Wendover Woods Marathon, Half Marathon & 10k

Race Location
Wendover Woods, Upper Icknield Way, Aston Clinton, HP22 5NQ

Race HQ
Race HQ will be located at the BBQ area in Wendover Woods and will be signposted from the car park, from where you follow the main path, passing Go Ape and keeping the car park on your right.

Timings on race day
Race HQ & Registration opens: 07:30
Marathon pre-race briefing: 08:50
Marathon start: 09:00
1k Race start: 09:10
Half Marathon pre-race briefing: 09:20
Half Marathon race start: 09:30
10k pre-race briefing: 09:35
10k start: 09:45

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
There is plenty of car parking available at the main visitor centre. Please leave enough time to park and make your way to the race start. Please pay all applicable parking charges.

Toilets
Toilets are located next to the café. Please note, this is a five minutes walk from Race HQ and on the course. There are no other toilet facilities on the course. 

Headphones
Only bone conducting headphones are permitted at this event.

 

The start & finish
All distances start and finish in the same location, within the Race HQ. 

About the course
This is a challenging course using the trails and paths within Wendover Woods. It's a beautiful setting but keep in mind the hill at the end of each lap! 

There are two places on the course that have flint underfoot and are slippery so we ask runners to exercise caution at these points.
As this is a forest trail, there are likely to be uneven surfaces, protruding tree roots and possibly low hanging branches. Please keep an eye out for these hazards whilst you are running and race with care.

If there has been a fair amount of rain prior to the race then conditions are likely to be extremely soft, wet and muddy underfoot. However, if it has been sunny in the days preceding the race, then it is likely that the track will be harder.

The Marathon & Half Marathon race
The Marathon is four laps of the course whilst the Half Marathon is just two laps. Each lap includes an out & back dog leg.

A cut-off time for the Marathon
Please note, that for the welfare of both runners and volunteers there is a cut-off time of 6.5 hours on the marathon. You must have started your final lap by 14:30.
Should you be outside of this cut-off time, the Race Director will advise but, for safety reasons, this cut-off time will be strictly adhered to.

The 10k race
The 10k course looks almost identical to the Marathon & Half Marathon route, however, it does not include the same out & back dog leg and consists of one lap only. 

Other visitors to the forest
The routes should be quiet with no vehicle traffic. However, please be aware that the forest will not be closed for this event and that you will be sharing the route with other forest visitors, including walkers, dog walkers, cyclists and other runners enjoying an Autumnal Sunday. Please race with care and remain courteous to other forest users. 

 

Recommended Kit & Footwear
We recommend trail shoes for this race, if you have them. If not, then your favourite running shoes will be fine. Please keep an eye on the forecast and dress appropriately for the conditions, 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
There will be two aid stations on the course, one at 2.5 miles and another at 5 miles (on the first lap). Runners will pass the water stations once each lap. There will also be a water station at the finish for all runners. Some stations will carry sugary drinks and snacks.

Please note, if you have used a specific brand of energy gel or supplement in your training, then we would recommend that you do not change your routine and bring these with you rather than deviate from your usual routine.

Whilst we will ensure that our water stations are well supplied, runners should ensure that they are fully hydrated and should also carry their own water.

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.

 

We love celebrating our junior racers and encouraging them to the start line where we cheer each and every one of them. We hope that these are memories that will last a lifetime and help them develop a lifelong passion for running.

This year, our junior run is a simple out and back 1k from the start line at Race HQ. We will have a friendly marshal located at the turnaround point to direct them back towards their finish line. The race will take place just after the start of the marathon at 09:10

While this race will not be chip timed, all runners will receive a finishers medal.

Parents are responsible for collecting their children at the finish line. And, if parents are accompanying younger racers then no additional entry is required. However, participating parents will not receive a chip time or medal.

Race numbers for the junior run will only be available for collection on the day.

We hope that you will join us in supporting our young runners with uproarious cheers as they cross the finish line!

 

Medals & Prizes
There will be a bespoke medal awarded to all finishers in the marathon, half marathon & 10k.

Trophy with e-certificate & £5 voucher prize for 1st, 2nd & 3rd male & female winners
E-certificate and £5 voucher prize for 1st male & female age group categories
E-certificate and £5 voucher prize for 1st male junior & female junior (Half Marathon & 10k only)

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.