Ekiden Final Instructions
16 July 2016 - By Anita Grainger
Hope you’re all looking forward to Ekiden tomorrow. The weather is forecast as warm and humid. Don’t forget suntan lotion, plenty of water & most importantly cakes for those bringing them. Thanks to all the cooks 🙂
If anyone is there early please help with the gazebo set up.
James & I will collect numbers for everyone from the race desk so come and check in with us when you arrive. David will cover for me while I’m running on leg 2.
Below are some final instructions from the race organisers for reference.
The race takes place in the grounds of Woodbridge School (Burkitt Road, Woodbridge, Suffolk, IP12 4JH)
- No dogs will be allowed – sorry this is a School rule
- Car parking – we have 1200 participants so car parking will be tight. We should have capacity at the School and by using the field opposite by the windmill. If you want to get away early I would recommend parking somewhere off site. For sat navs the school postcode is IP12 4JJ, its approx 400 metres from the A12.
- Junior race starts at 9:30, the Senior race at 10:20. Once the Junior race starts it will not be possible to enter the school grounds and all cars will be parked in the field opposite. Coaches/mini buses have a dedicated parking area in the School grounds. The race will start on time, I can not delay the start if you get held up on route.
- Flags and Gazebos. Please bring flags and gazebos as these are a unique aspect of the Ekiden atmosphere. We will have the same area as last year, but please try to avoid any damage to the cricket outfield if you are based on the main cricket pitch. You are not permitted to have your own barbeques.
- The senior race starts at 10:20, there will be a demo of the simple handover process beforehand. We work on a touch of hands before the start/finish line. There is a large holding pen for the waiting runner.
- The runners have to count their own laps. Leg 1 is 3 laps with a short first lap, the 5k is 2 laps and the 10k is 4 laps!
- We expect to have timing booths available so you can look up your own leg times. These will show results based on your performance in the various leg categories, ie 5km, 7.2km and 10km
- I expect to have a results feed showing the lead teams in each category ie mens open, ladies open,mens vets, ladies vets, supervets and Non-affiliated teams. Please do not approach the chip timers, they will have enough to do producing results etc
- The whole race will be videod as a back up and there will be 3 sets of mats to take readings. This will only work if you make sure that your runners wear the correct chip and race number. Ie runner number 187 uses chip number 187
- Toilets. The waters tanks in the School Sports hall have been emptied so whilst we will have access to changing rooms the school showers and toilets will NOT be available. I have 2 blocks of portable toilets as follows: 10 (5 male/5 female) located near the sports hall and another 4 near the School entrance.
- Water/sponges. The forecast is for a cloudy but humid day. There will be 5000 bottles of water with a water station half way around and at the finish. There is not enough water for people to tip them over their heads on every lap so there will be a sponge station provided. Please ask your runners not to waste the bottled water.
- Food and drink. There will be a pay bar and barbeque as in previous years located near the Pavilion and an ice cream van
- Timing chips will be removed as runners exit the course. Essex Medics will provide First Aid support, and their ambulance will be on site.
- Friday 5 Results. The presentation of the Friday 5 trophies etc will be carried out by Gt Bentley towards the end of the race.
- Race finish. We will have to dismantle the course behind the last runner as the School maintenance team will be wanting the site back before 4:30.
Below is the link to the race website for further info.
http://events.ipswichjaffa.org.uk/ekiden-relays/
Anita & James
Ladies & Mens Captains
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