Bush Capital Bush Marathon Festival update

Bush Capital Bush Marathon Festival newsletter 1: Monday 15 July 2013


1.       Venue for both days: Campbell High School

This year the venue for both days is Campbell High School sports field, corner of Limestone Ave and Treloar Cres, Campbell, with the event courses in Mt Ainslie and Mt Majura reserves. It became apparent many weeks ago that the legal challenges to the annual kangaroo management activities in Goorooyarroo and Mulligans Flat reserves would mean that these reserves would not be available for the half marathon, marathon and ultra run on 21 July. So a contingency half marathon course in Mt Ainslie and Mt Majura reserves was developed and is being used on Sunday. It features some of the most scenic parts of those reserves but has more hills. Once the Canberra Centenary Trail opens in October, there may be some exciting alternatives for 2014.

2.       Event program
See full event details by clicking on Event Details at https://www.registernow.com.au/secure/Register.aspx?ID=9547


SATURDAY  20 July 2013

9.00am  16km bush run and 16km bush walk

12.00pm            Under 13 years 2km children’s run; 5km and 10 km walks

12.30pm            10km run

12.35pm            5km run
Note: Because of a small number of entries, the start for the 5km and 10km walks has been moved from 11am to 12 noon so they finish with the 5km and 10 km runners. 

SUNDAY  21 July 2013

7.30am             63.3km ultra run and relay (triple half marathon)

8.30am             42.2km bush marathon run, walk and relay; half marathon walk

9.30am             21.1km bush half marathon run

3.       Arrival time for your event
It is recommended that you aim to arrive 45 minutes prior to your start time to allow sufficient time to find a parking sport, walk to the start/finish area, (collect a pre-ordered race T shirt or purchase one), warm up, visit a portaloo, and attend the compulsory pre-start briefing 5 minutes before each start.

 

4.       Weather update (see http://www.weatherzone.com.au/act/act/canberra)
The current weather forecast for Saturday and Sunday is
Saturday:  Cold and windy with a 70% chance of a shower of less than 1 mm of rain. Temperature range 2 to 7 degrees.
Sunday:  A frost then sunny with a slight chance of rain, windy. Minus 1 to 8 degrees.
Please bring appropriate clothing both to run or walk in, and to change into afterwards. Such as beanie, gloves, and a windproof lightweight water proof jacket.
Will the events each day still be on if it is raining? Yes, unless there are severe weather conditions. Such conditions, such as heavy rain, usually do not last long. So there may be a delay in the race starts as a first option. 

5.       Race numbers and T shirt orders
Race numbers have been posted to all people entered to date but make take a few days to arrive in the mail. If your chest number does not turn up in the post, a replacement can be provided at the registration tent. T shirts ordered can only be collected from the registration tent on race day. A limited number of high quality Coolmax T shirts will be on sale for $35 (please assist by having correct money).
Race numbers for all runners and walkers must be worn on the front of the chest clothing and clearly visible as you approach the finish line, to assist the finish line recorder and to assist if a time is missed or some other recording mishap. 

6.       Pre event injuries and ill health
Each year some runners start the events with pre-existing injuries which they managed by taking pain killers pre-start and while out on the course. The Sports Medicine Australia attendants have said that this is extremely dangerous, both to health and to masking pain from an impending stress fracture or muscle or ligament failure. Please DO NOT START in these circumstances. 
You can also swap to a shorter distance or do one of the bush walks if those are manageable within the constraints of the injury. 

7.       Having a bad day on the day
If you are doing one of the longer events on Sunday, you can cut short and just complete a shorter event and go in the results for that event. However, you must advise the finish recorder you have done this.

8.       Toilets
There will be 3 portaloos just near the start/finish.

9.       Parking
We do not want to upset the War Memorial by filling up its car park. Alternatives include the Campbell High School car park, Euree St, Reid only 100m from the registration area, Treloar Crescent, and the CSIRO carpark off Limestone Avenue.

10.   Campbell High School security system
Please do not walk close to the building as this will set off the security alarm.  

11.   Start arrangements
All competitors in each event must be at the start line 5 minutes before the start for a compulsory pre-race briefing. This is a compulsory requirement in respect of the event risk management procedures agreed by the ACT government approval agencies.

12.   Finish arrangements

STEP 1: There will be a finish shute funnelling you to a finish recording tent. In that tent you must go to the finish recorder for your event and have your chest number recorded. If you have timed yourself with a GPS or stopwatch device, please advise your time to the recorder if there is not a significant queue. This helps double check times.

STEP 2: Take off your chest number and go to the Registration tent, hand in your chest number and collect your race mug .
STEP 3: You can get a muesli bar or chocolate bar and a cup of soft drink or sports drink from a table near the finish area. If you are on a gluten-free diet, there will be a box of gluten free muesli bars available.

Water: Providing sufficient water for hundreds of runners at the finish in addition to soft drink and sports drink is a major logistical problem. If you are a Canberra local, can you please assist by bringing your own water bottle. Thank you.

13.   Results processing

The Bush Capital Bush Marathon Festival is wholly organised by volunteers who have real jobs and are doing this in their spare time. We try to keep entry fees low and do not hire an electronic chip company for timing. However, this means it can take a couple of days to process and double check the results before publishing the results as a news announcement on the website www.mountainrunning.coolrunning.com.au  Please be patient.

14.   Out on the courses
Nearly all of each of the courses is within Canberra Nature Park. As a condition of access, Park Management has requested that runners and walkers do not drop empty cups or empty gels or other rubbish along the way, and that all such material is left in the garbage bags at each drink station. 

15.   Photography
Photographers will be taking photos of as many participants as possible. These will be published afterwards in online photo albums and some will be published in Run For Your Life magazine and similar magazines. If you do not want your photo published, please let me know your name and chest number to ensure it is deleted. 

16.  Looking for race accommodation?

The Canberra Mercure Hotel is located 300m from the race start at the junction of Limestone Ave and Ainslie Avenue. The Hotel is offering a special discount accommodation deal for Bush Capital Bush Marathon Festival participants and families:

Superior King/Twin Room – Maximum 2 Adults $165 room only per room per night

Deluxe Loft Room – 2 Adults & 2 Children – $185 Room Only per room per night

To get these rates you need to quote the following code when booking: BUSHMARATHON

Phone number for bookings: (02) 6243 0012

 

17.  VIP participants
In this Centenary year for Canberra it is most pleasing that Chief Minister Katy Gallagher and Territory and Municipal Services Minister Shane Rattenbury are supporting the Bush Capital Bush Marathon Festival by participating, Katy in the 16 km and Shane in the marathon. Please make them most welcome.

18.  Do you have friends who would like to participate?

Please encourage them to register online as soon as possible at https://www.registernow.com.au/secure/Register.aspx?ID=9547

 

19.   Helpers

More helpers are needed on both days. If you can help, click on the Volunteer form on www.mountainrunning.coolrunning.com.au

Finally, enjoy yourself and have a good time.

John Harding
Race Director
Australian Mountain Running Association