Frequently asked questions
What do I get?
You will receive,
1) A really special finishers medal, custom made and designed, not a generic one. In the event of a DNF sadly you will not receive a medal, but you will still receive chocolate....which is almost as good right?!
2) A nicely stocked goody bag with lots of choc!
3) A well stocked base camp with plenty of nibbles and refreshments for post race replenishment. Again there is nothing healthy here, no isotonic drinks or fruit. But cookies, crisps, nuts, pringles, M&Ms and those sorts of things!
Where do I park?
There is lots of free unrestricted street parking right near the start on The Parade. There is also "paid parking" slightly closer, at the time of writing it's £4 per day. We'd expect everyone to be able to easily park within 300 yards of the start and for the sake of walking a 100 extra yards we'd suggest just parking along The Parade as there are well over 100 car parking spots there. Post code for Sat Navs is CT7 9QP
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, six hours for the marathon, however this is a soft time limit. I.e if your're done in 7 hours we will still be about but 8hrs and due to lack of light we will be packing up and heading home. Any runner completing the 26.2 miles will have completed the marathon distance and will count as a marathon finish for the purposes of the 100 Marathon Club and Mega Marathoners.
How are laps counted?
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 people.
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.
Can I leave my own drinks/food at the aid station?
Yes no problem at all, we have a dedicated table for runners own supplies if they have anything special that they'd like to bring along.
Trail shoes? Road Shoes?
Road shoes. Its 99% on decent tarmac/concrete.
Is the course closed to the public?
No. We are using the Viking Coastal Path which is part of a cycle route and is a nice enough walk alongside the coast. Runners do not have the right of way and need to be considerate of other users of the land, especially near the start/finish area which is a popular area for people walking their dogs, so beware of animals and leads. Please don't litter. We'll have a bin at the base camp.
What on course facilities do you provide?
Water, squash, cola nibbles, starter, timekeeper and encouragement every lap! Base station will be well stocked for all runners.
Are there any facilities at the start/finish area?
Aside from base camp, no. There are public toilets at the edge of the paid car parking behind the cafe and bike hire shop, and a cafe nearby too. Please be aware that the official opening time for these is 0800. There are also toilets behind Reculver in the car park, so you'd have to go a bit long on a lap if necessary but there if you're in need, We'd say it's about 300 yards past the gate.
On the Reculver Marathon route you'll pass within a few yards of both these sets of toilets.
How far apart are the aid stations?
You'll be back at the base camp at 6.55 miles, 13.1 miles, 19.65 miles etc
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 cyclists, people, children on bikes, wildlife and so on.
Public Transport?
Birchington-on-sea has a train station, about a mile from the start/finish.
Could a supporter meet me at Reculver?
Absolutely, its well worth a visit for a little while. There is paid parking there and a visitor centre, a pub and some ruins. Its a short walk down to the route from the ruins.
What are the nearby hotels?
The closest Travelodge is at Margate Westwood (5 miles), Ramsgate Seafront (7 miles)
The closest Premier Inns are at Ramsgate (Manston Airport) (4 miles), Margate (4.5 miles), Herne Bay (9 miles).
The closest Holiday Inn hotels is at Holiday Inn Express : Ramsgate - Minster (4 miles)
There are lots of B&Bs in Birchington, the Trip Advisor list of reviews starts here.
