Thames Meander Marathon & Half – March

• Bespoke Thames Meander bespoke medal.
• Winners’ trophies for the 1st, 2nd & 3rd Male / Female runners for each event.
• Race Director Chip Timing, free race certificate and net chip times sent directly to your mobile after the race.
• Sports Action Photography with an option to purchase the race photo’s.
• Well stocked Aid Stations supplying Tailwind, Chia Charge Bars, jelly babies, pretzels, bananas, coca cola, fruit cordial and water.
• Cue Medical professional medical support through the race for all runners.

The race HQ is the YMCA Hawker Centre, Lower Ham Road, Kingston-Upon-Thames, KT2 5BH.

Registration at YMCA HQ from 7.30am sharp so get there with plenty of time to spare in order to get changed and get your baggage secured in the designated area. There will also be tear off Tyvek baggage tags that correspond numerically with your colour coded race numbers on the day, so please ensure that these are tagged onto your bag when you hand your bag to the baggage marshal. When you collect your race bags you will need to show your race bib number for security purposes, in order to collect your bag. Event organiser does not accept liability for any loss of personal possessions but there will be someone in charge of the baggage. There are no parking spaces for runners at the YMCA HQ, so you will need to go straight to the Seven Kings Carpark, Sury Basin,Kingston Upon Thames, KT2 5ND this is a multi story car-park and from here you can walk along the Thames Path from Kingston Bridge, through Canbury Gardens to the YMCA HQ and it’s literally a 1 mile walk.

The start time for the marathon is at 10.00am sharp and 10.30am sharp for the half marathon, at the YMCA Hawker Centre HQ (Kingston) and both events will finish back the HQ, with the intention of the staggered starts being to ease the congestion on the Thames Path trail.

Mandatory 10 minute pre-race briefing at the start, just to talk through the course conditions and health and safety.

Are there changing facilities, showers and toilets?

The race YMCA HQ has adequate changing facilities for both male / female runners. In addition there will be shower facilities for runners wanting to freshen up post-race, though we would ask you to be courteous if someone is waiting for a shower. The same applies to the toilet facilities which will be adequate, as there will be a number of toilets inside the YMCA (clearly marked) and in addition there are numerous portable toilets that will be positioned on the sports field at the front of the YMCA. Again please understand that your fellow runners may also require urgent calls of nature pre-race too.

Where will the aid stations/marshals be for both courses out and back?

Aid Station 1 YMCA HQ start / finish

Aid Station 2 Petersham fields

Aid Station 3 Kew Gardens car park (half marathon turnaround)

Aid Station 4 Barnes Bridge (marathon runners only)

Aid Station 5 Barn Elms Boat Club (marathon turnaround point)

*Additional marshals will be positioned at Canbury Gardens (far side) for the marathon turning point and just past the Boaters Arms Public House for the half marathon turning point.

What will we get at the aid stations?

At the 5 Check Points including the Start / Finish, Petersham Fields, Kew Gardens Car Park, Barnes Bridge and Barn Elms Boat Club will have a selection of food / drinks including Torq Energy Electrolyte drink, Chia Charge bars, dates, crisps, banana’s, water and fruit cordial. I would recommend you bringing a hydration pack so that you can carry your electrolyte drinks in a bladder / bottles and to ensure you can carry electrolytes and food that you’ll need for your race.

Where do I discard my litter?

There will be plastic pop-up bins provided at all the Aid Stations for your water cups / gel sachets to be discarded. We would urge you not to discard any litter on the Thames Path trail please. The marshals will take any litter from you too, so please just keep it until you get to a marshal, or use the bins provided.

How will the course be marked?

Marking the course with fixed Hermes Running pink / black chevron signage throughout the run-route and using fixed “Caution Runner” yellow / black signage on the Lower Ham Road section of the course. You will be directed to run along the pavement to the left hand side of this road on the way out, and on the right hand side again on the pavement on the way back, but please take extra care when crossing this road section, this road will be manned by our marshals too.

Will the course be chip timed?

Chip Timing will be provided by Chris Mills from the Race Director RFID timing you will be issued with your race number containing your electronic timing chip which is at the back of the race bib Registration on the day. The provisional results will be recorded initially and will be pinned to a notice board directly by the race start / finish, but please note that these will only be provisional and will be subject to final verification.Your race results will be sent though to you via the mobile number you provided at the point of registration and will be uploaded to the website directly after the event has taken place, via embedded links at the bottom of my homepage.

What happens if I have to drop out?

If you are feeling unwell and need to retire from the race, please contact David Ross 0798 4540177 or Phillip Howells 0780 226 0906. You can also inform a marshal or a first aider and they will pass on the message. Please on no account leave the course without informing someone of your whereabouts as your safety is the main priority. Contact numbers will be printed on the front of the race bib if needed and you should make sure to complete your emergency contact information too at the back of your race bibs.

Is there a limit to the number of entries for each distance?

There is an on-line entry limit of 700 runners inclusive for the full / half marathons, although the event organiser may additionally be accepting some entries on the day on a discretionary basis.

Will there be race photography and when will this be available?

Yes, the photography will be done by Edward Thomas from Sports Action Photography and the race photos will be available to purchase shortly after the race has taken place.

When will prizes be awarded after each race?

Winners trophies will be awarded to the top three male / female runners for each race distance and these will be handed out straight after the top three runners have completed their respective races.

What level of medical support can i expect on race day?

Qualified medics managed by Kevin Peach from Cue Medical will be providing professional medical support on race day. Your safety is of paramount importance and if you’re feeling unwell prior to or on race day you are strongly urged not to run. If you have to retire from the race due to feeling unwell please ensure that you notify a medic or marshal so that you can be looked after. Contact numbers are clearly displayed on your race bibs for this reason.

Can MP3 Players/iPods be used whilst running this race?

The use of MP3 Players / iPod’s is banned as there are some busy road crossing sections on all courses and in addition there is a duty of care to maintain relationships with members of the public that use these trails. Your heath and safety is of primary concern so please do not wear these devices as you’ll be DQ’d if you contravene these rule.

Are there race permits for this event and is it an official qualifying race for big events?

The race is fully TRA (Trail Running Association) and UKA (UK Athletics) permit certified, fully chip timed and is this respect we have all the necessary indemnifications in place required for these to be officially recognised events. The marathon can be used for Good For Age (GFA) qualification for the London Marathon and as a pre-qualification event for the Comrades Ultra Marathon (South Africa).