2016 Tour de Ridges newsletter
Note: No entries accepted after 5pm Friday. No on the day entries accepted.
Canberra’s annual Tour de Ridges 21.2km, 15.3km and 10.6 km trail runs and 15.3km and 10.6 km walks are coming up this Sunday, 18 December 2016.
1. Start/finish at the Mawson Sportsfields off Beasley St, Mawson. Start times are:
6.30am 21.2 km run and 15.3 km walk. 7.15am 15.3 km run. 7.30am 10.6 km out and back run and walk. Compulsory pre-race briefing 10 minutes before each start.
Please arrive AT LEAST 35 MINUTES before your start time. On arrival for the 21k run and 15k walk head to the far end of the car park off Beasley St and park close together as we have well over 200 entries and the carpark will fill up. I would appreciate 2 volunteers fr5om the early arrivals to assist in directing car parking.
2. We are very pleased to have Martin Fryer providing FlyerUltra Timing. You will have timing chip race bibs and your results will go live to the internet.
MARTIN’S INSTRUCTIONS
Bib Pick up Protocol
Bib pickup procedure on the day will be self-serve but there will be helpers available to check you off the online start list as you collect your own envelope.
Bibs will be placed in A5 envelopes with your name and event and bib number on a label for confirmation.
Collect your bib envelope from the appropriate table as described below
Check that the details on the label are correct and that the bib number in the envelope is the same as on the label- if not please see Martin Fryer at the race timing table.
Once you have taken your bib out and picked up pins please recycle the envelope in the boxes provided to reduce wastage and to encourage recycling.
There will be two tables for bib pick up:
Table 1:
6.30 am start race numbers (21K Run, 15.3 K Walk bib numbers combined)
* Sorted alphabetically by Last Name (surname)
* Split over 3 boxes: A to I, J to R, S to Z
Table 2:
7.15 am start race numbers (15.3K Run)
* Sorted alphabetically by Last Name (surname)
* Split over two boxes: A-M and N-Z
7.30 start race numbers(10.6K Run and 10.6K Walk bib numbers combined)
* Sorted alphabetically by surname
* One box only
Bib Mounting Instructions
Bibs for chip timing must be mounted on the front of the torso only, oriented correctly(landscape), and pinned securely. Bibs should not be covered by packs or belts and should be clearly visible at the finish for manual backup and confirmation of electronic chip reads.
Please try to stay away from the timing mats during your pre-race warm up!
Start Protocol
A briefing will be given10 minutes before each event is due to start. The start line will be defined by 2 cones placed approximately 20m before the start confirmation/finish timing mat. Please ensure after starting that you cross the 4m wide timing mat so that we have a start confirmation for you.
Finish Protocol
After crossing the timing mat at the finish please do not stop but continue walking another 30m or so through to the Finish Table where you should take off your bib, scan it at the computer there to display your result, and then place the bib in the lucky draw box. There will be helpers available for marshalling you to the finish table and to help you with the result check and also marking your name off the starting list.
Please do not forget to take your bib off. You are welcome to cheer others on at the finish as long as you are not wearing or carrying a bib near the mats.
Live Results
Live results will be available on any device with Web access (smartphone, tablet, PC) via the following link which will be placed on AMRA website: http://my3.raceresult.com/64884/results?lang=en
Your finish time recorded will be the gun time- ie time when you crossed the finish mat minus the start time at the start cones.
Online Finisher’s Certificate
When you access the Web result if you click on your name in any Results List a pop up box with a downloadable/printable Finisher’s Certificate will be available for you.
-
Maps
Maps of the 3 courses are on the Australian Mountain Running Association website in the Event Management portal at http://www.mountainrunning.coolrunning.com.au/modules/EventManagement/2013%20Tour%20de%20Ridge%20courses.pdf
At Drink Station 2 in Isaacs Ridge reserve, 15.3k participants turn left and start heading back via an underpass under Yamba Drive while 21.2k runners do a large figure 8 circuit in Isaacs ridge reserve before heading back.
The 10.6k course is a simple out and back run on the fire trail behind Farrer and Isaacs to Drink Station 3 in Isaacs reserve. This is the route of the final 5.3kms of the 21.2k course.
4. Weather
The weather forecast for Sunday morning is near perfect: fine, only a slight chance of a shower, 9 degrees at 6.30am warming up to only 22 degrees at midday. http://www.bom.gov.au/act/forecasts/canberra.shtml Please check forecast updates later in the week.
5. Drink stations
There are drink stations at regular intervals with water and Gatorade. Please stay well hydrated. Please drink the water and don’t pour it over your head as it may run out. Douse your head in water before the start. You will be running in Canberra nature park. Please leave cups at the drink stations and don’t drop them in the bush along the way and don’t drop any other rubbish such as Gel wrappers.
6. Parking and toilets
There is plenty of car parking adjacent to the start/finish at the sports fields. There are toilets in the toilet block on your right as you drive in. However, arrive in plenty of time to avoid a long toilet queue just before the start, to get your race bib and to be at the start line 10 minutes before the start for a briefing. There may be 250 competitors and limited public toilets (2 toilets in the ladies loo, and a single toilet and urinal in the men’s loo). There are public toilets outside Woolworths at the Mawson shopping centre only 400m away.
7. Presentations
Will be held at about 9am for the 10k and 9.50am for the 15k and 21k participants. There will be prizes for the first 3 male and female place getters in each of the running races, and lots of barrel draw prizes with a Christmas theme. You must be present to win and placegetters will not be eligible for a barrel draw prize. At the finish there will be breakfast bars, drinks, and other things to eat.
8. Shoes and hazards
A couple of sections of the course (off Farrer hill and Wanniassa Hills ridge) have steep downhills on rough or loose surfaces. Please take particular care on these; above all ensure you are wearing trail running shoes or other running with good grip.
9. Wildlife
A. There is a very slight chance of seeing a snake from mid-morning onwards as the day gets warmer. If you see one on the trail, stop and let it slither off into the grass.
Please read the section on first aid for snake bite in the following: http://www.anaes.med.usyd.edu.au/venom/snakebite.html In summary, if bitten, stop still, firmly bandage the affected area (use your running singlet) and get the next runner on the course to seek urgent assistance for you.
B. There are many kangaroos in the reserves. Rangers are concerned that runners may disturb the kangaroos and lead to them hopping on to road ways and causing traffic accidents and fatalities to the roos themselves. Please minimise disturbance to the kangaoos.
10. Bring your own post race water bottle
Soft drink and sports drink will be provided at the finish. It would be appreciated if you can bring your own water bottles as the organisers trailer cannot hold the weight of several water containers in addition to all of the other gear.
11. Have a good time
The Tour de Mountain was first held 17 years ago as a scenic, social pre-Christmas trail run. Usually there are some finishers each year who comment that it is one of the best runs they have ever done. So please enjoy yourself.
The course changed a few years ago from a start/finish at Mawson shops when the shopping centre and the roads became too busy. However, the shopping centre, with several coffee shops, is close by if you want to get together with friends post run.
John Harding
Race Director
Australian Mountain Running Association