Sunday 31st August 2008

Seaford Individual & Relay Marathon

Welcome to the 2nd running of these events. Please read the following instructions carefully.

THE COURSE

See map & course description.  The vast majority of the course is on gravel tracks and well-drained chalk paths.  The only area likely to become boggy in the event of very heavy rain is the out-and-back section along the banks of the River Cuckmere.  The full distance is 26.5 miles (as measured with surveying wheel!) and the lengths of each of the four legs are 7.1 miles, 6.3 miles, 5.3 miles & 7.9 miles respectively.  See www.walkjogrun.net (‘Seaford Marathon 2007’) for an overview of the route.  There are three checkpoints which will double as changeover points for those taking part in the relay marathon & water stations for all particpants.  Water, bananas & biscuits will be available at the start/finish & all 3 checkpoints.  Maps & directions for the start/finish & checkpoints are provided overleaf.  The entire route will be marked with yellow arrows.  However, since there will be very few marshalls, please familiarise yourself with the route details provided in case route markers go missing on the day.

RACE DAY

The fire station will be open from around 0830hrs, for the collection of race numbers and the organisation of relay teams.  There will be a safety brief at 0945hrs, so please don’t arrive any later than 0930hrs. Both events will start together at 10000hrs.  Parking is available at the rear of the station and in certain areas of the adjacent industrial estate.  Relay team runners are responsible for organising their own transport to and from the checkpoints.  Due to limited parking at the checkpoints (especially Firle), participants from different teams should, wherever possible, share cars.

START/FINISH AREA

There are a very limited number of toilets at Seaford fire station & no showers.  The station should remain open for an hour either side of the start and from approx midday to 1700hrs.

SAFETY

Seaford fire station will remain fully operational throughout the event.  Please listen to the Safety Brief & follow all directions given by operational staff & marshalls.  Cars should only be parked in the allocated area to the rear of the station and the overflow parking on Cradle Hill Industrial Estate (directions will be given on the day).  On no account must any vehicles be left at the front of the station.

Marshalling will be minimal throughout the event and limited to the start/finish area and 3 checkpoints only.  Although road crossings & road sections have been kept to the bare minimum, please exercise care.

Please take extra care when crossing the three fairways on Seaford Golf Course and only proceed when it is safe to do so. 

If you need to leave the race at any stage before the end, please make every effort to do so at a checkpoint.  If this is not possible, please report to the fire station & let a race official know.

AFTER THE EVENT

All finishers of both events will be provided with a commemorative medal.  The overall times for all individual runners & teams will be recorded and efforts will be made to record split times at each checkpoint.  However, given the low-key nature of the event, no guarantees can be made for the accuracy of the split times!  Results will be published on the website and a hard copy can be sent out on receipt of an SAE.  Trophies will be awarded to the first three male and female finishers, as well as the first relay team.

2009 & BEYOND

Assuming things go okay on the day, the plan is to expand the event for next and subsequent years, so any feedback would be very much appreciated.  Thanks for taking part in the second of hopefully many Seaford Marathons!