South Coast
Challenge
Challenge
Manual 2016
Your guide to preparing for the challenge!
www.southcoastchallenge.com
Welcome to the
South Coast CHALLENGE 2016
This guide should give you a good overview of what to expect on
the Challenge, and combined with the Participant Area of the
website provide all the information to prepare yourself. Please read
it carefully and refer back to it as you get ready for the South
Coast Challenge, and keep visiting the Participant Area for
updates, latest news, and special offers.
Challenge timeline
Participant Area
There are some important dates for your diary - please make a
note of the below - and watch out for our emails over the next
few months…..
Official tech t - shirts available to order - mid December
Min 50% charity fundraising deadline - 18th July
Final detailed info and & Start times released - 29th July
We have further info available in our
participant’s area of the website. This will
include kit lists, training guides, & training
walks.
We will be updating this area regularly in
the lead up to the challenge - keep your
eyes open for more updates & join in the
conversation on our event forum.
Final route info, maps & GPX files released - 5th August
Social media
E-tickets, sent to you - 17th August
The Challenge - 27 / 28 August
Official Results & Challenge certificates - 1st September
Remaining fundraising due to your Charity - 27th Sept
Join us online and meet fellow
challengers before the event. Get
updates, training & fundraising advice.
Facebook.com/ultrachallenge
@ultrachallenges
2 www.southcoastchallenge.com
info@southcoastchallenge.com
South Coast
Challenge
Challenge Manual
THE CHALLENGE
Your challenge, your way!
THE ROUTE & REST STOPS
Over the weekend of 27 - 28 August 2016 we are
expecting over 1,500 challengers to be taking on
either the Full, Half or Quarter distances of the South
Coast Challenge. There will be a mixture of walkers,
runners and joggers taking part in the event - with
runners setting out first for a clear run of the route,
with joggers and walkers following close behind.
WALK IT
Walkers will be making up the majority of the field
It is an ideal event for anyone - from those taking
on a long distance walk for the first time - to the
harder core & keener trekkers looking for a new personal
challenge. We anticipate walkers will aim to complete
their challenge in the following time frames:
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JOG IT
You For those looking to up their fitness and set
a new personal goal, but without the pressure of
being classified as a full runner. So run a bit - walk
a bit - or just keep jogging! Ideally you will aim to
hit the times below - but of course you can revert
to the walker time lines if that’s how it works out.
Like walkers, you would be carrying your small day
pack.
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0 KM - Eastbourne - Start
Full 100 km in 20 - 30 hrs (33 upper time limit)
Full Challenge over 2 days 10 - 16 hrs each day
54 km in 9 – 14 hrs
23 km in 4 - 7 hrs
Full 100km in 15-20 hrs
Full Challenge over 2 days in 7-10 hrs each day
54 km in 8 - 10 hrs
23 km in 3 - 5 hrs
Princes Park
11 km midpoint
23KM - Alfriston - Rest Stop
Bank House Farm
34 km midpoint
54 km - Hove Park - Rest Stop
Park View Road
70 km midpoint
80km - Rest Stop
RUN IT
Runners have specifically signed up as such - and
are up for a tough Ultra! Runners get tailored menus
at the rest stops - that wont bog them down & free
baggage transfer for their small day pack (30L/10kg
max) to the finish (+ to half way for Full distance
participants).We expect runners to hit the following
times:
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90 km midpoint
100 km - Arundel - Finish
Arundel Football Club
Full 100 km in 9 - 14 hrs
Full Challenge over 2 days in 4 - 8 hrs each day
54 km in 4 - 8 hrs
23 km in 2 -3 hrs
3 www.southcoastchallenge.com
info@southcoastchallenge.com
South Coast
Challenge
Challenge Manual
Preparing for the challenge
Fundraising
Your charity should be in contact within 2-3 weeks of
your registration. However all charities do work in
slightly different ways so if you are unsure about what
you are meant to be doing fundraising wise, or you feel
that they have been a bit slow in contacting you - please
contact your charity directly! As a last resort please see
the link in the Participant Area where you can log your
problem and we will follow it up also with your charity.
At least 50% of your minimum fundraising target should
be with your charity 6 weeks prior to the challenge 18th July 2016.
The charity can then verify that you have been actively
fundraising for them and will be happy to confirm your
place on the event (as they have to pay Action
Challenge a fee for services we provide in respect of
your place on the event). Failure to reach this 50%
target on time could result in the charity removing you
from the event.
The total balance of your fundraising target and any
additional sums is due to be with your charity no later
than 4 weeks after the event - 27th September 2016.
All fundraising monies should be given directly to your
charity (not via Action Challenge). If you have an online
fundraising page (JustGiving / Virgin Money Giving) you
will NOT need to physically make a transfer, as the
online donation site will automatically transfer your
funds on a monthly basis to the charity.
Fundraising is all part of the Challenge - it’s best to start
it as early as possible, ask for support from your Charity
& we also have some tips in the Participant Area.
Remember - you are taking on a serious challenge - so
let people know what you are really doing - send them
a link to the website - big it up! 100km or 50km is no
walk in the park - and potential sponsors will recognise
that - so you’ll be surprised as to how easy it is to smash
the minimum fundraising targets!
Overall we are expecting to raise £2.5 million for
charities involved in the Thames Path Challenge - and
the full Ultra Challenge Series will raise over £8 million
in 2016. Your challenge really counts and make a real
difference for others!
4 www.southcoastchallenge.com
Training
Whichever distance you are looking to take on - there
may be a serious test of endurance, stamina and
determination ahead. You will need to train and practice
whatever type you are doing (walking / jogging /
running/personal best running) in order to prepare your
mind, feet and body for YOUR challenge.
OUR 2016 Training walks
We organise a series of dedicated training walks which
will help you to prepare for the challenge if you plan on
walking. They are a great opportunity to try out your kit,
test your walking boots, meet fellow challengers. We
offer both day time and night training walks across the
year which you can join up to for just £20.
London Day Walks: 16 miles of the Thames Path from
Blackfriars, heading to Richmond. The fairly flat route
will help you train in your kit & equipment and give s you
the chance to test out your fitness, staying in power and
to see how your feet stand up to a few miles of
pounding.
London Night Walks: Taking the London Thames
route but setting at midnight - there is no better way to
get used to night time walking. Lead by our experienced
guides, - the aim of the night training walk is to get your
body and mind used to the slightly surreal experience
of walking for a long period of time at night - when your
body wants to be resting.
South Downs: Southease to Eastbourne along the the
South Downs way through Severn Sisters Country Park
- with a few hills en route. Also Hassocks to Rodmill on
the South Downs Way across Ditchling Beacon also again with a few sharp hills. The South Downs Way is a
fantastic practise ground and also the venue for our
new South Coast Challenge in August.
North Downs: This walk begins in Guildford, climbing
from the town via the Riverside Walk. From here you
will pass in and out of the woods and through the
beautiful countryside of the Surrey Hills, offering beautiful views over the Valleys to the South, before eventually reaching West Humble,Nr Dorking.
To book onto one of our training walks
visit the Participant Area of the
website and keep an eye open for
additional ‘special’ walks.
info@southcoastchallenge.com
South Coast
Challenge
Challenge Manual
On the challenge
Baggage
The start
2nd
All Challenges (bar the
half ones) start at Princes
Park, Eastbourne - with the other start locations being
based at our halfway rest stop at Hove Park. The full
address of the Eastbourne start is Princes Park,
Eastbourne, East Sussex, BN22 7LQ.
At each start location there will be a large registration
area, teas & coffee, water / energy drinks, an
opportunity to meet some of our charity partners,
baggage drop area, a warm-up zone, and of course the
start line itself! Challengers will be setting out off in
waves every 20 minutes in groups of roughly 100-200
at a time. You will be expected to register at the start of
the challenge, to officially ‘sign in’, collect your event
pass, route maps and other items to help you along the
course.
Start times will be allocated depending on your
selection when you registered, the distance you are
taking on and if you are running, jogging or walking.
Your provisional start time will be emailed 4 weeks prior
to the challenge. We recommend that you arrive to
register on the morning of your challenge 1 hour before
your start time - and enjoy the pre kick-off hospitality!
Walkers: You must bring a day bag (small rucksack) 30-35 litres max which you will be expected to carry with
you - and holds your essential ‘on event’ kit. Including
whatever you’ll need for changing weather & the night
sections. Joggers should do likewise.
Runners: Can carry a small lightweight running
backpack if they wish. Also runners will get a free
baggage transfer service to their finish line. (30 Litres /
10 kg max size). Full Challenge runners have this bag
transported to the half way rest stop (50km) before then
going onto the finish line at Mill Meadows, Henley.
Bag Transfer: There will be an optional baggage
transfer service for all Challengers to move a larger bag
to the finish line. For Quarter and Half Challengers this
will cost £5 on the day. For full challengers it costs £7.50.
2 Day Challengers:
If you would like your bags transferred to the halfway
point so that you have your belongings for the Saturday
night there will be a £7.50 charge (on the day) to carry
out this service.
The Finish
Supporters
Arundel Football Club is the finish for Full and 2nd Half
Challengers, for 1st half Challengers its Hove Park. At
your finish line you will be met with a medal, glass of fizz
and a big welcoming cheer! You will also receive a hot
meal to help you recover, and there will be massage
therapists and medics on hand should you need it!
We fully encourage your friends and family to come
along and to cheer you on at the start, the finish and
some of the other major rest stops. We will be releasing
full supporter and parking guides closer to the challenge
in the Final Event Information and the Participant Area
to help your supporters plan their day!
Friends & family are most welcome to meet you at the
finish line and cheer you in - a full guide will be issued
1 month prior to the challenge detailing parking facilities
and other facilities for supporters.
There will be a complimentary shuttle service from the
finish locations to the nearest mainline train stations,
during the hours in which the train is running. Our Info
point will also help you book taxis should you need one.
Timing
5 www.southcoastchallenge.com
Your event pass has a timing chip, and you will be
scanned at Rest Stops. There will be a live feed back of
data to the Challenge Website so friends and family can
track your progress throughout the Challenge. Three
days after the challenge we will publish official times ,
and you can download a Challenge Certificate.
info@southcoastchallenge.com
South Coast
Challenge
Challenge Manual
Support & HOSPITALITY
What you will get
Full Challenge
● Teas, coffee, water & energy drinks at stops
● A full range of free snacks at all stops
● At 23 km there is the option to pre - purchase
lunch or bring your own packed lunch
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Hot meals at 54 & 80 km
Hot meal at the 100 km finish
A medal & a finishers t-shirt
Shuttle service to Brighton Station
Full Challenge over 2 Days
● Teas, coffee, water & energy drinks at stops
● A full range of free snacks at all stops
● At 23 km there is the option to pre - purchase
lunch or bring your own packed lunch
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Hot meals at 54 & 80 km
Hot meal at the 100 km finish
A medal & a finishers t-shirt
Shuttle service to Brighton Train Station
Half Challenges
● Teas and coffees at the start
● A full range of free snacks at all stops
MID-POINTS
At approximately half way between the Rest Stops;
there are shorter 10-20 minute re-fuelling stops with
toilets, Medics & Event Staff.
MEDICS
Safety and your welfare are taken very seriously. There
will be medics available at all Rest Stops & Mid-Point
Stops - 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. There will also be a number of
massage therapists and sports physiotherapists at the
midway stop which is generally reserved for those who
genuinely needing treatment - as determined by our
medical staff.
trek masters
We will have official marshals who will walk sections of
the course in a supporting role. Their jobs are to motivate, and encourage, as well as advise the control room
of any new hazards that should develop along the
route. Trekmasters will be out in force over the night
stages.
SIGNAGE
Quarter Challenge
● Teas and coffees at the start
● A full range of free snacks at all stops
● Hot meal at your finish
● A medal and a finishers t-shirt.
● Shuttle to Berwick Train Station
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) 3 weeks before the challenge.
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 RIBBON with
glow sticks 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!
REST STOPS
control Room
These stops are the main feeding stations, and areas
for a reasonable period of rest and recovery (typically
15 - 45 minutes is anticipated – perhaps less for
‘runners’ who are out to set a fast time). Toilet facilities,
Event Medics and Event Staff will be at each of these
Rest Stops.
We have an Event Control Room manned by our
Management and the Medical response coordinators.
You will be able to contact the Control Room at any time
throughout the challenge in emergencies or in
situations that you feel you want advice or help. We will
also have Info points at all Rest Stops manned by our
Event Staff - and they are there to help you!”
● At 23 km there is the option to pre - purchase
lunch or bring your own.
● Hot meal at the 54 km km finish
● A medal and a finishers t-shirt.
● Shuttle to Hove OR to Brighton Train Station
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South Coast
Challenge
Challenge Manual
WHAT TO DO NEXT
1. Keep updated
Refer back to the Participant’s Area of the website on a
regular basis to check for important updates or info.
2. Get online
Join the Ultra Challenge Facebook page - and converse
in our online Ultra Challenge forum for training tips!
3. Online fundraising
Set up your online fundraising page via Just Giving or
whichever online fundraising site your charity prefers.
4. Team Captain’s - Get recruiting!
Make sure you get your team mates signed up as soon
as possible so you can all get training & fundraising!
5. Training
Read our Thames Path Challenge training guide - to aid
your preparation for the challenge ahead.
6. Join a training walk
Join us on one of our night or day training walks - meet
fellow challengers and our event management team!
Contact the team
Please check the Participant’s Area of the website
7. Get your boots on!
www.southcoastchallenge.com regularly for updates
Make sure you have a well worn in pair of boots or
shoes before taking on the challenge.
during the lead up to the event. All additional information will be released in the Participant’s Area in
accordance with the Communication Timeline.
8. Check your kit!
Take a look to see what other kit you may need to invest
in for your training and the challenge.
If you have any questions - you can contact us on:
0207 609 6695
info@southcoastchallenge.com
7 www.southcoastchallenge.com
info@southcoastchallenge.com