Martello Half Marathon

Race Location
The Salts Recreation Ground, Richmond Road, Seaford, BN25 1DR
W3W: ///hopeless.blanked.undivided

Race HQ
The Race HQ will be situated in the Seaford Rugby Club. Please look out for race signage.
Please make sure that you allow plenty of time to collect your race number from Race HQ and make your way to the start.

Timings on race day
Race HQ & Registration opens: 08:30
Race Director's Briefing on the start line: 09:20
Race Start: 09:30

Bag Drop
You are welcome to leave your bag at the unmanned baggage drop at Race HQ, however, this is done at your own risk and discretion. The team will not handle your bags and you will be responsible for labelling them clearly.

Facilities
Unfortunately, there are no changing facilities available at this site so we recommend arriving ready to run!

Parking
Car parking is available on the seafront. However, this will fill up fairly quickly and is another reason to be early. In the unlikely event that you cannot find a parking place, there are pay and display car parks in Seaford, the nearest being at Richmond Road (BN25 1DB) off Dane Road. 

Toilets
Toilets are available at Race HQ.
There are also public toilets on The Salts Recreation Ground 

Headphones
Only bone conducting headphones are permitted at this event.
 

The start & finish
The start and finish is approximately 10 - 15 minutes' walk from Race HQ. 
Please follow race signage and arrive early enough to accommodate this. 
Start Location (W3W): ///gestures.loser.enlighten... The start location is a few minutes' walk from the Rugby Club at Bonningstedt Parade.
Finish Location (W3W): ///vibes.breaches.letter... The finish is on the seafront opposite Dane Road.

About the course
You will be racing on a mix of tarmac, concrete and trail. The initial part of the route involves a sprint down the promenade and a road run, with a crossing of the A259. Please obey the marshal's instructions when crossing this busy road. After this crossing, the route explores the village of Bishopstone and then take to some challenging pathways, climbing up to the South Downs Way. At this point, the race offers a beautiful views but a tough run as it follows footpaths and tracks through the Downs.
Please be aware that there will be farm animals in the fields so please be considerate and note that dogs are not permitted on the course. 
After taking in the stunning views, there is an exhilarating downhill stretch back to Bishopstone and then you'll speed along the seafront to the cheers of the crowd!
Please race with care and look out for any slippery or uneven surfaces, protruding tree roots and potholes.
Sorry, no walkers, buggies or dogs with runners.

Cut off time
This year we are introducing a cut off time - you must reach the first water station, which is at about 4 miles, within 1 hour. We have chosen this location as it is within a reasonable distance to get back to the start. Many of our marshals are in very exposed locations and to be fair to them we need to make sure that they are not having to be out there waiting for you for too long. The course is challenging and the event is intended for runners, not people who just want to walk the route. Obviously we don't say you have to run it all, but there is an expectation that you will be able to make reasonable progress. Hopefully it will be a lovely day, but we have to allow for the possibility of inclement weather and what this might mean for our marshals and other volunteers. Thank you for your understanding. 

Other route users and running in the park
Please be aware that you are sharing the route with other walkers, cyclists and runners, many of whom live locally.
We ask that you race with care and remain courteous at all times.

Recommended Kit & Footwear
We recommend your favourite running shoes for this race. If the weather has been inclement during the days preceding the race then it is likely to be quite slippery in places; please race with care and keep an eye on the forecast so that you can dress appropriately for the conditions. We recommend bringing a spare set of clothes (and socks!) if needed. 

Litter
Please do NOT drop litter. Bins will be provided, so please dispose of any litter correctly or take it home with you.

Water Stations
Water will be available at the finish line and there will also be two other water stations on the course. 
Whilst we will ensure that our water station is well supplied, runners should ensure they are fully hydrated and also consider carrying their own water.
Bin bags will be supplied at water stations so that you can dispose of your rubbish responsibly. 

Going Green
To help reduce the carbon footprint of this race, we would like to encourage all our runners to bring their own camel packs or reusable cups for this race. Our teams at the water stations will be happy to fill any receptacle that you might bring with you so that you stay hydrated and racing fit! If you are able to car share, then this would be wonderful!

Your route & marshals...
Your course will be clearly marked using large route arrows and directional cones, as well as being marshalled throughout. Please listen and obey all marshal instructions given. There will be a sweep marshal which will follow the last runner to make sure that no one is left on the route. All marshals will remain in place until stood down by the sweep marshal.

Spectators
We always welcome anyone that would like to cheer on our runners and join the good spirit of the race by lending their encouragement and support.

Medals & Prizes
There will be a bespoke medal awarded to all finishers of the half marathon. 
Bespoke trophies will be awarded for the 1st, 2nd and 3rd placed male and female runners.
There will be no prizes for age category winners. 
Weather permitting, the presentation will take place approximately 45 - 60 minutes after the first runner has crossed the finish line and when all the prize winners have arrived home. Please listen for announcements from your Race Director.

Results
Live and provisional results will be available on the Nice Work website asap after the race. If you have any questions regarding the live results, please ensure that you have emailed this through to us by midday on the following Thursday. Any changes submitted after this time will not be included in the final results.