QUICK RACE SUMMARY

(more detailed information in the sections below)

 

Race Date – Saturday 27th July

Start Time – wave starts between 07:00 – 07:25

Parking – free parking onsite at Berkshire County Sports Club, Sonning Lane, Sonning, RG4 6ST https://w3w.co/uttering.ruling.congratulations

Registration – all race numbers to be collected on the day between 06:15 – 07:15

Bag Drop – bags to be left in cars or at Race Registration desk at runners own risk.

Race Briefing – online in advance of race day

Onsite facilities –, toilets showers, bar. Serving tea & coffee pre event & bar meals post event

Course signage – fully signed course using arrows, red & white tape and RRUM stickers. A GPS route is provided within race week, along with a Google Map route

Terrain – towpaths, footpaths & roads. 50km one lap course circumnavigating Reading. Road shoes recommended

Checkpoints – 5 on course, mandatory to check in. Offering water, cola, Active Root & sweet and savoury snacks. Personal nutrition can be delivered to checkpoints 3, 4 & 5. No cups will be provided

Cut off – 17:00 at the finish and specified times on course checkpoints

Finish – medals, drinks & snacks, ice cream & RRUM memento

Prizes – 1st, 2nd & 3rd female & males overall & age categories. Prizes posted out after race day

 

GETTING TO THE EVENT

 

The event takes place from the Berkshire County Sports Club, Sonning Lane, Sonning, RG4 6ST. https://w3w.co/uttering.ruling.congratulations

Please plan to arrive in good time to collect your number & timing band.

Race registration, toilets and the Start/Finish area are all within a stones throw.

Public transport – both Twyford & Reading train stations are 3.2 miles away

Cycling – there are plenty of spaces onsite to lock up your bikes

By car - Event parking is free and will be signed, with the entrance opposite Reading Blue Coats School. Please approach via Sonning village (Charvil Lane, Pound Lane, Pearson Road) to avoid delays at the pedestrian crossing, where the earlier starters will be crossing over the road at the beginning of the course

 

BEFORE THE START

 

Registration - open between 06:15 & 07:15 and will be found at our event marquees.

Collect your race number and pins, also your buff or collapsible cup (if you’ve pre-ordered them). Your race number should be pinned to your front and be visible. If you have a medical condition that we need to know about, please mark the front of your number with a cross and complete the details on the reverse of the number

Start Times – it will be a wave start, in groups, between 07:00 & 07:25. Approach the start area 10 mins before your start time and our start line team will call you forward.

Chip Timing – your timing chip is a strap to be worn around your ankle, so your own start & finish times are taken along with split times from the course.

Personal Nutrition Drop – if you have any dietary preferences or just want to use the nutrition you’ve trained with, we will take it out onto the 2nd half of the course course for you.  Personal nutrition must be dropped off by 07:30. Note – this is available for Checkpoints 3, 4 & 5 only.  See CHECKPOINTS section for more details

Baggage – leave your bag in the car if you can, which will be close to the start area. If you are unable to do this, label your bag with your race number and leave it with the team at race registration. Bags may be left unattended and are left at your own risk, so please do not leave valuables in them

Toilets – these are found inside the sports club

General Rule – arrive ready to go, kit checked, water bottle ready filled, GPS & phone charged!

 

ON THE COURSE

 

Race Briefing –  important safety details will be in the race briefing.  This will not be given on the start line, but will be emailed to you in the final week.  By turning up on the day you will be confirming that you have read the Race Brief.  If you have any questions you need to contact the organisers before Wednesday July 24th 

Terrain - The course is mixed terrain and on firm ground throughout. We use river & canal towpaths, footpaths and road. The ground is firm throughout & suitable for road shoes. Approx 70% is off road.

Hilly/Flat? The course is flat with only 271m of elevation gain through the 50km.

Signage – the course is fully signed with arrows, red & white tape and our red RRUM stickers.

Additional Navigation - In the final week before the race we will provide you with a course GPX file for use on GPS devices. Also a Google MyMaps version of the course which can be viewed on a phone and is marked with checkpoint location, toilets etc.  The MyMaps option enables you to see where you are in relation to the course.  It is also a good option for spectators to use to pinpoint a viewing point (not at the checkpoints tho' please!)

Headphones – we politely request that you do not use in-ear headphones for your own safety.

Course Etiquette – please be courteous to all other path users. Short sections are narrow, please be patient and overtake when suitable.

Mandatory Kit :–

•Fully charged mobile phone with emergency numbers included (found on your race number)
•Drink Vessel (bottle/bladder pack etc) holding a minimum of 500ml at the start (please bring ready-filled)
•Foil Blanket
•Waterproof/Showerproof jacket
•Method of payment, in case of emergencies
 

We appreciate that the need for some items may seem unlikely, however we have to plan for your safety in an emergency

Medical Back-up – there is dedicated medical provision throughout the event. Due to the nature of the course, our medics may take some time to reach you. In a life threatening emergency, you should contact emergency services via 999

 

 

CHECKPOINTS

 

There are five checkpoints around the course at: 9.2km, 19.1km, 26km, 32.1km & 42.3km.

It is compulsory for you to check in even if you don’t need anything to eat or drink.

Cut-off Times - CP1 09:15 / CP2 11:10 / CP3 12:30 / CP4 13:40 / CP5 15:35 / FINISH 17:00

What to Eat? Each checkpoint will stock a selection of snack items including biscuits, sweets, raisins, crisps, savoury snacks and water to replenish your bottles with, along with cola & Active Root.  If you have any particular preferences, please see the 'Personal Nutrition' section below

No Cups – we will be not be providing plastic cups at the checkpoints. If you want to use a cup for cola etc., at the checkpoints, you’ll need to bring your own. Ultra Violet collapsible cups are available to purchase via the event entry page (£3) or on the morning  at race registration for (£5)

Personal Nutrition – available for checkpoints 3, 4 & 5 only. Put your food into sealed & labelled bags at home, before you arrive. Mark your race number and which checkpoints they should go to on each bag (CP3, CP4, CP5).  Drop at registration before 07:30 and it will be taken out to checkpoints on the course for you. 

 

Checkpoint Guidance –

•A tail-end runner will advise any participants if they are behind the cut off times; you are required to be self-sufficient if you have to retire from the event
•We are unable to return any personal items left at checkpoints
•Supporters should not come to the checkpoints, access is limited and required by the event team and medical staff

 

AT THE FINISH

 

Back at the Berkshire County Sports Club you’ll see our big pink Ultra Violet gantry. Cross the line and your result is automatically recorded.

You can then pick up your finishers medal & RRUM memento. There will be water, cola, Active Root & snacks to help yourself to.

Visit the sports club bar to collect your FREE finishers’ Ice Cream! You will need to show your race number.

The sports club bar will be open all day, offering a bar menu & drinks. They also have showers and changing facilities.

Results & Prizes – ‘live’ results will be online courtesy of our timers Rogue Racer. Prize winners will receive their awards by post shortly after race day.

Massage – available courtesy of Muscle & Mind for £20 for 20 minutes.