ENDURANCE FESTIVAL Athlete Guide 2018
Hello Welcome to the Storm The Fort Endurance Festival 2018. After a great deal of planning and working with the local community, who have been incredibly supportive, we are very excited to deliver the third Storm The Fort. This year, in addition to the UK s toughest Long Course Duathlon, there will also be Short Course Duathlon, a Half Marathon and a Cyclsoportive sharing the same routes. We would like to ensure that each of you arrive at the race well prepared and this Athlete Guide is intended to answer any questions that you may have and maybe some that you had not considered. There is some important race information that you must know, so please do take the time to read this guide. We will continue to send out communications to athletes via email and social media so please do keep an eye out for all updates. Finally, we wish you a successful race day and look forward to cheering you over the finish line, when you have Stormed The Fort! Matt, Dermott & Matt Contents Pre-Race Information Timeline of Race Weekend...3 Key Addresses...3 Getting to Clun...4 Car Parking...4 Equipment Checklist...5 Race Day Information Registration... 6 Transition... 6 Bike Racking...7 Changing Rooms & Toilets...7 Race Briefing...7 Race Start Times...7 Rules & Regulations... 8 Race Courses... 9 Route Maps...12 Withdrawal From Race...20 Aid Stations...20 Littering...20 Finish Line / Athlete Area...20 Relay Team Specifics...21 Post-Race Information Results... 22 Prize Giving... 22 Spectator Information Spectators... 23 Spectator Map... 24 Watching the Race... 25
Pre-Race Information Timeline of Race Weekend Sun 7 Oct TIME EVENT LOCATION 05:45 Car park opens Clun Memorial Hall 06:00 Registration & Transition open Clun Memorial Hall 07:00 Duathlon & Half Marathon registration closes Clun Memorial Hall 07:10 Transition closes Clun Memorial Hall 07:15 Race briefing Clun Memorial Hall 07:30 Hard Fort & Short Fort Duathlons & Clun Memorial Hall Half Marathon start 08:00 Sportive registration closes Clun Memorial Hall 08:30 Sportive start Clun Memorial Hall 08:50 (approx) Half Marathon - first finshers Clun Memorial Hall 10:15 (approx) Half Marathon - last finishers Sportive (Short route) - first finishers Clun Memorial Hall 10:45 (approx) Short Fort Duathlon - first finishers Clun Memorial Hall 11:15 (approx) Sportive (Short route) - last finishers Sportive (Long route) - first finishers Clun Memorial Hall 12.15 (approx) Short Fort Duathlon - last finishers Clun Memorial Hall 12:30 (approx) Duathlon - first finishers Clun Memorial Hall 13:00 (approx) Sportive (Long route) - last finishers Clun Memorial Hall 14:15 (approx) Prize giving ceremony Clun Memorial Hall 16.00 (approx) Duathlon - last finshers Clun Memorial Hall Key Addresses Clun Memorial Hall - Guilden Down, Clun, Shropshire, SY7 8NY Bury Ditches Hill Fort - Visitor Car Park, between Clunton & Lydbury North, Shropshire, SY7 8BD. Signposted from B4368 and B4385. 3
Pre-Race Information Getting to Clun The full address is Guilden Down, Clun, Shropshire, SY7 8NY. Follow the public signage for the Memorial Hall upon entering Clun. There will also be Race HQ signs on posts to help you find us. Car Parking Free car parking will be available at the Race HQ at Clun Memorial Hall. Spaces may be limited so please arrive early. There is also limited car parking adjacent to Clun Bridge on the B4368, approx 5 minutes walk away from the Race HQ. From Newcastle From Bishop s Castle RACE HQ P From Clunton & Craven Arms P From Knighton 4
Pre-Race Information Equipment Checklist We would suggest that you bring the following equipment with you on race day. PERSONAL RUN BIKE OTHERS Photo ID Running Shoes Bike Race Nutrition & Drinks BTF Membership card Tri Suit / Race Clothing Bike Shoes Vaseline Car parking money Socks Bike Helmet Sunglasses Bike Pump Run cap / Visor Bike Tools Number Belt Inner Tubes 5
Registration - Sun 7 Oct You will be able to register and pick up your race pack on Sunday 7 Oct from Clun Memorial Hall between 6:00am 7:00am. Duathletes - When you arrive at registration you must bring with you a form of picture ID. BTF members must bring their BTF membership card with them to registration. Non BTF members will be issued with their race day licence during registration. At registration you will be issued with the following: 1 x Race number **Please note that as you will only be issued with 1 x race number then YOU MUST USE A RACE BELT DURING THE RACE** ID bike and helmet stickers ID wristband Transition Access to the transition area will open at 6:00am on race morning. You will need to show your wristband and race numbers to access transition. Only athletes will be allowed to access the transition area. Access to the transition area to set up for the race will close at 7:10am. Any valuables left in the transition area will be left at your own risk. 6
Bike Racking The race officials within the transition area will tell you on which row you will rack your bike and set up your transition space. We would ask that you are considerate of other athletes and do not bring very large bags or boxes into the transition area. Changing Rooms & Toilets There are toilets at Clun Memorial Hall and access to these will be open all day. There are no specific changing rooms on site, however we will be allocating a room for changing on Sunday morning for those that require it. Please do not leave valuables in the changing room or toilets. There will be no toilets on the race course. If you need the toilet during the race you must use a public toilet or wait until you get back to transition where you can use the Memorial Hall toilets. Race Briefing There will be a mandatory race briefing for athletes competing the Duathlon and Half Marathon at 7:15am. This briefing will include specific safety measures in place on the course to ensure that all athletes have a safe race experience. Race Start Times Hard Fort/Short Fort Duathlons - 7.30am start Half Marathon - 7.30am start Cyclosportive (long & short routes) - 8.30am start 7
Rules & Regulations Storm The Fort Duathlon will operate under the rules of British Triathlon. Click on the link to download the British Triathlon Rulebook for a full list of rules. The following key points will result in DISQUALIFICATION from the race: Abuse of a race official, volunteer or member of the public Littering outside of the marked areas at feed stations Use of music player, headphones, mobile phone, camera, video, listening or recording device Failing to use appropriate toilet facilities Nudity or indecent exposure Dangerous riding: including crossing the centre line, overtaking on the wrong side Drafting riding within the designated draft zone Failure to fasten the helmet securely during the bike phase Blocking, riding before the mount line or after the dismount line Failure to clearly display your race number to the back during the bike leg Failure to clearly display your race number to the front during the run legs Running without shoes during any part of the run phase Being accompanied by spectators down the finish line Failure to clearly display your race number to the front 8
Race Courses - HARD FORT LONG DUATHLON The race comprises of a 20km Run, 91.5km Bike and 11km Run. Run 1-20km A single, very challenging 20km route that starts and ends on road. The race begins with a loop around Clun village, passing Clun Castle before heading away from the village towards the woods. The majority of the route is on footpaths, trails and forest paths and after circumnavigating Colstey Wood, continues on to Sunny Hill and the ancient Bury Ditches Hill Fort. After the Fort summit, there will be a short section that skirts the hill before retracing the route back through Guilden Down and back to transition. Due to the nature of running off road please concentrate on the trails, in particular the downhill sections. **Please note that there will be 2 sections where you will need to collect a wristband that will confirm you have completed the full distance** Bike - 91km The bike course heads north from Clun towards Bishops Castle. You will cross the border between England and Wales a number of times. The first major climb ascends from the A489 and to the summit of the Kerry Ridgeway. The aid station will be at this point. A long fast descent takes you back to Clun. Turn RIGHT when re-entering Clun to start the notoriously leg-sapping doubleclimb from Clun to Knighton, The descent into New Invention is very fast and we ask you to ride with caution. The course then heads from Knighton, through Bucknell back to Purslow via Twitchen and rolls gently back to Clun. Beware this is a tougher course than the profile suggests.. Run 2-11km The second run is nearly all on road and comprises 2 loops. After exiting transition the route heads away from Clun up Guilden Down, this is a decent climb. After the turnpoint you head back towards the village where you will then complete a loop of the village (in the opposite direction to Run 1) finally bringing you back to the race HQ. At the end of lap 1 you continue onwards to complete your 2nd lap. At the end of lap 2 you turn into the race HQ and cross the finish line. **Please note you will need to collect a wristband on each loop that will confirm you have completed the full distance** CAUTION At the entrance/exit to the race HQ we will have runners and cyclists using the same area. Please observe any instructions from marshals to ensure the safety of fellow athletes and spectators. 9
Race Courses - SHORT FORT DUATHLON The race comprises of a 12km Run, 56km Bike and 5.5km Run. Run 1-12km A single, very challenging 12km route that starts and ends on road. The race begins with a loop around Clun village, passing Clun Castle before heading away from the village towards the woods. The majority of the route is on footpaths, trails and forest paths and ascends the ancient Bury Ditches Hill Fort. After the Fort summit, there will be a fast descent, followed by a challenging woodland section, before retracing the route back through Guilden Down and back to transition. Due to the nature of running off road please concentrate on the trails, in particular the downhill sections. **Please note that there will be 1 sections where you will need to collect a wristband that will confirm you have completed the full distance** the Kerry Ridgeway. The aid station will be at this point. A long fast descent takes you back to Clun. Turn LEFT when re-entering Clun and follow the signs back to the race HQ. Run 2-5.5km The second run is nearly all on road and comprises of a single loop. After exiting transition the route heads away from Clun up Guilden Down, this is a decent climb. After the turnpoint you head back towards the village where you will then complete a loop of the village (in the opposite direction to Run 1) finally bringing you back to the race HQ. **Please note you will need to collect a wristband that will confirm you have completed the full distance** CAUTION At the entrance/exit to the race HQ we will have runners and cyclists using the same area. Please observe any instructions from marshals to ensure the safety of fellow athletes and spectators. Bike - 56km The bike course heads north from Clun towards Bishops Castle. You will cross the border between England and Wales a number of times. The first major climb ascends from the A489 and to the summit of 10
Race Courses - HALF MARATHON 21.1km A single, very challenging route that starts and ends on road. The race begins with a loop around Clun village, passing Clun Castle before heading away from the village towards the woods. The majority of the route is on footpaths, trails and forest paths and after circumnavigating Colstey Wood, continues on to Sunny Hill and the ancient Bury Ditches Hill Fort. After the Fort summit, there will be a short section that skirts the hill before retracing the route back through Guilden Down and back to transition. Due to the nature of running off road please concentrate on the trails, in particular the downhill sections. **Please note that there will be 2 sections where you will need to collect a wristband that will confirm you have completed the full distance** Once returning to Race HQ, there will be a short additional circuit of the sport field before the finish. CYCLOSPORTIVE a number of times. The first major climb ascends from the A489 and to the summit of the Kerry Ridgeway. The aid station will be at this point. A long fast descent takes you back to Clun. Turn RIGHT when re-entering Clun to start the notoriously leg-sapping doubleclimb from Clun to Knighton, The descent into New Invention is very fast and we ask you to ride with caution. The course then heads from Knighton, through Bucknell back to Purslow via Twitchen and rolls gently back to Clun. Beware this is a tougher course than the profile suggests.. Short Route - 56km The bike course heads north from Clun towards Bishops Castle. You will cross the border between England and Wales a number of times. The first major climb ascends from the A489 and to the summit of the Kerry Ridgeway. The aid station will be at this point. A long fast descent takes you back to Clun. Turn LEFT at the bridge to return to the finish. CAUTION At the entrance/exit to the race HQ we will have runners and cyclists using the same area. Please observe any instructions from marshals to ensure the safety of fellow athletes and spectators. Long Route - 91km The bike course heads north from Clun towards Bishops Castle. You will cross the border between England and Wales 11
START/ Race Day Information HARD FORT Long Duathlon - Run 1 20km / HALF MARATHON - 21.1km* *There will be a short additional circuit of the sport field at race HQ the end of the 20km route WATER/AID STATION WATER/AID STATION TRANSITION Elevation (m) 400 300 200 100 0km 4km 8km 12km 16km 20km 12
START/ Race Day Information SHORT FORT Duathlon - Run 1 12km WATER/AID STATION TRANSITION 500 Elevation (m) 400 300 200 100 0km 2.5km 5km 7.5km 10km 12km 13
HARD FORT Duathlon / SHORT FORT Duathlon / HALF MARATHON - RUN 1 (Clun town section) RUN 1 RETURN OUT TO GUILDEN DOWN & BURY DITCHES HILL FORT START/ TRANSITION RUN 1 OUT 14
HARD FORT Duathlon Bike - 91km SHORT FORT Duathlon Bike - 56km Cyclosportive - Long Route 91km Short Route 56km 600 Elevation (m) 400 200 100 0km 20km 40km 60km 80km 100km 15
DUATHLON BIKE ROUTES - (Clun town section) HARD FORT 91.5KM SHORT FORT 56KM RUN 1 RETURN A488 to Bishops Castle OUT START/ TRANSITION OUT IN B4368 from Newcastle OUT HARD FORT 91.5km BIKE IN SHORT FORT 56km ROUTE HARD FORT 91.5KM ROUTE A488 to Knighton 16
DUATHLONS - RUN 2 HARD FORT X 2 LAPS SHORT FORT X 1 LAP 5.5KM LOOP WATER/AID STATION RUN 2 OUT TRANSITION/ FINISH RUN 2 RUN 2 RUN 2 RUN 2 RUN 2 RUN 2 Elevation (m) 300 250 200 180 0km 1.1km 2.2km 3.3km 4.4km 5.5km 17
Cyclosportive Bike (Clun town section) - Long Route 91km A488 to Bishops Castle START/ FINISH BIKE OUT BIKE OUT BIKE IN B4368 from Newcastle BIKE OUT BIKE IN BIKE BIKE A488 to Knighton 18
Cyclosportive Bike (Clun town section) - Short Route 56km A488 to Bishops Castle START/ FINISH BIKE OUT BIKE OUT BIKE IN B4368 from Newcastle BIKE OUT BIKE IN BIKE A488 to Knighton 19
Withdrawal From Race If you have registered to race and have collected your pack, but then for whatever reason decide not to race, then you must inform a race official. If you need to withdraw during the race then you must inform a race official or marshal. If you require medical attention this will be made available for you. Aid Stations HARD FORT Duathlon Run 1 & Half Marathon - There will be 2 aid stations on the run course 1. These aid stations will offer a mixture of water and sports drink. We will also have a small selection of energy gels at these stations. You will pass the aid stations at approximately 4.5km, 9.5km, 15.5km & 17.5km. SHORT FORT Duathlon Run 1 - There will be 1 aid stations on the run course 1. This aid station will offer a mixture of water and sports drink. We will also have a small selection of energy gels at these stations. You will pass the aid stations at approximately 4.5km and 9.5km, Duathlon Bike & Cyclosportives (Long & Short Routes) There will be one aid station on the bike course, this will be at approximately 38km. There will be on offer a mixture of water and sports drink. Cyclists will be able to refill their drinks bottles there. Duathlon Run 2 There will be 1 aid station on run course 2. This aid station will offer a mixture of water and sports drink. We will also have a small selection of energy gels at this station. You will pass the aid station at approximately 400m, 3.2km, 5.9km & 8.7km. Littering We will not accept littering by athletes on any level. On the run and bike courses you will pass aid stations and there will be a bottle drop / bin at these aid stations. You MUST drop your litter here. Any athlete seen by a race official to be littering will be disqualified from the race. Finish Line / Athlete Area When you cross the finish line you will be able to collect your well earned finishers medal, and limited edition bottle of Storm The Fort beer, courtesy of Ludlow Brewery. There will also be some great cakes and pastries, courtesy of Bread2Bake, Ludlow. We do ask that only athletes run down the finishing chute, we cannot be responsible for any accidents if athletes choose to bring their children with them to cross the finish line. Your friends and family will be able to meet you at the exit of the finish area. 20
Relay Team Specifics All relay teams need to be aware of the specific differences in their event. This information must be shared with the whole team: There will be only 1 race number per team. This number must be attached to a race belt, and the race belt acts as your baton. The race belt is passed between team members during the race. The handover of the race number must be done within the transition area at the point where the cyclist has racked their bike. Run 1 to Bike the runner enters transition and hands over the race number to the cyclist. The cyclist can be waiting with their helmet on and bike shoes on but must not touch their bike until the handover of race number has been completed. Bike to Run 2 the cyclist must ensure their bike is secure and racked before they pass the race number to the runner. On finishing the race the relay team members will be allowed to congregate at the bottom of the finishing chute and run across the line together. 21
Post Race Information Results We will be using a system called RaceSplitter to record race times and produce the results. This will require all athletes to make their race number visible to timing marshals. Results will be available throughout the day and will be online on Monday 8 October. Prize Giving A prize giving ceremony will take place at Clun Memorial Hall at approximately 2:15pm. Times will be announced during the day dependent on the number of athletes still on the course. There will be prizes in the following categories: HARD FORT & SHORT FORT DUATHLONS Overall Male...1st, 2nd, 3rd Overall Female...1st, 2nd, 3rd HALF MARATHON Overall Male...1st, 2nd, 3rd Overall Female...1st, 2nd, 3rd 22
Spectator Information Spectators Storm the Fort Duathlon is entirely free to watch along the entire course. We do not have any closed roads for this race meaning that spectators can follow their athletes around the course however we would advise that they do not follow you around the bike course is we wish the athletes to have the best possible ride. During the run spectators can walk around the course and even drive to the car park near Bury Ditches, please see map on next page. Bury Ditches car park is 4.4 miles from Clun Memorial Hall, via Clunton - please allow 15 minutes for travel. An aid-station for the athletes is situated at Bury Ditches car park, and is easily accessible. To get to the summit of the hill fort (where the athletes will also pass through) please be advised that there is a steep 10 minute walk from the car park, along a footpath and trail. Athletes will be descending along part of this path, so please be wary of oncoming runners. 23
Spectator Information Bury Ditches - Spectators Map Bury Ditches Car Park STEEP CLIMB P WATER/AID STATION From Lydbury North WATER/AID STATION RUN 1 START/ RACE HQ B4368 24
Spectator Information Watching the Race RUN ROUTES Race Start & Transitions Wave the athletes off from the start at Clun Memorial Hall. Watch them pass on their way up to Bury Ditches. Also, see them return after the first run leg and set off on the cycle route. Clun Castle The athletes will pass Clun Castle after only 300m so spectators would need to be there quickly. The Castle is in a ruined state but still a lovely backdrop for the athletes. Bury Ditches The highest point of the run course comes at approx. 11.5km. There is parking here and you can see the athletes at the water/aid station. Or you can take a walk up to the summit (be warned it s long & steep!), The athletes might need your help at this point! Please be wary of fast-moving athletes descending this path. CYCLE ROUTES Once out of the town and onto the open roads, you can watch the cyclists anywhere along the course without the restriction of road closures. Kerry Ridgeway there is a car park at approx. 50km (this will be where the aid station will be located). The athletes will complete a tough climb to reach this point, with stunning views from here. Clun Bridge Athletes will return to Clun from the direction of Newcastle. Duathletes and cyclists tackling the 91km cyclosportive will turn right turn up the hill and out of town again. Those doing the 56km cyclosportive will turn left and return to the finish at the Memorial Hall. A very pretty spot to wait to cheer athletes on. 25
ENDURANCE FESTIVAL SEE YOU THERE.