RUNNER INSTRUCTIONS

Registration:
Registration takes place on Friday 22nd June 2012 between 9.00pm and 12.00 midnight at St Joseph’s RC Church Hall in Milngavie. The church hall is located across the road from Milngavie Station, where the race starts. At registration you will be given your race number - a wrist band, which should not be removed until you finish or withdraw from the race.

You will also be given your goody bag and any merchandise you have purchased, and will be asked to sign a disclaimer. You will be weighed and given your weighing card, which will need to be produced later at the weigh-in stations at Auchtertyre and Kinlochleven.

We would encourage those who are able to do so to register as early as practical, to help reduce congestion later in the evening.

The station car park can get very busy with race traffic. If you are unable to park there, additional parking should also be available in the nearby Tesco which remains open well into Friday evening.
Race briefing:

A short race briefing will take place near the start line at 12.30am.

Race numbers:
Race numbers will be posted on the website a few days before the race. If you would like to be allocated a special race number, please send details to ianbeattie@westhighlandwayrace.org and I will do my best to meet your request.

Race start:
The race will start at exactly 1.00am on Saturday 23 June from the start of the West Highland Way, at the bridge beside Milngavie station.

Checkpoints:
Each runner is required to check in at a number of checkpoints throughout the race.

The checkpoints and the cut-off times are as follows:

Balmaha (19miles) – 5hrs
Beinglas Farm (42miles) – 12hrs
Auchtertyre (51miles) – 15hrs
Bridge of Orchy (60miles) – 18hrs
Glencoe Ski Centre (71miles) – 23hrs
Kinlochleven (81miles) – 28hrs
Fort William (95miles) – 35hrs.

Any runner not reaching the checkpoint within the allocated time will be withdrawn from the race. All runners will be weighed at Milngavie, at Auchtertyre, and at Kinlochleven.

If a marshal is concerned about the condition of any runner, this will be referred to the Race Safety Officer, Sean Stone, the Race Doctor, Chris Ellis, or the Race Director, Ian Beattie. Sean, Chris or Ian will determine what action, if any, needs to be taken: this could include a variety of measures including, if considered appropriate, instructing your withdrawal from the race.

Such an instruction would only be given where it was considered necessary for your own safety, and would not be taken lightly. However it is a condition of entry that any such instruction must be followed, and the decision of the Race Safety Officer, Race Doctor or Race Director is final.

Split times will be taken at each of these checkpoints, so please make sure you give your race number clearly to the marshal. The checkpoint at Balmaha is the one that causes the most problems getting split times as the runners are closer together, so this year we will be operating a gate system (similar to a finishing funnel).

It will be located at the point just before you come into the car park from the forest off Conic Hill, and runners will have to go through it in single file. This should not delay you to any extent at all, but will help ensure we get accurate results.

Online updates and results:
We are aiming to update the West Highland Way website throughout the day with information, so please encourage your friends and supporters to have a look at it and follow your progress. If any runner or support team use Twitter you are asked to use the hash tag #whwrace. This will provide another way for friends of the race to follow from a distance.

Mandatory kit:
This year we are insisting that every runner carries a lightweight space blanket throughout the race. These only cost a couple of pounds from any outdoor shop, and could make a significant difference if you are unfortunate enough to have a fall, particularly if it is in a remote part of the trail.

We are also insisting that every runner carries a mobile phone, with the following emergency numbers programmed in to it:

Sean Stone, Race Safety Officer – 07768 642314
Ian Beattie, Race Director – 07939 535523

In the event of an emergency, Sean should be the first point of contact. He will then liaise with the Mountain Rescue team or other emergency services as appropriate. If contact cannot be made with Sean, Ian is the second point of contact.

There are other items of kit that you must have available if directed by a race official, although whether you need to carry them on the day will depend on the conditions at any particular time.

These include the following:

A head torch, with spare batteries;
Full body waterproof clothing;
A whistle.

Other recommended items include:

Harveys map of the West Highland Way
Small Rucsac/Bumbag or both
Towel (2)
Complete change of clothes (5)
Shoes (2)
Sunhat/Woolly Hat
Gloves
First Aid Kit
Insect Repellent
Blister Repair Kit
Water Bottles
Bladder and Drinking Tube
Skin Care
Suncream
Toilet Roll

Remember, conditions can vary considerably throughout the course of the race and it is better to carry too much kit in your support vehicle than find yourself short.

Dropbags:
There will be a facility for runners to leave dropbags for Rowardennan, Inversnaid and Beinglas Farm. Please ensure these drop bags are clearly marked with your race number, and take them to the marked vehicle at the start at Milngavie Station. It will not be possible to return the contents of and drop bag to you after the race.
Litter and general behaviour:

The West Highland Way is a route of outstanding beauty, and we try to ensure our race is well regarded by the West Highland Way rangers, by those living near the route, and by other users. To this end please make sure you do not drop any litter anywhere on the route, but that you carry it with you to the next checkpoint. Please also show consideration for walkers and other users, and try to remain quiet when passing houses during the night in the early stages of the race.

Area from the top of Loch Lomond to Crianlarich:
Parking in the area between the top of Loch Lomond and Crianlarich is very limited, and we have had problems in previous races with businesses and landowners in that area. For that reason, and as the race has become bigger, we have had to introduce a rule that prohibits any support crew from meeting their runner on this part of the route.

Under no circumstances should Support Crew teams park at the Drovers Inn, Beinglas Farm, Derrydarroch Farm or Carmyle Cottage, or indeed anywhere else on the A82 between Inverarnan and Crianlarich. This will be strictly enforced, and any breach could lead to your disqualification, so please make sure that your support crew are aware of this rule.

The first checkpoint after this section is at Auchtertyre Farm, where parking is available. It is also possible to park in Crianlarich, walk for a mile of so up the hill, and meet your runner at the point the West Highland Way comes in to Bogle Glen.

Support crew:
It is a condition of entry that all runners must have motorised back up for the full duration of the event. Up until Auchtertyre you need at least one crew member, and from Auchtertyre onwards you need a crew of at least two people, one of whom must be capable of accompanying you during the last two stages if required.

You are required to provided details of your support crew by completing the form at the following link:
http://www.8020it.co.uk/westhighlandway/?page_id=2

This form needs to be completed and submitted by 9 June. You will not be allowed to take part in the event unless these details have been provided.

If there are any changes to your support crew details after you have completed the form, please e-mail the details to ianbeatttie@westhighlandwayrace.org

The Support Crew must meet their runner at each Checkpoint, except for the checkpoint at Beinglas Farm where no crew are allowed. It is the Support Crew's responsibility to ensure your safety between Checkpoints, and they must be prepared to look for you if you do not check in at a Checkpoint.

Runners who leave a checkpoint more than 4 hours after the overall race leader are welcome to be accompanied by a support runner/runners, from Auchtertyre onwards. The check point marshals will advise on whether a runner is able to have a support runner.

A more detailed guide for the Support Crew has been prepared and is attached to this e-mail. Please ensure that all members of your Support Crew read this and understand the full extent of their responsibilities.

Food and refreshments:
A number of businesses on the route have kindly agreed to open their premises and provide facilities for support crews. The Oak Tree Inn in Balmaha will be open from around 3am and will offer hot breakfast rolls, as well as the use of their toilet facilities. There is a café / shop at Auchtertyre Farm. The Real Food Café in Tyndrum will be open for most of Saturday. The cafe at Glencoe Ski Centre will stay open late on the Saturday night to serve food. We are very grateful for the help of these businesses; please support them if you can.

The finish:
The race finish is at the door to Lochaber Leisure Centre in Fort William. The Leisure Centre is about 0.2 miles beyond the roundabout as you come in to Fort William, on the left hand side of the road. At the finish your time will be taken and you will be weighed. Showers are available for runners and crew (this will be badly needed!), and facilities are available to make tea and coffee.

Race merchandise:
There is a race merchandise order form attached to this e-mail. Please complete this and return it to Adrian Stott, as per the instructions on the form. You should note that all runners will receive a race garment and a buff in their goody bag.

Prizegiving:
The prizegiving will take place in the Nevis Centre, Fort William at 12 noon on Sunday 24th June 2012. Please try and attend – it is a great occasion where every finisher is presented with his or her hard earned goblet, and helps continue the great ‘family’ feel of the event. If you are unable to attend, please let a marshal at the finish know and we will arrange for you to take your goblet away with you.

For those staying in Fort William, there will be the chance to meet up for drinks and some food on the Sunday evening.

Withdrawal from the race:
If you need to withdraw from the race, please notify this by e-mail to ianbeattie@westhighlandwayrace.org . Anyone notifying their withdrawal on or before 31 May 2012 will be given a refund of £55. No refunds will be given for withdrawals notified after that date.

2013 Race:
The entry procedure for the 2013 race will be the same as this year, with entries open throughout November 2012.