Dear 2015 Challenger,

We’re excited to present our Fairlands Valley Challenge Weekend in just over one week’s time – this will be the 21st time you’ll be walking or running our classic four courses(12 miles, 18 miles, marathon and the Ultra Marathon (50km)) and the debut of our brand new 6 mile course. We’re delighted that so many of you have signed up to one or even two(!) events over the course of our inaugural event weekend, to be held on Saturday 18th and Sunday 19th July.

For the uninitiated, your Challenge is simple. You must self-navigate yourself around an off-road course armed with just a course description, map, your wits, a sense of adventure, and maybe a friend or two with a sense of direction if you forgot to pack your own! You will pass through checkpoints manned by our lovely, friendly volunteers (say thanks when you see them for a free smile!) that will provide you with food and drink to keep you going. Our famous home-baked bread pudding is one such treat you will find here: make sure you try it!

In the extreme instance that you cannot complete the course for medical reasons or if you were to get spectacularly lost on the way, help is never too far away: ring the emergency mobile number printed on the top of your route description for assistance. Someone will come to your rescue if you are unable to carry on any further, but we’re fully expecting a few Challengers to make a few detours but still arrive back onto the race route eventually!

We’re currently predicting warm, sunny weather in the low 20s (degrees) for Challenge Weekend but, as we’re dealing with the British weather here, this could all change! Packing sunblock and keep hydratedaround and on the Challenge Weekend is strongly advised.

Please find below some information you need to ensure your Challenge Weekend goes as smoothly as possible.

Race HQ:

Marriotts Sports Centre
Brittain Way
Stevenage
Hertfordshire
SG2 8UT

Google maps link:

(Please do not access Race HQ via the entrance on Telford Avenue by car. Our start and finish use this road and so will be busy with lots of people passing through all day. There is plenty of parking nearby to the Sports Centre – see section below on Parking).

Information and tips to keep you healthy and safe:

  • If you feel unwell or sustain an injury during the event please make your way to the nearest checkpoint where assistance will be given, or call the emergency number which will be given on the course instructions. We have qualified first-aiders at Race HQ and on the course at peak times.
  • If you do pull out of the event and make your way home, please call the phone number provided at the top of your route description to let us know. We need to account for every Challenger that starts any of our courses, so clearly it would be great to see everyone back in safely, or simply to know that you are safe and well elsewhere!
  • Please do not run if you have been unwell or feel unwell on the day.
  • Take a water bottle and your favourite gels/beans etc. Checkpoints will be available to refill your water bottle so that you can ensure you have water as you continue along the course. Keep hydrated by taking on fluids early in the day, as dehydration can strike fast on a hot day if you haven’t!
  • Challenger fashion should be weather specific (but still stylish whatever the weather!).We recommend a sun hat and high factor sun cream to apply before and during the Challenge if it is hot and sunny; or waterproof clothing if it is forecast to be wet and cold! Large parts of the course are open and you will be exposed to theweather.
  • "Buddy up": many of you will be running in groups anyway, so sharing the experience is a great way to enjoy the course. In hot conditions we recommend taking part with a “buddy” or group rather than running solo just in case of any difficulties.
  • ”Drop down” to a shorter distance if you are injured or training hasn't gone well. You can do this by emailing us in advance (), on the day at registration, or even on the course if necessary.

Race Number:

An essential bit of Challenger kit! Numbers are pre-allocated and available to collect before your event from Race HQ. You will be asked to write the full name and phone number of someone to contactin case of medical emergency on the back of your race number, by our registration team – this is for your own safety as sometimes we cannot predict life’s twists and turns.

Your race number is colour-coded according to the distance you are undertaking:

Green – 6 mile (Saturday only)

Pink – 12 mile (Sunday only)

Yellow – 18 mile (Sunday only)

Blue – 26.2 mile (marathon) (Sunday only)

Black – 50K (ultra marathon) (Sunday only)

Purple – Weekend Challenger (6 mile on Saturday plus any distance on Sunday). One (purple) number will be issued to you on Saturday, along with a wristband. Please wear both for the duration of the weekend. Your Sunday distance will also be written on the bottom of your race number, so please do not obscure this when crossing the finish line (or if you do, please shout out your distance as you finish) – this will help us out with our results.

Everyone will also be given a course map and instructions (both on paper) when you collect your race number. They are available to view in advance of the event here: under the Course Information section of the webpage). All paper documents that are not used will be recycled immediately after the event.Please bring safety pins with you if you ca​n – although we aim to provide a full supply of these.

Mobile phones:

Ensure that you or a member of your group take a mobile phone with you. Emergency contact numbers will be provided on your route instructions should you get into difficulty.

This year we are encouraging you to keep it green by using your smartphone to navigate around the course – if you have the facility to save the route map (pdf) and instructions (Word.doc) onto your device, please let the registration team know when collecting your race number. You can view the route documents here, under Course Information:

Checkpoints:

If you become unwell during the Challenge and need to drop out, the best place to do this is at the next or the previous checkpoint. (Saturday 6 mile Challengers – there is a manned water station at approx. 2.5 miles) Here you will be attended by our friendly checkpoint team who can discuss the next steps and arrange transport back to Race HQ.Retiring from the event is not a sign of weakness – we would like to ensure that all our Challengers are as happy, safe and healthy at all times whilst taking part at our event.

Walkers with dogs:​

W​e do allow dogs under control of a lead to accompany Challengers, following with the express permission of the Race Director.​Please ensure you adhere to the countryside code and, if the weather is exceptionally hot, to carry water for your animal or consider leaving them at home. Water will be made available to our four-legged friends at all water stations/Checkpoints. We have been advised that dogs are not permitted to be on site at Race HQ, so please contact the Race Director at th any associated concerns you may have, and to make alternative course/race arrangements, in advance or on the day.

Baggage:

You are welcome to leave baggage at Race HQ in the designated, unsupervised baggage area but it won’t be attended to by the race team so anything left is done so at your own risk.

Registration and start times for each day/event are as follows:

Registration will be open from 13:00 on Saturday 18th July and 07:30 on Sunday 19th July, please register at least 30 minutes before your allotted start time.

Saturday walkers/runners will start together at 14:30.

Sunday start times:

08:00-08:15- Walk 50K Ultra

08:45- Trail Run 50K Ultra *Massed Start

08:00-09:00- Walk 26.2 Miles

09:30- Trail Run 26.2 Miles Marathon *Massed Start

09:00-10:00- Walk 18.7 Miles

10:00- Trail Run 18.7 Miles *Massed Start

10:00-11:00- Walk 12.3 Miles

10:30 - Trail Run 12.3 Miles *Massed Start

Sunday runners are asked to start at the official mass start times please.

Sunday walkers can set off at any time within the given window. However, you will need to record your own start time and tell us this at the finish so we can record the results accurately.

Please note that if you start earlier than allotted start times then the checkpoints may not yet be open when you reach them.

Checkpoints will also close at an allotted time. Please note the checkpoint opening times (below):

Saturday Checkpoint (CP0 - Aston) opening times: 14:30-16:30

Sunday Checkpoint opening and closing times:

CP1 – Datchworth. Opens9:00 to 11:30

CP2 – Tewin. Opens9:30 to 12:30

CP3 – Stapleford. Opens11:00 to 14:00

CP4– Chapmore End. Opens10:30 to 15:30

CP5 / CP1 for 12 miles – Watton. Opens10:00 to 16:30

Facilities/Services before, during and after your Challenge:

For our inaugural weekend event, we have spread our resources across the two days to provide all Challengers and spectators with a full, fun and pleasant experience whilst at Race HQ. We are introducing new services, and resting other services, this year to keep things fresh. Not all services are free of charge, so please remember to bring cash with you if you wish to take advantage of any of these.

Changing rooms, toilets, showers and baggage on site at Race HQ will be provided as standard on each event day.

Saturday 18th July

Refreshments will be available before and after the 6 mile event – we are also providing free fruit and this year’s first tray of our famous bread pudding after the event!

Put on your war paint! Get painted before you tackle the 6 mile challenge course. Lisa Gavigan will be available prior to the event start and will paint your face (or arm) with any design for a small fee. For more on Lisa’s work, see:

Breathe easy and recover with Trudie from Blissfullminds Meditation. Trudie will be leading a FREE recovery session after the 6 mile challenge on Saturday 18th July, to help you relax and feeling positive ahead of journey home or our Sunday Challenge routes the next day! Bring a towel and something comfy to wear. For more info, see:

Exclusive to our Saturday 6 mile event – the 6 words over 6 miles competition. To make sure you are paying attention to where you are going, we’re going to place 6 code-words along our course – put them together and tell us the secret phrase as you pass the finish line to be entered into the Race Director’s special post-race raffle to be held at 4:00, 4:30, 5:00 and 5:30* with at least 3 prizes available at each draw! (*subject to numbers and the time it takes the last entrant to finish. Basically, everyone has an equal chance).

Sunday 19th July

Give your muscles a treat and kick-start your recovery with a sports massage from Transition Tri! Natalie Lawrence and her team will be on hand to give post-race sports massages at our Race HQ for a small fee, all afternoon on Sunday 19th July. For more on Transition Tri, see:

There is no licensed bar this year. We are providing free refreshments, including hot beverages, before and after your event on each day.

There is no free post-race BBQ this year. Instead we providing free fruit at the end of your Challenge as a healthy alternative. We have secured the services of Grill & Chill at our Race HQ all weekend (Saturday 18th and Sunday 19th July) where you can purchase a full range of hot snacks including freshly cooked burgers, hot dogs, bacon rolls and chips.

Lollie Dollies are back with us all afternoon on Sunday 19th July serving up delicious softly whipped ice cream with toppings galore (for a small charge).

Please remember we must be off site by7pmso will be start packing equipment away from 6pm on each event day. Please ensure you are back from your walk/run in time to collect any belongings you may leave at Race HQ.

Parking:

Please note, there are two entrances to Marriotts School/Sports Centre.Please do NOT use the car park at the Telford Avenue end of the school. There is parking available at the Brittain Way end of the school.Sat Nav/GPS users: SG2 8UT.

How to find Race HQ from Brittain Way entrance/car park: please approach the main School entrance and take a left through the large metal gates following the path around the side of the building. You will come to a second set of large metal gates next to some Netball courts. Walk past these to the big building on your left – the main entrance to the Sports Centre is a the bottom of steps to the right side of the building.

Also you may park at the nearby car park at Fairlands Valley Park. Google maps link: .

There is also a car park at the lower end of Fairlands Valley Park, which can be accessed off of Six Hills Way.

Directions to Car Park

Driving from junction 7 A1(M)

1.Take 3rd exit towards Stevenage/A602

2.At next roundabout take second exit towards Ware/A602

3.At the next roundabout, take the 1st exit onto Monkswood Way towards Town Centre A602

4.At the next roundabout, take the 3rd exit onto Six Hills Way towards Chells

5.Go through the next 3 roundabouts

6.Take the next turning left into Fairlands Valley Park

Driving from Hertford A602 from Bragbury End

1.When entering Stevenage continue ahead along A602

2.Go through the first roundabout

3.At the roundabout, take the 2nd exit towards Poplars

4.At the next roundabout, take the 1st exit onto Gresley Way towards Poplars

5.Go through next roundabout

6.At the next roundabout, take the 1st exit and stay on Gresley Way towards Town Centre

7.At the next roundabout, take the 3rd exit onto Six Hills Way towards Town Centre

8.Go through next roundabout

9.Take the first right turning into Fairlands Valley Park

The car park will be approximately 400 yards on the left and isapproximately 5 minutes’ walk from Marriotts School/Sports Centre. To reach the school first walk toward the Boating Centre (the brown building) north of the car park. Walk past the centre and the metal barrier then take the first path on the right through a wooded lane. This will lead to Marriotts School/Brittain Way entrance – follow the walking instructions above to locate Race HQ once on site.

PLEASE DO NOT PARK ALONG BRITTAIN WAY AND SURROUNDING RESIDENTIAL AREA AS WELL AS MARRIOTTS SCHOOL. YOU MAY RECEIVE A PARKING TICKET IF YOU DO.

ALSO PLEASE BE MINDFUL OF OUR NEIGHBOURS, PARTICULARLY WHEN ARRIVING EARLY ON THESUNDAYMORNING!

PublicTransport:

Stevenage is on the main line between London Kings Cross and Peterborough/Cambridge run by GoviaThameslink Railway (Great Northern Route) Tel: 0345 026 4700. Please check for any planned engineering work on the line and leave sufficient time for your travel plans.

To reach the bus station, turn left out of the station, down the ramp into the town centre shopping area. The Arriva SB1 bus from Bus Stop A stops nearby to the race HQ (Shephall, oppShephall Way (on Six Hills Way) which is 6 minute bus journey followed by a 7 minute walk to Brittain Way). Alternatively it is approximately 40 minutes to walk from Stevenage Railway Station to Brittain Way. Please check updated information and a journey planner.

Results

Results for our Weekend event (five distances across two days!) will be available through and/or as soon as we can following the conclusion of our Sunday event. If you notice any omissions or amendments to make on the published results, please contact to let us know.

Transfers

It will be possible to transfer between events (either up or down in distance) on the day – please head directly to the Information Desk at Race HQ to do this. Please do not queue up in line for your existing choice of distance. You may also transfer your entry into someone else’s name if you are unable to take part for whatever reason – all we will need to see is an email from the registered entrant to confirm they are happy for their place to be transferred over to the nominated person. We will then take the details of the new entrant on the day before issuing the race number. We strongly discourage anyone from running in someone else’s name or number without informing us of the change first – especially in the event of medical emergency. Any queries on transfers can be emailed to before the event.

On the day entries

Online entries will close on Wednesday 15th July (in case you have friends or family interested in joining you!). Note that we there will be places available on the day for anyone who has not entered before 15th July. These entries will include an additional charge of £2 – please head directly to the On-the-day entries/Information desk at Race HQ in plenty of time to register before your event.