Event Manual 2017

The

Holy Island, Anglesey 23rd September 2017

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www.Loveswimrun.co.uk

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If you aren’t puffin you aren’t running

hard enough!

Who will win the Holy Trail Grail?!

Thank you for entering Love SwimRun - The Holy Trail 2017!Saturday 23rd September 2017

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Schedule of events

Friday 22nd September: Rhoscolyn village hall, LL65 2NJ18.00 - 19.30 Registration & compulsory kit check

Saturday 23rd September: Rhoscolyn village hall, LL65 2NJ07-00 - 08:30 Registration & compulsory kit check08:40 Compulsory race brief09:10 Board buses 09:55 Arrive at RSPB South Stack10:10 Race start 11:10 Expected first finisher12.25 Expected last finisher 11.45 Prize giving

RegistrationRegistration and kit check on Friday and Saturday take place at Rhoscolyn village hall. Please arrive as early as possible and bring your mandatory equipment with you - there is a compulsory kit check! You will not be allowed to register until you have completed the check. Registration closes Saturday 08.30. If you come on Friday eve there is a nice pub very close to the hall that is worth a visit too! The White Eagle.

Race briefingThere will be a compulsory race briefing before boarding the buses. Anyone who does not attend will not be allowed to start the race.

Entry feeThe Holy Trail entry fee includes:• Race number• Bus ride to start• Race timing• Way marked & marshalled course• 1st aid team• 2 food/water stations• Finishers medal• Post-event refreshments inc Wild Trail bar • Free event photos• A whole lot of fun!

Timing We will be using a timing system that does not require a chip to time your race. You will be issued with a race number that must be worn on your front and be visible at all times.

The Holy Trail 2017 Event Manual

Our Charity Partner – The Marine Conservation Society

We are so pleased to be supporting The Marine Conservation Society (MCS). The MCS is the UK’s leading charity for the protection of our seas, shores and wildlife. Our seas are under immense pressure: too many fish are being taken out, too much rubbish is being thrown in and too little is being done to protect marine wildlife and fish stocks.

Our UK seas and coasts are amongst the most diverse and beautiful on the planet, playing host to dolphins, sharks, whales and turtles. Over half of the UK’s wildlife resides within our seas and many other species such as sea birds rely on them for their survival.

Please help the MCS protect and conserve our precious marine wildlife by becoming a member or making a donation if you didn’t do so when signing up. Every little bit will help and every penny will go straight into helping to protect our seas.

Visit: www.mcsuk.org

Course overviewThe Holy Trail will take place on the west coast of Holy Island, Anglesey. The 15km linear course will involve a total of 15km running, approximately 70% off road. The route will take in some of Anglesey’s most stunning scenery including Southstack Lighthouse, beautiful cliff top runs with views of the mountains of Snowdonia and hidden beaches.

We will bus you to the start line and the course will be fully way-marked and will be marshalled. A map is not needed.

Terrain: The running sections are a mix of established gravel and grassy footpaths, road/pavement, beaches, rocks. Some areas will be muddy and slippery if it rains.

The Holy Trail 2017 Event Manual Course map

Food & Water stationsThere will be 2 water/food stations in the following locations:• Porth Dafach (Approx 6.5km into the course)• Porth Diana (Approx 11.1km into the course)On the 2 stations we will provide: Water, Isotonic drink, High5 gels, sweets, biscuits/flapjack, bananas, crisps. All will be suitable for vegetarians and vegans.

Remember we are plastic cup free so you will need to carry your own cup or hydration system for drinks at feed stations.

Finish locationThe race finish will be back at the village hall in Rhoscolyn. Spectators are very welcome! They can also use the free parking that is available close by.

Toilet facilities There are toilets at the start at Southstack cafe and at the end of swim 1 at Porth Dafarch. There are toilets you can divert to in Trearddur Bay but you’ll need 20p!

Changing facilitiesWe will set up gazebos to give you a space to get changed. There are also toilets cubicles in the hall - please use them respectfully and clean up any mess you make! There are no showers available but you can go and jump in the sea!

Bag dropThere will be a space for you to leave bags at registration. They are not guarenteed secure and you leave them at your own risk. Please do not leave valuable items in them as we cannot be held responsible for any losses. Prize givingWe will be awarding a bespoke wooden Holy Trail Grail, hand

Finish

Toilets

N

Start

Feed station

Feed station

made in Wales, to the first male and female runners. All finishers will receive an engraved wooden medal. RefreshmentsWe have arranged for mobile catering vans to be present at the start/finish area in Rhoscolyn. They will be serving hot drinks, cake and snacks and wood fired pizza. Vegan options available.

South Stack Nature Reserve is a very special place! There is a plant that grows here and no where else in the world called the South Stack fleawort. At the start look out for Puffins & Razorbill. As you run look out for Chough with their red beaks, the rarest crow family bird in the UK. There are just 300 nesting pairs. www.rspb.org.uk

The Holy Trail 2017 Event Manual

Kit listThere will be a mandatory equipment check at registration.

Mandatory equipment• Clean off road trail running shoes• Windproof or waterproof jacket• Mobile phone• Hydration pack, soft bottle or cup

This event will be plastic cup free in a bid to reduce waste and help care for the environment. Water and isotonic drink will of course be available at feed stations but you will need to carry your own bottle or cup. We recommend Salomon Soft Cup which can be brought at registration at a subsidised price of £3(RRP £8). These can be stashed inside a pocket.

Mandatory equipment that Love SwimRun will supply• Race number – must be worn on your front and be visible

at all times during the race

Emergencies, safety and medicalThe race will be supported by a team of land based marshals, a First Aid team with ambulance.

It is your responsibility to inform of us any medical conditions which we should know about before the race at registration if you have not already done so when entering.

If you become injured or require assistance please make your way to the nearest marshal/transition point. How to summon assistance will be described at the pre-race briefing. If you wish to withdraw mid-race, you must report this to us as early as possible. Please tell a marshal or call us on the numbers below. Please store them in your phone.If signal coverage is patchy a text message may work better.Chloe: 07791685269 Jonny: 07738288552

Rules and T&C’sLove SwimRun general rules and Terms and Conditions can be found at: www.loveswimrun.co.uk/the-holy-trail-race-rules/ Please read through these carefully.

All competitors must sign a document of “Release from Liability” at registration.

Use of headphones is prohibited.

The run course is open to normal traffic on road sections. Road traffic regulations must be strictly observed at all times.

For clarity, instant disqualification offences include:

• Littering: We rely on the goodwill of the landowners and local communities for this event to be possible. Litter is something they are all very sensitive about and we do not tolerate, including discarded kit!

• Dangerous or offensive behaviour: The course is on open public rights of way. Any disregard for other users or offensive behaviour, including being rude to race marshals will result in disqualification. Please be nice to marshals and other volunteers and thank them, they’ve given up their time to allow you to take part!

• Short cutting: You MUST stay on the marked route at all times. To gain permission to run this event we had to assure the land managers of the SSSI areas (see Bio Security) that all participants would run only on the designated coastal path route. This will be clearly marked for you. Sometimes the path takes what seems like the long way around an area, this is for good reason: to protect a fragile area or rare plant. Any competitor reported as leaving the marked path or short cutting a section will be disqualified. Breaking this rule will put the permission for future events in this area in jeopardy.

Nutrition PartnerOur partners Wild Trail are offering Love SwimRun entrants an exclusive discount on their healthy snack bars (with free UK delivery). Wild Trail’s tasty bars are made in Wales from just five natural ingredients and are nutritionally balanced to give you SIMPLE. OUTDOOR. ENERGY. Inspired by Snowdonia, all their bars are gluten and dairy free, no added sugar, vegetarian/vegan and high in fibre. To get your discount visit www.wildtrail.co.uk/shop and use the code LOVESWIMRUN at the checkout to receive 30% OFF!

30% Discount!

Bio Security: protecting our coastlineMuch of our route crosses designated Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI), Special Protection Areas and Special Areas of Conservation, recognised as being amongst the finest examples of vegetated sea cliffs, heathland and chough habitat in Europe. Some of the plants alongside the path are quite rare and vulnerable to trampling so please stay on the paths at all times.

Invasive non-native species (INNS) are also a threat to wildlife. These species can be transferred as seeds, plant fragments or even whole organisms carried on your shoes and can have huge detrimental implications if they take hold. They can out-compete native species, putting already threatened plants and wildlife at further risk. In order to prevent this, we ask that your shoes must be thoroughly cleaned in tap water before you come to kit check. On com-pletion of the event, please clean them in tap water again before using elsewhere.

Parking

The Holy Trail 2017 Event Manual

TravelBy car: From mainland take the A55 onto Anglesey. At junction 3, take A5 exit to Y Fali/Valley. At the roundabout, take 4th exit onto Holyhead Rd/A5. Go straight over the next roundabout to Valley. Left at cross roads onto B4545 and after crossing the Four Mile bridge turn left onto Maes Llety (signed to The White Eagle). Continue for 2km to reach Rhoscolyn. The hall is on the left as you enter the village. Use postcode LL65 2NJ in your Sat Nav.Public transport: The closest train station to Rhoscolyn is in Valley. Buses are very limited but it is a 4km walk.

Car Parking There is free parking provided in a field close to the church hall in Rhoscolyn. Please park considerately to allow as many people to fit in as possible. Please do not park on the roads or in the laybys through Rhoscolyn.

AccommodationSee our list of accommodation providers here.

Spectator infoSpectators are welcome at Love SwimRun events. There are plenty of good spots from which to support your friends. After seeing the race start at Southstack, we recommend that you drive to Trearddur to see the run across the beach and then drive back to Rhoscolyn to see the finish.

Contact usEmail: events@loveswimrun.co.ukCall: 07791685269Facebook: www.facebook.com/loveswimrunTwitter: @loveswimrun

Note: This manual is intended to be as comprehensive as possible, but the nature of the local weather, race course and the area it takes place in means that it is not possible to be 100% accurate on all matters. The important details are correct though. There will be a compulsory race briefing where any last minute changes will be brought to your attention. The organisers reserve the right to alter any element of the manual.

A55 Junction 3

Registration