The start is at the gates of Caernarfon Castle at 10:30 am on Saturday. Officials should meet for a briefing at Arfon Leisure Centre, Bethel Road, Caernarfon LL55 1HW (Google Map) at 9:15 am.
You are strongly advised to send your first three runners and ’officials’ ahead by private car, or avail yourselves of the spartan accommodation that has been arranged at Arfon Leisure Centre from 10:00 pm Friday, until 8:00 am Saturday.
There is no registration as such, but each runner must make themselves known to the timekeepers in good time, by giving them his/her team number and squad number. If you are late we will not delay the start and your team will have to miss the stage and incur a time penalty (Race Rule 1).
There is no lead vehicle, only a follow-up vehicle warning other traffic of runners ahead. It is the runners’ responsibility to know the route, but there will be marshals at all points where there is a need to cross a road as shown in the Route Description section. We advise each runner to recce their stage. Every attempt will be made to put prominent route markers at significant locations.
The primary role of the marshals is to ensure the safety of the runners, in particular at the designated crossing points. Under no circumstances must runners cross a road (i.e. from left to right or vice-versa) without the direction of a marshal.
It is particularly important that the spirit of the event is observed; for instance pacing in order to improve a competitive performance is not allowed, but running with a colleague who is in trouble at the rear of the field, to give moral support, is permitted. Cheering and giving drinks is much appreciated by all runners. When giving drinks please offer water to any runners ahead of your team mate.
Runners must run in accordance with the directions given by the race marshals. This should be as described in the Route Description section, but may deviate if local circumstances dictate. Under no circumstances should runners make up their own minds on which side of the road to run. You will notice that this normally means keeping to the left, but, to repeat, follow the directions given by the marshals.
Above all else do not cross the road anywhere other than when directed. Any runner who is observed by an official to have transgressed this rule will receive an automatic one minute time penalty. (NB. This will be cumulative; we don’t want runners to shrug their shoulders, consider the damage done, and cut more corners to make the time up. Two separate reports mean two minutes; three reports three minutes and so on.) The roads are not closed and the safety of the runners is our top concern.
Timekeepers will always try to stay at a changeover until all the runners are in but cannot stay too long after the cut-off time. If a runner fails to finish, the cut-off time will be applied, but it is the responsibility of the team to collect them.
Please inform the timekeeper at the end of the leg if a runner withdraws, so that he does not wait unnecessarily. Please DO NOT worry the timekeepers for information when they are taking times. There is a separate results service.
There will be a safety vehicle following each leg advising other road users that a race is in progress. There are also two Red Cross vehicles. If a runner is in difficulty then a medical official may request that the runner withdraw from the race. Any runner who insists on continuing against medical advice will be treated as if they had not started the leg.
The last stage is timed to finish in Cardiff Castle between 16:00 and 16:30, enabling the presentations to be made as soon after that as we can. So please put a strong runner on the last stage so that the presentations are not delayed.
After the last stage in Cardiff the main awards will bepresented either by the First Minister of the National Assembly and/or officials of Air Products and Corus, as soon as the results are computed (normally very shortly after the last runner has arrived).
Competitors and supporters are invited to Llandaff Rugby Club after the race, where the bar will be open and some food available. Full results will be displayed at Llandaff Rugby Club and will be posted on this site after printing.
All vehicles must clearly display race identity. Please ask those driving support vehicles to considerother road users, particularly when they park at changeover points. Care should be taken not to disturb ‘locals’ with rowdy behaviour at changeovers, especially early in the morning and late at night.
There are maps and special parking arrangements at each changeover, these MUST be observed as must the instructions of the race officials. Bitter experience has taught us that full size motor coaches are not suitable for this event, private cars or mini-buses are much more versatile.
Training along the route should be either ahead of (by at least 20 minutes) or behind ALL competing runners. If the runners catch you up, please stop and wait for all runners to go past,or go another way.
Cycling along the route (other than by officials) at the same time as the runners is not permitted, as it is unsafe for the runners. Cyclists should go well ahead of the race (by at least 20 minutes) or behind ALL competing runners.
Parking at changeovers has elicited adverse comments from the police; we ask that the sketch maps supplied be copied and given to all drivers. You must use the car parks indicated and above all not obstruct the highway. (We are quite keen to run the event next year). In extreme cases time penalties will be applied to the team of offending support vehicles.
These have been found to be very useful, but teams should recognise that reception is poor to non-existent in some areas of North and Mid Wales.
Last updated 29 November 2006
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