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One for the runners

I’ve done many of these events (although not with this company) and they are normally well run events with staggered starts depending on proposed finish times.
The secret is having a wide start for about 1 mile and then a pinch point to spread out the field, that works well and is how they normally do fell runs in the lakes.
7500k will be the total for both races and by the time the Half starts the 10k will just about ending so most on the course at one time will be about 4000.

Anyone thinking they are not fit enough now has more than enough time to get themselves in shape before November, time to get that COVID belly put to bed.
 
AT86 said:
It costs around £100,000 to hire the park for the day I believe, so at £34pp they will need around 3000 people. Plus they need to cover the additional costs of staging the run itself.

I wonder if there will be a spectator ticket option for those not running that still want to support and go on a few rides.
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I would hope that if RunThrough do spectator tickets, then they limit the sale of these to competitors only so they only find their way - in theory - to genuine spectators. If they get the full 7500 competitors then this is a good number of people in the park to allow for social distancing (if it's still in place). Also the RAP queues should be minimal as the attendees will be in the main fit and well.

I personally can't see them getting enough people sign up to make the hire of the park viable - but time will tell. There have been a few much publicised private-hire events in the past that have not made the numbers work.
 
I’ve done a few run through events in the past and they tend to be quite good at spreading the field. They ask all runners to stagger themselves in approximate finish time order as it’s chip timed as opposed to gun timed. They then set off people in small waves.

Looking at the map it appears you start on the lawns, head towards the stables and then turn past Wicker man to head up Katanga Kanyon. That area is relatively spread out,

Friends have attended some of their events in August/September this year and found them to be Covid safe with even smaller starts with people encouraged to overtake with a wide berth,

As for whether it’ll be financially viable, it’s priced at £10 more than their usual races. So say that £10 of their usual fee is budgeted for venue hire then you are probably talking around 5000 to break even.

My bet would be that initially they limit tickets to runners and then maybe release “at cost” spectator tickets to cover venue hire. So far they haven’t actually done any marketing for the event yet (I get their spam emails). A lot likely rests on Covid. If the world opens up I can see quite a few people having this as their “big” event to aim for.
 
Wondering what the facilities will be in terms if showering after the race? It doesn’t mention anything. Surely not expecting people stinking of sweat and covered in mud to then go on the rides? Lol
 
Tommy85 said:
Wondering what the facilities will be in terms if showering after the race? It doesn’t mention anything. Surely not expecting people stinking of sweat and covered in mud to then go on the rides? Lol
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That's a good point actually. Might be worth dropping them an email at [email protected].
Also, they have a video on their Covid restrictions for races:

 
Tommy85 said:
Wondering what the facilities will be in terms if showering after the race? It doesn’t mention anything. Surely not expecting people stinking of sweat and covered in mud to then go on the rides? Lol
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Thats normal for these sort of events, they don't provide showers. I ran a half marathon then just pulled a tracksuit over and went to watch the post-race entertainment and get the freebies etc.

Also its November, people shouldn't be too sweaty!
 
jon81uk said:
Thats normal for these sort of events, they don't provide showers. I ran a half marathon then just pulled a tracksuit over and went to watch the post-race entertainment and get the freebies etc.

Also its November, people shouldn't be too sweaty!
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If anyone's really desperate the Changing Places facilities have a shower I think. But yes, it will almost certainly be freezing cold, so overheating and sweating won't be an issue. :)

Also, contrary to what it says on the event page, it's unlikely that all the rides will operate that late in the season due to the cold weather. (Thirteen especially)
 
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Just had a look at the hotel availability during that period and it doesn't appear to allow you to book for a big block in November at all. Anyone know why this might be?
 
Alastair said:
Just had a look at the hotel availability during that period and it doesn't appear to allow you to book for a big block in November at all. Anyone know why this might be?
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Possible that they've booked a hotel for race staff and volunteers (they'll mark the course the day before I would have thought).
 
They have said on Twitter that hotel availability will be opened up soon.



Also, appears the course shown on the website is subject to change.

 
Tommy85 said:
Wondering what the facilities will be in terms if showering after the race? It doesn’t mention anything. Surely not expecting people stinking of sweat and covered in mud to then go on the rides? Lol
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As a general rule, runners don’t really care that much for post race hygiene (sorry).

My advice would be bring baby wipes, deodorant and a change of clothes. Also a large towel for changing under.
 
Enk27 said:
As a general rule, runners don’t really care that much for post race hygiene (sorry).

My advice would be bring baby wipes, deodorant and a change of clothes. Also a large towel for changing under.
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Yeah sorry thats my ‘clean OCD’ coming out. I was more thinking of other people as well though, gonna be pretty smelly in the queue lines (although we’ll still be 2 metres apart by then i’d think) I guess the runners will all be in the same boat. Might be worse, smell wise, for the spectators! Haha
 
I’d expect by November the 2 metre rule will be long gone or the event will likely be cancelled.
They will need to more or less fill the event to make it profitable, I think there is a good chance of that and with hotel bookings and food and drink sales ATR should be happy with the coin they will make out of it as well.
 
BigT said:
I’d expect by November the 2 metre rule will be long gone or the event will likely be cancelled.
They will need to more or less fill the event to make it profitable, I think there is a good chance of that and with hotel bookings and food and drink sales ATR should be happy with the coin they will make out of it as well.
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To be honest I suspect that they will be able to run it even with the 2 metre rule in place. They’d just need to spread out the waves a bit more. If they have the entire park then they could always look to have an hour or more between the half and the 10k. The only bad point is that they may have to reduce the amount of ride time (or stagger ride opening).

I just hope that people going have realistic expectations, this will be a race (or time trial) first with rides just being a nice secondary bonus.
 
Enk27 said:
To be honest I suspect that they will be able to run it even with the 2 metre rule in place. They’d just need to spread out the waves a bit more. If they have the entire park then they could always look to have an hour or more between the half and the 10k. The only bad point is that they may have to reduce the amount of ride time (or stagger ride opening).

I just hope that people going have realistic expectations, this will be a race (or time trial) first with rides just being a nice secondary bonus.
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I don't think many runners will stay for the rides tbh, let alone the full 5 hours. They'll be too tired from the race to walk around a massive hilly theme park. :p
 
skyscraper said:
I don't think many runners will stay for the rides tbh, let alone the full 5 hours. They'll be too tired from the race to walk around a massive hilly theme park. :p
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you’d be surprised at how much energy many people have after doing a long run, the endorphins and the high keep you going. Its the next morning that’s hell!
 
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