Cheddar Gorge Challenge

Cheddar Gorge Challenge 21st August 2016 Event Information Cheddar Gorge, Cheddar, BS27 3QE Car Parking There is limited parking in Cheddar and all car parks are a 30min+ walk from registration so please leave plenty of time and consider car shares where possible. Please note that there is no parking available at the top of the gorge this year. The gates into the fields will not be open and we need to keep the access road clear for emergency vehicle access. There is also no parking on Cufic Lane as it is a single track road and needs to be kept free for emergency access at all times. Car Parks can be found at the following places; Cliff Street Pay & Display car park BS27 3PS ( 3.50 for the day) 150 spaces 6 free spaces for holders of disabled badges 6 free spaces for motorbikes

Location: Cliff Street at the mini roundabout at the bottom of the Gorge Cheddar Gorge & Caves ( 5.00 for the day) Car Parking opens at 10:00 50 spaces Location: at Lakeside where our Gorge Tour Bus starts Free all year round to purchasers of a Gorge & Caves Explorer ticket 50 spaces Location: opposite Cox s Cave During the rest of year, tickets can be purchased from the uniformed attendant, the cashier at Gough s Cave entrance or in our Collectors of Fantasy shop 300 spaces Location: beyond Gough s Cave on both sides of the Gorge During rest of year, tickets can be purchased from the uniformed attendant or from the cashier at Gough s Cave entrance Toilets The race toilets are the public toilets at Dag s Hole and Cliff Street Car Park. There are also portaloos at the top of Cheddar Gorge by the race start and finish. Wheelchair / Push Chair Access Wheelchair or push chair access to the registration area will be extremely difficult due to the challenging nature of the terrain. We have seen it done, but it certainly not a small undertaking and possibly harder than the race itself. Registration Registration is at the top of the gorge. Follow the Orange Registration and Pink To The Start signs from the car parks up to the top of the gorge. Please allow at least 30mins to get to the start to ensure you are not arriving at the start a little out of breath! We are not posting out any race numbers for this event. Registration and number collection opens at 09:30 at the top of the gorge and will close 10mins before each event wave is due to start. Start Times 300m 10:30 Half Marathon 10:40 Marathon 10:50 10km & 5km 11:00

Course Description 5km & 10km The course makes use of public footpaths and permissive rights of way. Please be mindful of others users and give them a friendly shout when you approach and be careful when taking tight corners. The route is marked with fluorescent signs, Relish Running Races branded red and white barrier tape and orange paint. Route Map 0km 1km The first 1km carries on uphill (yep, it goes even higher!) there are some fantastic views if you look over to the right hand side just before the 1km point. The 1km point comes at the entrance to the Piney Sleight field. 1km 2km This is a flat section through open fields. Follow the lines and paths cut into the grass. 2km ** Course Split ** There is a sudden rocky section on a slight downhill just after the 2km point. Runners of the 10km carry straight on up the other side of the valley. The athletes racing the 5km make a right hand turn downhill. Look out for the signs. The split is approximately 50m after a giant Split Ahead sign. 2km 3km

Another flat section and downhill are to come with a couple of stiles to negotiate. There is a downhill run down to the 3km mark which could be slippery if wet. 3km 6km ** Course Split ** There is a drinks station and first aid point at Velvet Bottom. This section is mainly flat but there are some rocky dams to clamber over. Be mindful of other runners heading in the opposite direction and keep to the left. This area has been mined through from Roman to Victorian times and gives rise to the unusual landscape and dam walls. Approximately 50m after the drink station there will be signs for the Half Marathon and Marathon to split off the route at this point by making a left turn. The 10km carries on straight ahead to complete an out and back run along the valley. Please note you will pass runners coming in the opposite direction to you along this section. The paths are generally quite wide, but particular attention needs to be paid when climbing over and down the old dam walls please keep to the left hand side at all times. 6km 7km Runners take in impressive of Black Rock along this slightly downhill section along the valley floor. 7km 8km Save some energy for this most challenging section. Peel off right up a rocky climb before climbing up one or two steps...5km runners pick up the route here too. 8km 9km This is a flat section along the cliff side of the gorge with great views to the far side. There are some narrow sections but there are opportunities to overtake. The 9km point takes you past the race start area and represents the last place to overtake for a while. 9km 10km The route cuts through winding narrow paths (to avoid rare orchids) and heads back towards the start area. Runners quickly negotiate a stile at the edge of the gorge before looping back round towards the start area/finish area. There is a Split Ahead sign shortly after runner jump over the aforementioned stile; 10km, 5km runners need to bear right at this split and head towards the finish line. There is then another Split in the course where 5km, 10km and Half Marathon runners bear left to the finish line and Marathon runners bear right to start their second lap.

Course Description Half Marathon & Marathon Cut Off Times There is a 3hr 00mins cut off the marathon course, runners will need to have made it the course split where the marathon runners head down to the bottom of the gorge and half marathon runners head right to the finish. This is being enforced due to the availability of the Search & Rescue Volunteers who are looking after you on the course should you get injured, the cut off will therefore be strictly enforced on these Health and Safety grounds. Completing the Course The far aid stations, at 5.5 miles and 8.5 miles will be giving out coloured bands to ensure that all runners complete the out and back sections of the course. They will be in a box at the Feed Stations, please make sure you collect one at each passing. We will be checking all runners for bands at the Finish Line so please make sure you collect them. Marathon runners need to collect bands on both laps, so you should end up with 4 coloured bands. Course Markings The course makes use of public footpaths and permissive rights of way. Please be mindful of others users and give them a friendly shout when you approach and be careful when taking tight corners. The route is marked with fluorescent signs, red and white barrier tape and hazards with orange paint. Feed Stations There are 5 Feed Stations on each lap of the Half Marathon Course; we will have a buffet of treats on offer jelly beans, jaffa cakes, flapjack, crisps, oranges, bananas, malt loaf, crisps, water, Nuun electrolyte drink and coke on lap 2 of the marathon! There will also be bottled water at the Feed Stations which we encourage you to take, especially if it is a hot day. Half and Full Marathon Course Description The first 1km carries on uphill (we couldn t let you get away with only walking to the top!) but there are some fantastic views if you look over to the right hand side. The 1km point comes at the entrance to the Piney Sleight field. This is a flat section through open fields. Follow the lines and paths cut into the grass. 1 Mile 2 Miles There is a sudden rocky section on a slight downhill just after the 2km point. ** Runners of the 10km, half marathon and marathon will carry straight on up the other side of the valley. The athletes racing the 5km make a right hand turn downhill. Look out for the signs.** Another flat section and downhill are to come with a couple of stiles to negotiate. There is a downhill run down to the 3km mark which could be slippery if wet.

2 Miles 3 Miles Make a left hand turn past the first drinks station into Velvet Bottom. After 50m the half marathon and marathon race will turn left (marathon runners follow half marathon signs) and the 10km race goes straight on. There are 4 fields to cross, all heading due North. After the fields is a small muddy and wooded section which will be slippery. 3 Miles 4 Miles ** Road Crossing ** Immediately after the 3 miles sign is a road crossing which is open to traffic. Please do not wear personal music players as you need to be able to hear the traffic. There is a marshalled crossing but the final decision to cross the road is yours alone. After emerging onto the road, make a right hand turn and cross over the road after 20m. The course now runs through a technical valley with a small river crossing and then run up the other side. Climbing out the other side through open fields, keep a look out for the next landmark, a WWII Bunker on the horizon. After the bunker is a marked change of terrain, it will now become very boggy for 200m even the most stable looking ground may deceive you! Pick your best line across the bog (there is a small path tight against the perimeter path may be your best bet, but feel free to pick your own path) Make sure your shoes are done up tight! 4 Miles 5 Miles After negotiating the bog, make a left hand turn and head up to Beacon Batch, the highest point on the Mendip Hills. Enjoy the views. Over to your left you will see the starting point at Cheddar Gorge as well as the Bristol Channel, Wales and everything around with this fantastic 360 degree vantage point. Keep left of the trig point and follow some flat paths along the top of the hill. 5 Miles 6 Miles Make a right hand turn down what is known at the Motorway, but is nowadays very much free of traffic. This 20m wide road was the Roman path over the Mendip Hills, and as such, makes few deviations and will be a 1 km straight down descent down to the far side of the hills. There is now a 200m out and back section to reach the next Feed Station and there are also a portaloo at this feed station. Retrace your steps back to the cross roads and make a left 6 Miles 7 Miles Probably the flattest mile of the race, enjoy some quite woodland paths including two brook crossings. 7 Miles to 8 Miles

Time to climb once again as runners head back to Beacon Batch, with some more great views to the right hand side over towards the Bristol Channel. Make a left at Beacon Batch and head towards the radio masts in the distance. 8 Miles to 9 Miles This is an out and back section along a path which is narrow in places. More treats at the feed station await by the radio masts. 9 Miles to 10 Miles ** Road Crossing ** It is now time to negotiate the bog once again, I hope you marked your path well on your earlier crossing...back across Blue Bell Valley and safely across the road. 10 Miles to 11 Miles Retrace your steps back towards Velvet Bottom. Half Marathon Runners and Marathon Runners on Lap 1 make a left turn here and complete an 800mt out and 800m back section along Velvet Bottom. You will now pass an earlier Feed Station and make a left hand turn along Black Rock. 11 Miles to 12 Miles Save some energy for this challenging section. Peel off right up a rocky climb before climbing up one or two steps... This is a flat section along the cliff side of the gorge with great views to the far side. 12 Miles to 13 Miles ** Course Split ** There are some narrow sections ahead but there are a few opportunities to overtake. The course then takes some narrow winding paths to avoid some rare orchids before emerging in the Start/Finish area. Runners make a quick hop over a stile near the gorge edge and turn right to loop round to the finish area. There is a split in the course ahead; Half Marathon (10km, 5km) runners turn right into the finish area. The Marathon runners go straight ahead to complete an extra loop down to the bottom of the gorge before climbing back up to start the second lap. Finish Finishers of the half marathon make a left hand turn to the finish shoot. Marathon runners carry on past another Feed Station and head back up the climb to the start point. ** Marathon Route **

There is an additional drink station at the Start of Lap 2 on the brow of the first hill. Following this runners complete the lap again, but without the out and back section along Velvet Bottom and without the loop down to Strawberry Fields. Runners follow Half Marathon direction arrows at all points other than 2 Marathon signs at this point. ** Mini Challenge / Challenge Runners ** All athletes who have completed the Cheddar Gorge Mini Challenge (5km, 10km, Half Marathon) and Cheddar Gorge Challenge (10km, Half Marathon, Marathon) over the course of the summer, make sure you make yourself known at the Event Information desk area to collect your trophy! Prizes Winner s prizes for the races will be announced at the following times (approximately) 10km ~ 12:30 Half Marathon ~ 13:15 Marathon ~ 16:00 Medals This year we have an interlocking medal to collect for runners who are doing more than 1 race with us this year over the 4 race series. If you are collecting the set and need a specific medal please speak to the Goody Bag team and they will ensure you get the correct medal and the appropriate ribbon. For this race we will be mainly awarding the Camp Fire medal as the main medal.

Prizes Winner s prizes for the 10km at 12:30 for the 10km and at 13:15 for the half marathon, 16:00 for the marathon. These will be by the registration gazebos. There are no winners prizes for the 5km or the kids fun run. Results Results will be posted live to our website and will be accessibly from your smartphone within 1 minute of you crossing the line; Cheddar Gorge Challenge >> Results. In order to do this we need to be able to see your race number as you cross the line. It also relies on us being able to establish an internet connection from the top of the gorge which can sometime be intermittent so please bear with us if results do not appear immediately. Notes Charity Avon and Somerset Search & Rescue We are very pleased to be working alongside the Avon and Somerset Search and Rescue who are providing first aid and marshalling support for the events. The Search and Rescue Team is an entirely voluntary organisation that provides rescue support across Cheddar Gorge, the Mendip Hills and the rest of Avon and Somerset 24hrs a day, 365 days a year. We are making a donation on behalf of every runner who takes part in our Cheddar Gorge Challenge series. This year the ASSAR Team are looking to raise 12,000 to replace equipment which was damaged rescuing people from the floods on the Somerset Levels. National Trust 10% of the revenue from the event goes towards maintaining the breath taking Cheddar Gorge site for generations to come. Gorge Edge Be Careful! Runners will not in fact get too close to the gorge edge. Spectators will need to be more careful. If you cross the stone wall please be extremely careful and do not stray too close to the edge. Quarries Do not enter! Under no circumstances are runners to go into any of the quarries near by the race site. Lyme Disease Please be mindful of tick bites and the associated risk of Lyme Disease, albeit a very small risk so don t be put off the race! One of the key symptoms is a Bullseye style rash, associated with fever, headache and fatigue. If you develop these symptoms, please report to your GP as soon as possible.