The closest Travelodge is at Medway M2 (7 miles), Maidstone Central (8 miles)
The closest Premier Inns are at Rochester (1 mile), Gravesend Central (8 miles), Gillingham Business Park (8 miles).
The closest Holiday Inn hotels is at Holiday Inn Rochester (6 miles)
There are lots of B&Bs in the Rochester area, the Trip Advisor list of reviews starts here.
Can I bring supporters?
Absolutely! Bring your family and friends to enjoy this beautiful place! They can bring a picnic, enjoy the walks, or download an explorer trail map to keep the little ones occupied! http://www.wildaboutplants.org.uk/ranscombe/families/explorers/
The entry fee is a little more than normal – why is that?
We are holding this event by kind permission of the Ranscombe Farm Reserve. £5 of every entry fee will be donated to the Ranscombe Farm Reserve for their latest project to provide litter bins around the Reserve to help keep it clean and safe for everyone to enjoy. To find out more about the work of Ranscombe Farm Reserve please go to http://www.plantlife.org.uk/nature_reserves/discover_ranscombe/
