RACE DAY INFO. If you are looking for information that is not in this booklet you will find it on the event website.

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1 RACE DAY INFO We hope you enjoy your Connemarathon experience on April 22nd and have included some key information here that will help your day run smoothly. If you are looking for information that is not in this booklet you will find it on the event website.

2 RACE MERCHANDISE We will have a selection of Connemarathon jackets, hoodies and t-shirts for sale at registration on Friday and Saturday and then again at the finish. There are limited numbers and sizes available so if you already have your race number but are interested in purchasing a top we recommended that you still go to race number collection in Galway or Clifden.

3 YOUR RACE NUMBER In the post... If you selected postage during registration your race number, bag and baggage label have already been posted to you. In person... If you are collecting your race number you can do so in Galway or Clifden at the following times and locations (see the website for maps and directions): PorterShed, Eyre Square, Galway City Clifden Station House Hotel Friday April 20th 5-8pm Saturday April 21st 10am-4pm Saturday April 21st 7-9pm There is no race number collection on race day. Each race distance has a different colour bib: Half Marathon: blue bibs Full Marathon: green bibs Ultra Marathon: orange bibs You must wear the correct bib for your race distance. Please check that your date of birth is correct on your race envelope (it will be in the format MM/DD/YYYY). Your timing chip is on the back of your race number. Please fill out your details on the reverse of your bib. Wear the bib to the front (safety pins are provided in your race pack take care not to pierce your timing chip). Ultras have a second bib (with no number) which they wear to the back. A friend can collect your race number for you but will need to know your name, date of birth and race distance.

4 GETTING TO THE START All participants should take the race buses to the start lines. There is no parking at any of the race starts. Your bus transfer is included in the race fee and you just need to show your race number to board the bus. The weather can be very unpredictable so bring appropriate clothing and make sure you can keep warm before your race. BUSES FROM GALWAY & OUGHTERARD Buses depart from the Cathedral car park in Galway City and will stop at the GAA pitches in Oughterard for pick up. The charge for parking at Oughterard GAA grounds is 3 per car. If you park here please have the correct change. There is free parking on Sundays in various locations in Galway City and limited parking at the Cathedral. Ultra Marathon Depart Cathedral car park in Galway City at 7.00am Pick up at the GAA pitches in Oughterard at 7.30am Full Marathon Depart Cathedral car park, Galway City from 8:00am to 8:30am Pick up at the GAA pitches in Oughterard from 8:30am to 9:00am Half Marathon Depart Cathedral car park, Galway City at 9am to 9:30am Pick up at the GAA pitches in Oughterard from 9:30am to 10:00am Are you staying at Peacockes Hotel? Please sign your name on the form at reception before 8am on Sunday morning. We need to keep a seat free for you on the buses coming from Galway or Clifden. Buses will pick up at Peacockes at 9am for the full marathon and 10am for the half marathon. Ultra marathon buses leave for the short journey to the race start at 8:40am after the ultra briefing, which is at approximately 8:15am in Peacockes. BUSES FROM CLIFDEN Buses depart from the back of the Station House Hotel in Clifden. Ultra Marathon Depart at 7.15am Full Marathon Depart at 8:45am Half Marathon Depart at 9.20am. Half marathon buses travel to Leenane via Letterfrack. Walkers should be on board the first buses.

5 BAG DROP You can leave a bag at the race start and pick it up at the finish line! You will receive a purple bag in your race pack with a baggage label that matches your race number. Place the race number sticker provided on your purple bag. Put your post-race clothing in the bag and seal it. Place the bag on the baggage truck at the start area no later than 20 minutes before your race start. Your bag can then be collected at the finish area. ULTRA RUNNERS: leave your purple bags in Peacockes Hotel at the Ultra race briefing (at 8:15am). We will transfer them to the finish area. Please don't leave valuable items in your bags. Connemara is a beautiful place and we want to leave it as we found it. Please dispose of the plastic strip on your purple bag carefully, or place it inside your bag before you seal it.

6 START TIMES 9:00am ultra marathon starts at Maam Cross 9:30am full marathon walkers start at Lough Inagh 10:30am full marathon starts at Lough Inagh 11:00am half marathon walkers start at Leenane 12:00pm half marathon starts at Leenane DURING THE RACE All race distance markers are given in miles. Water is provided in 250ml sports bottles and is available at: Ultra: miles 5, 10, 13 (+LS), 16, 19, 22, 26 (+LS), 29, 32, 35, 37 (+LS) Full: miles 3, 6, 9, 13 (+LS), 16, 19, 22, 24 (+LS) Half: miles 3, 6, 9, 11 (+LS) LS: Lucozade Sport (orange flavour) Jelly beans will also be available at selected points along the route. We do not provide gels, bananas, etc. on the course. Ultra participants can have their own nutrition at any 3 water stations. Small easily identifiable bags of items are handed in at the pre-race briefing and transferred to your selected water stations. Clothing left on the course will be donated to charity. If you need to drop out of the race please inform the nearest marshal or ask a fellow competitor to alert the nearest marshal. We will get you back to the finish area.

7 MEDALS & T-SHIRTS There are three different medals for the three different race distances and the colour of your medal should match your race bib. You receive your medal at the finish line! Don't forget to also pick up your souvenir race t-shirt at the finish area. Ultra marathon runners have a slightly different top so make sure yours says 'Ultra'. Your race number has a blue sticker on it that represents the t-shirt size that you ordered. AFTER THE RACE After you've soaked up the atmosphere of the finish area and have your medal and t-shirt head up to Peacockes Hotel for post-race refreshments. Also look out for the team from the Institute of Massage & Sports Therapy who are with us again this year offering complimentary post-race massage for your tired legs! GETTING HOME Competitors will be transferred by bus from the finish area to Oughterard, Clifden and Galway throughout the afternoon. One bus will return to Leenane via Clifden.

8 SPECTATORS Spectators are very welcome at the Connemarathon (note that there is no parking at the finish area). Spectator bus tickets must be booked in advance online. Tickets include the return journey from either Galway, Oughterard or Clifden to Maam Cross (the finish area). The park & ride facility departs Galway Cathedral at 11am, Oughterard at 11:20am and Clifden Station House Hotel at 11am. The cost for the return journey is 10 per adult and 5 per child. Spectators may use the same coach as participants on the return journey. Buses will go from Maam Cross (finish area) to Oughterard, Clifden and Galway City throughout the afternoon after the race. How to Book Tickets Tickets can be purchased online at One recommendation is that spectators walk the two miles to the top of the hell of the west where support is most welcome by the weary participants. Bring plenty of clothing - the weather can turn nasty in this beautiful place!

9 AFTER PARTIES Congratulations, you did it! If you are staying in Galway head along to The Front Door for the official after party or if you are in Oughterard The Boat Inn is the place to be. Don't forget to wear your medal for some special offers. For those staying in Clifden head to E.J. Kings for a great dinner offer and then Lowry's for great music. LATE CHANGES, LOST BIBS... If you wish to switch distance on the Friday or Saturday of the race weekend or if you have lost your race bib, there will be a fee of 5 to issue a replacement race number, timing chip and baggage label. This can be arranged at the times and locations given above in the 'Your Race Number' section. Please note that we may not have credit card facilities on site so please pay with cash. MORE INFORMATION If you are looking for information on pacers, course profiles, accommodation, etc. you will find it on the event website: CONNEMARATHON 2019 We haven't confirmed a date for 2019 yet but will do so soon. Check the website and Facebook page in the weeks after this year's event and let's do it all again!