Grand Union Challenge Manual

The Challenge Manual
www.grandunionchallenge.com
Welcome to the
Grand Union
Challenge 2014
This ‘Challenge Manual’ should provide
you with a complete guide to the 2014
Challenge and will contain all the
information you will need in order to
effectively prepare yourself for the event.
Please read it carefully and refer back to
it as you get ready for the Grand Union
Challenge 2014.
Contents
Twilight
on the ch
allenge…
.
cape….
Britain's Great Es
2. The Challenge
3. Walking vs. Running
4. What's Included
4. The Start & Finish of the
Challenge
5. Route & Support
6. Safety
The Challenges
For the Grand Union Challenge 2014, we have done
our best to give you the opportunity to complete the
challenge in any way you like. Whether it be as a
runner, walker, 25 km, 50 km or 100 km, we have
tried to make every option available to you. So
please see below for an overview of all the different
ways you can take on the Grand Union Challenge.
Once you have read the information, if you feel you
would like to attempt the challenge in a different way
to the one you have already selected, please
contact a member of the Action Challenge team,
info@grandunionchallenge.com
Running vs. Walking
The Grand Union Challenge 2014 broadly consist of
2 categories of participants. These are ‘runners’ or
‘walkers’ for the purposes of on-event
logistics/start.
2
www.granduionchallenge.com
Runners
Runners are participants who have specifically
signed up as such. There are five potential events
for the runners, the entire 100 km challenge,
either half of the 100 km course as a 50 km
challenge or the 1st and 3rd 25 km.
Runners should aim to complete the 100 km
Challenge in less than 15 hours. This category is
for people who are likely to have completed at
least one marathon before and are keen long
distance runners.
The 50 km running challenge is aimed to be
completed in less than 7 hours. Participants can
select to do either half of the 50 km course, (either
London to Watford or Watford to London).
The 25 km running challenge is aimed to be
completed in less than 3 hours. Participants can
select to do either the first 25 km (London to
Cowley) or the 3rd 25 km option (Watford to Tring)
All runners will start before the walkers
Jogging
For those of you who are planning on Jogging
parts of the challenge, but will perhaps not make
it within the required 15hr time frame to be
classified as a runner, we recommend remaining
as a walker on your registration. If you do later feel
that it may be more appropriate to classify yourself
as a runner, we can always change your
registration over to reflect this.
However if you are planning on jogging the
challenge please be aware, that you may well
finish the challenge before the trains are running
in the morning, which may make it difficult for you
to exit the event. In that case you may want to
consider either being collected from the finish line,
or perhaps booking some accommodation in the
area.
Walkers
After the runners have started their challenge, the
walkers will be released in 15 minute time slots
throughout the rest of the morning. Participants
can select which hour they would like to start in
upon registration (subject to availability) and will
be designated their 15 minute window a few
weeks before the event. If ‘walkers’ find they are
quicker than they anticipated and complete the
challenge in sub 15 hours by jogging a bit here
and there – that’s fine, however they should still
class themselves as walkers.
3
There are a variety of different options for the
walkers on the challenge (see below for details)
1. 50 km vs. 100km
The first decision for any walker to make before
they register is whether they are going to take part
in the 50 km or 100 km event. The 100 km
challenge is just over 60 miles and the aim is to
complete the course in 24 hrs. This involves
walking through both the day and night to get from
London to Bletchley. The event is difficult and you
will need to train for it in order to stand a good
chance of completing the course.
The 50 km event is just over a marathon and the
aim is to complete the challenge in 12 hrs. This
event is still very difficult and a base level of
fitness would be required to complete the course.
There are several different options for the 50 km
distance on the Grand Union Challenge.
2. 50 km London to Watford/ Watford to
Bletchley
For the 50 km option if you want to complete the
walk in the day light you will have the option to
either walk the first leg of the course, from London
to Watford or the second half of the course from
Watford to Bletchley. Whether you have
completed one half already and want to do the
rest of the 100 km course in two stages or simply
prefer the scenery in one particular location, the
choice is yours.
3. 50 km Watford – Bletchley; Day or
Night Walk
New for 2013, we will also be offering you the
chance to do the 50 km course as a night walk.
This will start before midnight on Saturday 14th
September and see you walking through the night
from Watford to Bletchley. If you are looking
something a little bit different, this could be the
option for you!
4. 25 km Walk – London to Cowley
/Cowley to Watford/ Watford to Tring /
Tring to Bletchley.
We have also added four 25 km options to the
Grand Union Challenge, which is aimed is a great
opportunity for friends and family to give part of
the challenge a go, without taking on the full
distance. For those looking for a great day out, but
perhaps not quite ready for the full distance, this
is a great way to experience trekking at its best.
www.granduionchallenge.com
The Start and Finish of
the Challenge
The Start Line (At all locations)
On the morning of the challenge all participants
will be expected to register at the start of the
challenge, to collect their event pass, maps and
other items before the event. We recommend
arriving at least 30 minutes before your start time
in order to make sure you have plenty of time to
register before your start window and check your
bag in to be transferred if applicable.
What’s Included in Your
Challenge
25 km – If you are doing a 25 km challenge you
are provided with:
● Event pack at registration.
● Teas and Coffees at the start of the
challenge.
● Energy snacks & drinks at 12.5 km
● Finishers BBQ on completion of the
challenge, a medal & a finishers t-shirt.
50 km – If you are doing the 50 km challenge you
are provided with:
● Event pack at registration.
● Teas and Coffees at the start of the
challenge.
● A mid-point meal stop where you are
provided with the option to purchase lunch
or provide your own packed lunch.
● Snacks & drinks at 12.5 km & 37.5 km
● Then a finishers BBQ on completion of the
challenge, a medal and a finishers t-shirt.
100 km – If you are doing the 100 km challenge
you are provided with:
● Event pack at registration.
● Teas and Coffees at the start of the
challenge.
● A mid-point meal stop at 25 km where you
are provided with the option to purchase
lunch or provide your own packed lunch.
● Snacks & drinks every 12.5 km
● Two further hot meal stops which are
included in the cost of your registration.
● Then a finishers BBQ on completion of the
challenge, a medal and a finishers t-shirt.
4
The Start in London
Available at the start of the challenge will be a
charity village, a corporate hospitality tent, access
to refreshments such as tea and coffee, as well as
hot food. There will also be toilet facilities, an area
to warm up for the event and medics on hand
should you need them.
The Finish Line (At all locations)
There will be a complimentary shuttle service from
the finish locations to the local train station, during
the hours in which the trains are running. There
will also be a finishers meal for participants and
food and drinks available for purchase by friends
and family.
We encourage participants to get collected from
the finish by supporters where possible. You will
be extremely tired, physically exhausted and will
most likely want to get home as quickly as and
comfortably as possible. Shuttle services to the
station will be dependent on when coaches
become full, so my involve some hanging around.
However there will be a medical team, masseurs
and a quiet zone at the finish so that participants
can rest and relax after the event.
www.granduionchallenge.com
Summary of Route &
Navigation Aids
The total 100 km course is split into 4 stages of
approximately 25 km each. Overall, the route
follows the canal towpath, with only the first initial
section along road. The route selection criteria take
in to account safety, scenery and accessibility.
Please ensure you are familiar with and adhere to
both the Countryside and Highway Code.
The route will be posted to the participant area as a
PDF document, a GPX file, and KML file (for use on
Google Earth and Google Maps). Google Map
Links will also be posted so that participants can
access the entire route, and you will also be handed
a hard copy of the route on the morning of the
challenge.
The route will be clearly signed with PINK
ARROWS (which are directional) and PINK
RIBBONS (non- directional - that mean you are on
the right route), with WHITE GLOW STICKS also
during the night time. In the outskirts of
villages/towns this signage may become harder to
spot, so please familiarise yourselves with the route
before the Challenge, and have the Route Map with
you and track your progress on it so you are aware
of your assumed location. It is your responsibility
not to get lost!
Support
In order to facilitate your challenge and ensure
your safety, our team will support you in a number
of ways throughout the event. All Event Staff will
be easily identifiable in high visibility vests. These
include:
Event Managers, Coordinators – Responsible
for the set up and operational management of
each Rest Stops and Mid-Points on route. There
is also a Route Management Team responsible
for ensuring signage stays in place and monitoring
participant progress, and you are likely to meet
them en route.
Medics – At Action Challenge we take safety very
seriously. There will be medics available at all
Rest Stops and Mid-Point Stops in the first aid
zone, as well as mobile medics in rapid response
vehicles for emergencies, injuries and accidents.
Medics vary from first aid qualified staff, nurses,
paramedics and doctors. The latter checkpoints
will also have a limited number of
massage/sports/physiotherapist reserved for
those who need it as determined by our event
medics staff available.
Pace Walkers– Along the course we will have
official marshals who will run or walk sections of
the course in a supporting role. Their jobs are to
motivate, encourage as well as advise the control
room of any new hazards that should develop
along the route. The size of the event means that
we cannot guarantee that all participants would
have the opportunity to walk/run with marshals if
desired (again a good reason for Individuals to
team up with others).
5
www.granduionchallenge.com
Retiring from the Challenge
If you need to exit / drop-out from the event at any stage, please inform the Event Staff. Any participant
who drops out at a Rest Stop or Midpoint from 50 km onwards will be able to take a coach / minibus
transfer to the nearest station (if during train station operational times) or the next Rest Stop (if dropping
out at a Mid-Point only) with greater facilities. Prior to the 50 km rest stop it will be your responsibility to
make your own way back, unless it is an emergency situation. There are train stations en route.
Taxis can be organised for you from the ‘site info point’ at any time at any stop. If you feel like just dropping
out between stops you should call a Taxi, get a train / bus, or arrange to be picked up.
The Event will have cut off departure times from each Rest Stop/Mid-Points based on the 30 hour upper
end time for the 100 km challenge. If anyone fails to meet these cut off times, then Action Challenge, the
Organiser, reserves the right to withdraw participants from the event.
Emergency Procedures & The Control Room.
Based in our London office, the control room oversees the management and coordination of the event.
They are the ‘eyes in the sky’ and the voice on the phone. All emergency and non - emergency calls are
fielded through the central control room. If you find yourself in trouble, lose your way or have any questions
at all our team are on hand throughout the entire duration of the Challenge. The Control room is in constant
contact with all members of the Action Challenge team and will dispatch staff out to come and get you
should you require it!
Contact details will be provided in the Route Packs issued at registration – and remember - bring a fully
charged mobile phone and use it only for essential communication, and put the control room
contact details in it, as you might need them!
Finally….
The Challenge Manual is designed to be your base guide for the Grand Union Challenge and to be read in
conjunction with the rest of the material on the Participants Area of the website. This information will be
updated constantly throughout the lead up to the challenge. Please keep returning to check for updates
and also note down any key dates you will need.
If you have any questions in relation to this guide or anything to
do with the challenge, please feel free to email us at
info@grandunionchallenge.com or call 0207 609 6695.
6
www.granduionchallenge.com