Virgin Money London Marathon 2015 Runner`s Guide - Whizz-Kidz

Virgin Money London Marathon
2015 Runner’s Guide
Contents
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The London Marathon Expo
Getting There
What to Expect when registering
Race Day Preparation
One Week to Go
Don’t Forget
Race Day – 26th April 2015
The Start Line
Getting to the Start Line
During the Race
The Cheer-point Strategy
The Finish (Hurrah!)
Race Recovery Reception
The London Marathon Expo
You will need to attend the Expo to register
and collect your race number – if you do not
do this then you can’t run on the day.
YOU CANNOT REGISTER ON RACE DAY.
When:
Wednesday 22nd April -11am to 8pm
Thursday 23rd April -10am to 8pm
Friday 24th April - 10am to 8pm
Saturday 25th April – 9am to 5pm
Where: ExCeL, 1 Western Gateway, Royal Victoria Dock, London E16 1XL
Whizz-Kidz will be at stand no. 310 – please come over and say hello and
pick up your Whizz-Kidz goody bag - we’d love to see you! It’s a great chance
to speak to the Events Team for any last minute questions you may have.
Getting there
The quickest route to ExCeL is via the Jubilee Line which runs through
central London via Bond Street and Green Park and also through mainline
stations such as Waterloo and London Bridge.
If travelling on the Jubilee Line,
change at Canning Town station
for the Docklands Light Railway
(proceed up the stairs to platform 3
and alight two short stops later at
Custom House (red star on map)
for ExCeL. Alternatively, take the
DLR from Bank or Tower Gateway
to Custom House for ExCeL.
Note that when travelling from
Bank, you will need to change at
Westferry station (no need to
CHECK YOUR TRAVEL PLANS IN ADVANCE AT
change platform) for the Beckton PLEASE
WWW.TFL.GOV.UK – ALL TRAVEL ARRANGEMENTS ARE
bound train. Underground passes SUBJECT TO TRANSPORT FOR LONDON CHANGES.
are valid for the DLR.
What to expect when registering
The race organisers will send you a copy of Marathon News magazine and
your registration letter this month, which you will need to complete and take
with you to the Expo with photographic ID, in order to collect your race number
and timing chip. You will then be asked to sign this in front of a London
Marathon representative.
If you lose your registration form or if it does not arrive, you will still be able to
pick up your race number with appropriate ID. You can call the race organisers
if you’re worried it hasn’t arrived on 0207 902 0200.
In an emergency someone else can pick up your race
number for you. They’ll need a photocopy of your ID
(passport or drivers licence), their ID (passport or drivers
licence), your signed registration form and a signed
letter from you authorising them, by name, to collect
your race number.
It’s advisable to register Weds/Thurs if you live locally
as Fri/Sat are really busy with runners who live outside
of London/UK.
Official kit bags will also be issued. You can use these to store your
belongings and leave on the kit lorry in Greenwich to then pick up at the
end of the race. Alternatively, if friends and family are accompanying you
to the start, ask them to look after your things – this will avoid queuing for
your bag at the end and means you can get to our Post-Race Reception
quicker! Whizz-Kidz staff will NOT be able to look after your
belongings on marathon day.
We would advise getting your name printed on your
vest (great way to boost support around the course),
though due to popularity there may be waits of 1½ to
2 hours for this service. We suggest ordering online
in advance at lmexpo.com
Alternatively, you can write your name on your vest
with permanent waterproof marker. Please remember
to leave room for your running number – best to put
your name near the top.
The Expo closes at 5pm Saturday 25th April – after which
point you cannot register and we won’t be able to help
Race day preparation
Make sure you stick to your normal eating routine the week before the
marathon. As your training tapers off, you will naturally ‘carbo-load’ as your
eating will remain at the same level.
Do have breakfast on race day, even if it means getting up early! Try to take
in at least 300 calories of something you know that works for you and you
have used in training (e.g. porridge and a banana). Race day is not the time
for trying something new!
One week to go
You should be comfortable with your shoes and
made sure you’ve worn your marathon kit in
training and that it’s been washed several times.
Take it easy from now on. You only need to do
some very gentle training to keep your body
flexible. Extra training will only be detrimental.
Put your feet up; don’t spend the Saturday
before the marathon walking around
.
London sightseeing. The best way to see the city is to jump on one of
the many tour buses. That way you get to see the city without wearing yourself
out.
Know how you are getting to the start of the marathon on Sunday, leaving plenty
of time to get to the start just in case you need it, and finally, prepare your kit the
night before!
Don’t forget
• Running shoes – NOT NEW!
• Race number and timing chip (collected
from Expo before race day)
• Race number (pinned below the WhizzKidz logo)
• Whizz-Kidz Running Vest (with your name
written/printed)
• Tracksuit/something to cover up with in
case it’s cold (old so you can then discard
it at the start)
• Plasters, Vaseline, chafing gel, safety pins
• Race map and instructions
• To arrange to meet family and friends at
our post-race reception
• Book accommodation if you are staying
overnight. London Marathon recommend
greenroom.co.uk/running
th
Race day – Sunday 26 April
Team Photo - 8:15am for a team
photo at 8:30am (race starts at
10:10am). Don’t be late ☺
Whizz-Kidz meeting point King
William Walk / Nevada Street
entrance to Greenwich Park (just
inside the Park, red star on map)
There will be plenty of time to get to
the start. We’d love you to join us
so we can wish you luck before the
race. If you can’t make it, we’ll see
you afterwards at the Race
Recovery Reception at the Royal
Institute of Great Britain!
The start line
Almost all of our charity placed runners will start at the RED
start, but some of you will be starting from GREEN or BLUE.
These waves are just a 5 minute walk from Greenwich Park.
Each start is split into pens according to the predicted finishing time you
stated on your online form.
The baggage trucks will be by the start line. Only official kit bags clearly
displaying your running number on the adhesive sticker can be handed in to
the baggage trucks. You can pick this up again at the end of the race.
Getting to the start line
Start time is 10:10am. Toilets & drink stop will be available at the start but be
prepared for long queues!
The Whizz-Kidz meeting point just inside Greenwich Park (at the corner of
King William Walk/Nevada Street) is a 5-10 minute walk from Greenwich
station, and a 15 minute walk from Maze Hill over-ground station. From this
point to the (RED) race start inside Greenwich Park is roughly a 15 minute
walk – perfect to do your warm up! The BLUE start is just a bit further on at
Shooter’s Hill Road and the GREEN start at St John’s Park.
Extra trains are put on from Charing Cross, Waterloo East and London Bridge
between 7am and 9am. For train times check tfl.gov.uk or call 020 7222
1234. Travel is free on these over-ground trains and on the tube and DLR on
presentation of race number. TFL have announced the following track
closures: Central Line - White City to West Ruislip and Ealing Broadway
Bakerloo Line - Queen's Park to Harrow and Wealdstone
London Overground - Clapham Junction to Kensington (Olympia) Queen's
Park to Wembley Central
During the race
Mile
9
Mile
12.5
Mile
19
Mile
22/13
Mile
23
Whizz-Kidz have 5 cheering points around the course
and in your goody bag you will find a wrist band
milemarker with these points. Please encourage
friends and family to join us at our cheer points so
we can all cheer loudly together!!
We will endeavour to be as close as possible to the points
stated in the Supporters’ Guide but this isn’t always
possible. We’ll be really visible on the day with a mass of green t-shirts and sail
banners at each cheer point, so if we’re not able to get the spot we show exactly
in the Supporters’ Guide, we hope we won’t be too far from it.
The cheering points will be at miles 9, 12.5, 19, 22 (which also doubles up for
mile 13) and 23. For more details please refer to the Supporters’ Guide. We will
be keeping an eye out for you in your vest but if you see us first give us a shout
and a wave!
There will be 23 water and 7 Lucozade stations along the course. Check out the
interactive map for more informationmap.virginmoneylondonmarathon.com/2014/
The cheer-point strategy
Behind every good cheer-point is a
strategy - try to run on the left at the
beginning and the right towards
the end.
The Whizz-Kidz cheerers will be
located on the left hand side of the
road for Mile 9 / Mile 12.5 / Mile 19.
We will be on the right hand side of
the road for Mile 22 /Mile 23
(Ambassador Cheer point)
Due to the high volume of runners
and supporters, we might miss you if
you’re running on the wrong side.
You may get spotted by a member of the press
(especially those who are running in fancy dress!)
who will want to have a brief chat/interview with
you.
Do share a small piece of information with them
about Whizz-Kidz, we’d love you to say something
along the lines of: “Whizz-Kidz supports children
to have independence by providing wheelchairs
and other mobility equipment” or “Whizz-Kidz
has helped over 13,000 disabled children and
young people since 1990, and need funds to
help many more”.
The Finish (hurrah!)
Smile for the camera! As you’re crossing the finishing
line, photographers will be on hand to capture your
moment, so be sure to smile.
Collecting Your Kit Bag: Your running chip will be
removed by officials and kit bags can be collected from
the numbered trucks lined up on the Mall. You will need
to show your running number to claim your kit bag.
Whizz-Kidz Meeting Point: Whizz-Kidz staff members
will be looking out for you on The Mall at the end of the
race (not at the lettered meeting points, see map
overleaf). We will be in green T-shirts and holding ‘Team Whizz-Kidz’ boards, so
keep your eyes peeled for the Whizz-Kidz logo! However, it will be crowded and
we may miss each other, so we have included a map overleaf for you to find your
own way from the finish area to the Recovery Reception if need be.
Please Note: Meeting points on Horseguards Parade get extremely busy so we
suggest that you meet up with friends and family at the Whizz-Kidz Race
Recovery Reception.
Race Recovery Reception
Come along to our post-race celebrations at the Royal Institute of Great
Britain for a well-deserved massage, meal and a chance to meet up with
family and friends! (You’ll be receiving an invitation via email next week)
We want you to come and celebrate your massive achievement with us! As well as
massage and food for you, there is a theatre where we will be screening the
London Marathon live so, after friends and family have cheered you on, they can
watch the rest of the race whilst they wait for you to finish. The reception is a 10
min walk from The Mall and we will have marshals looking out for you. For those of
you who can't face the short walk, we have mini-buses on hand to get you
there! See the map overleaf for directions to the meeting point and reception.
Runners eat for free but there is a café where family/friends can buy food and drink.
Due to us having such a large team of runners we have had to cap guests at 4 per
runner so please let us know how many guests you are bringing and their names by
emailing [email protected]. NB: Please note food and massage will be
available up until 6:30pm.
The Royal Institute of Great
Britain
21 Albermarle Street
London
W1S 4BS
WhizzKidz
Marshal
Mini-bus
pickup
RIGB –
Post-race
reception
Finish
Line
If you have any questions please contact us on 0207 233 9696
or email us at [email protected]
Remember, you have to collect your running number from the Expo –
you cannot do this on race day. Without your race number you can’t
run. After 5pm on Saturday 25th Whizz-Kidz won’t be able to help
you with this.
Good Luck from all at Whizz-Kidz!