I hope that you and your loved ones are well.

These are your final instructions for the Final Final Picnic Marathon on Sunday 23 June 2024, starting at 8am at the Old Fort, at the TOP of Box Hill (KT20 7LB) - 'Britain's Toughest Marathon'

You will not receive anything in the post.

WARNING! This race is incredibly tough, the toughest in Britain. Take it easy!

Top tip: run the slopes, walk up the stairs.

Pace yourselves - leave some for the second half.

There is a cut-off time of 3 hours to complete the first half of the Picnic. Those arriving back at the half way point of the marathon after three hours will be officially retired from the race and will receive the medal for the Midsummer Munro half, and the t-shirt for the Picnic (with your name on it).

If you can't run - please marshal!

Many marshals are needed to bring the race to a successful conclusion. If, for any reason, you can't run, please consider marshalling - it's the next best thing to running (actually, possibly better!). If you have relatives or friends coming to support you, they can take part as well. Please contact me direct at rob@trionium.com. Marshals are requested to arrive for the marshals' briefing, at 7am!

Much more information, including the course maps and description, how to get there and spectator information, is on the race web site, at <<http://www.trionium.com/picnic>>.

Parking in 2024 will be at the car park at the TOP of Box Hill, very handy for the race start and finish and for spectators. Parking for National Trust members is free - all other participants are obliged to pay for parking (it's either this, or no race, according to the National Trust).

Please arrive at the race start at least 40 minutes before the start of the race, to collect your race number (you do not need to bring any paperwork - just yourself).

There are toilets at the race start ( next to the National Trust shop). However, please do yourself a favour and go before you come (if you can) - they will be busy. There are no toilets out on the course.

There are no changing facilities at the race start. We will have an area where you can drop your bag - don't leave anything of particular value in there. You can drop your car keys with us when you collect your race number.

The Final Final Picnic starts at 8am - sharp. Around 140-or-so half-marathon 'Munroers' will be running alongside the 80-or-so Picnicers (they will be running a half marathon, with black numbers).

There is a new course for 2024 - substantially harder than in previous years. There will be signs and marshals - but, finally, you are responsible for correctly navigating the course. Points to note: You do ALL of the hills on the return leg; The 'stepping stones loop' is always run in the same anti-clockwise route.

Note on signs: When you are on your way to the quarter-way and three-quarter-way points of the marathon (half way in the half), you are on your way OUT - on the way back from these points you are on your way HOME. You'll understand on the day, hopefully.

If you meet someone coming the other way over the stepping stones - please be patient and polite (do not drop a child in the river as happened during a previous race - that was a DQ!).

Take great care when crossing the roads.

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 crazy race together. Headphones are banned for this very reason - do us all a favour - don't run in a bubble!

Ordinary trainers are perfectly good enough to complete this race - studs and spikes are banned (and aren't necessary anyway).

Keep to the pathways at all times. Spitting is absolutely banned - you will be disqualified if we see (or hear of) you spitting!

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 1km of you (either in front or behind), so send a runner to get help. In any emergency, marshals will call through to a central number, and we will organise assistance.

There are water stations every 2 miles or so. There will be sweets at the water stations. You do not need a Camelbak or similar - do yourself a favour and leave it at home!

Please do not litter the course - drop cups, gel packets (including the top of the gel packets) etc only at the water stations - thanks! (Every year we find empty gels littering the course - please don't do it!). Littering is a disqualification offence.

If you get back to the start (half way in the Picnic) within 3 hours, go around the cone and set off to do it all over again.

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

Remember to smile. And please thank our marshals - the best in the world!

There will be a free picnic at the end for all participants, including the traditional Trionium carrots. You'll also be able to pick up your t-shirt, medal and a bottle of beer.

Results, video and photos will be up on the web site after the race.

Good luck with the race - I hope you have a great day!

Kind regards,

Rob