The Greensand Marathon

Dorking - Westcott - Coldharbour - Leith Hill - Somerset Hill - Holmbury Hill- Pitch Hill - Reyards Hill - Winterfold Hill - and back again!

These are the race instructions for the Trionium Greensand Marathon 2011

You will not receive anything in the post - please read these instructions carefully.

Around 250 runners are expected to turn up for the Greensand Marathon - you are a select bunch.

If you cannot run, then please come along and marshal - we still need lots of helpers! (Friends and relatives also gratefully received!). Please just reply to this email. (You get the race goodies, post-race meal and a free place in a future Trionium race).

The race HQ is at The Priory School, West Bank, Dorking, Surrey, RH4 3DG.

Your friends can see your progress, live, at <http://www.racetracer.co.uk/watch.php?id=33>RaceTracer (if you follow the instructions on that web site!)

Please park at the Priory School - not in adjacent side streets. Rest assured, you will not be at all delayed at the end. It is a two minute walk to the start/finish of the race from/to the HQ.

Please arrive in good time to collect your race number at the race HQ.... 9.30 latest!

Toilet and showers are available in The Priory School. Although the Nower has innumerable trees and bushes, before and after the race please use the facilities at The Priory School (we want to be able to use this location again!). There are no toilets at the race start itself, or officially out on the course either. You will have to make like the bears (please remember to 'pack out your trash').

We will have an area at the race HQ where you can drop your bag - but don't leave anything of particular value in there. You can drop your car keys with us when you collect your race number (and collect them at the race finish - NOT back at the HQ).

All runners are requested to carry a mobile phone, whistle and space blanket. High quality bum-bags are available for £5 at the race HQ before the race. These items are important for the safety of runners (sorry for any inconvenience). Tip - bring a few sheets of kitchen towel to stuff in the bum bag to stop contents from shifting (and for any 'emergencies.')

The start will be preceded by our massed singing of 'Jerusalem,' (words provided).

The race starts at 10am sharp.

Please run on the left at all times. Since this is an out-and-back course, you will be passing a lot of other runners going the other way (even if you are in the lead, or last). PLEASE give all runners maximum encouragement - you are all in this race together. Headphones are outlawed for this very reason - do us all a favour - don't run in a bubble!

The winner of last year's race, Ed Catmur (3:08:01), will be representing England in the Home Nations Oreinteering Championships on the same day... so you have a much better chance of winning this year.

There are a number of road crossings - you will need to keep your wits about you. They will be marshaled, but you are responsible for your own safety when crossing.

IF you are going to spit, make sure you don't do it on or anywhere near anyone else - thank you.

Ordinary trainers are perfectly good enough to complete this race - spikes are banned (and aren't necessary anyway) - but soft studs may be useful if you think that you have a chance of winning (ie time of less than 3.5 hours). Around 45% of the race is on very uneven hard tracks, 45% on sandy or muddy paths, 5% on grass, 5% on tarmac. I've worn ordinary trainers to run the course, with no problems.

Don't forget the vaseline for the chafy bits.

PACE yourself - this is a tough run. Check out the hill profile: The part after Leith Hill, until you get back to Leith Hill Tower again (ie from approximately mile 7 to mile 20), is a tough part - you are mostly either descending or ascending, with the occasional flattish bit. Once you get back to Leith Hill Tower, your hardest work is over - it's all downhill from here. There is, however, one, nasty little hill at the Nower, half a mile from the end. Just for fun.

To allow the race to be conducted in a safe and orderly manner, and so that the marshals have a degree of certainty as to the timing of their movements, there will be a strictly enforced cut-off of 1:10 (ie 11.10am) in 2011 to arrive at Leith Hill Tower on the outward leg. Runners arriving after the cut-off will be required to return to the race start directly, completing the half marathon distance - no shame in that. Half marathon finishers get the race goodies, excluding the marathon medal (which is just for marathon finishers) but including an alternative special momento. The race director (me) intends to run the half marathon distance.

Watch where you put your feet: the tracks we are using are uneven. Twisted ankles, tumbles and cuts are not unknown. In case of any accident or emergency, the next marshal should be within 1 mile of you (either in front or behind), so send a runner to get help (tell them your race number). The race medical service provider is the St. John Ambulance Service. In any emergency, marshals will call through to a central number, and we will organise assistance. The race emergency number is also printed on the reverse of your running number - use it directly if required.

There are water stations at approximately 3, 6, 7.5, 10 and 13 miles, and at 16, 18.5, 20, 23 miles and at the end.

There will be sweet things to eat at the water stations (unless the other runners have eaten them all up!). Water stations will have water and at the half way there will be Lucozade energy drinks.

Please do not litter the course - drop cups, bottles, gel sachets etc only at the water stations - thanks!

Sorry, there will not be any mile markers on the course, but you'll be able to gauge progress by the passage of water stations and time. It's as near as dammit 26.2 miles by Garmin (more if you throw in the vertical mile you'll be 'running'). It's not short.

The course will be marked with tape, paint and marshals. Keep your wits about you and you'll get around fine. If in doubt/lost, follow signs for the Greensand Way (this should not happen!). Additionally, there is a race map printed on the reverse of your running number.

If you want a time at the end, show us your running number. No visible number, no time!

Please leave muddy trainers/shoes outside the school after the race, and pick them up later.

There is FREE SWIMMING (kindly life-guarded by Phil Sears of Dorking Masters) after the race - cossies required (shower first). Strictly no shoes inside the pool building!

There is a FREE full cooked English breakfast for all runners and marshals in the school cafeteria after the race - please come along!

Prizegiving (first three men, first three ladies) will take place at 2.30pm on the finish line (presuming that anyone has finished by then).

Remember to smile!

Photos and results will go up on the web site the day after the race.

The race is expected to raise over £1000 for charity, including Rianna's Fund (http://www.riannasfund.org).

We hope that you enjoy the race. Please stay safe and have a great run!