ASICS Kingston
Running Festival

Arrival time

Allow at least an hour and a quarter before your start, do not leave it to the last minute! You will need time to change, warm up, use the loo, etc. It may take you 20 minutes to park. We are expecting over 2,000 runners.

Travel information

Radio Jackie will be doing travel updates/information every 25 minutes from 6am on race day. Tune in to 107.8FM. Their broadcast area extends from inside the M25 to the West to central London in the East. They will also be reporting on the event during the day. For bus and rail info, go to the Transport for London website: www.tfl.gov.uk

The nearest BR Station is Kingston, 5 min walk from the start (see map).

Parking and transport

Special arrangements (they are opening early) have been made for you to park in Eden Walk shopping centre car park (600 car spaces) and they will charge you £3 to park till 2pm. Please have the correct £3 change easily available when you arrive (they also have good toilets). An exit ticket will be given to you which will get you out of the car park -- don't lose it!

There will be signs guiding you to the car park. Access is down Ashdown Road. Please use this parking facility as it's not worth a parking ticket to save £3. Follow the route on the town centre map.

Baggage

All unwanted kit and bags should be left locked in your car or, for £1, can be left in the baggage storage area in the Market House. Write your race number on the loose string luggage tag that you will have received with your race number in the post and tie it to your bag.

NO bags can be left in any public areas due to security reasons.

Toilets

There will never, ever be enough loos, so arrive early. Last year we had 2,000 runners -- you need to get to them early... The toilets this year are behind the start line in Kings Hall Road (see map). AGAIN, GET THERE EARLY! If you can, please have a pit stop on the way to Kingston. Queue outside each individual loo and bring some spare paper, just in case.

Race numbers

Please make sure your number is well pinned at all 4 corners on the FRONT of your vest. It must not be folded, cut or mutilated in any way. Please leave the tear-off strip free, DO NOT put pins through it! We need to collect the tag at the end of the finish funnel.

Please check you have the correct coloured band for the race you wish to run. The number sequence will be:

Postal and Late entries

Closing date will be when the race is full. See the website's front page for up to date information. When we are closed -- we are closed. Forms have been out since July so there are no excuses. THERE WILL BE NO ENTRIES ON THE DAY.

Race changes

There will be a help desk in the Market House from 6:00am for any last minute queries and race changes. Changing of races will be allowed, you will be issued with a new number. Please allow extra time for this and get there before 7.00am. The facility will close at 7.20am.

NOTE: Each race has different coloured race numbers, if you don't tell us that you have swapped distances then ALL the results will be completely wrong.

Race route

Extreme care required in the first mile of the run- there are a great number of posts, trees, benches, barriers and other assorted street furniture in your way as you run down Clarence Street.

All the runners will run anticlockwise around the loop.

The course will start in Eden Street, outside the Police Station on the Clattern bridge next to the Theatre. After 500m, there will be a sharp left turn into Clarence Street. You will run down Clarence Street, over Kingston Bridge and then turn left down onto the towpath (Barge Walk) to Hampton Court Palace and then over Hampton Court Bridge. Then along Hampton Court Way and back along the Portsmouth Road to Kingston. 16 milers will keep left through the Market Place and cross over the bridge for the second time and run the loop again. To finish you must turn right into the Market Place and then bear right and straight through, the finish gantry (the large black ASICS/Human Race structure).

See the map for details.

The course is flat and fast and all major junctions will be marshaled but extreme care must be taken, as the Police will give no special assistance. You are responsible for knowing the route, please check the map carefully.

There are 3 water stations in the loop (this means you will pass an aid station at 2.5, 5, 8, 10.5, 13 miles and at the finish). Water will be provided in cups.

Lucozade Sport will be provided at the 2nd water station, see map (after approx 5, 8 and 13 miles). Water is available when you finish. The race always generates a lot of rubbish. Could all cups and Lucozade Sport pouches be left by the nearest MILE Marker for later collection. Everything has to be removed after the race. Help us to keep the course as clean as possible.

You should have a hydration strategy organised before you race. Do not drink alcohol the day before and drink plenty of water in the 2 days leading up to the race. Start well hydrated and you will enjoy the race and running a lot more. This should also apply to Lucozade Sport. Try it out in training runs and get used to drinking while running.

Over drinking, be aware: While it is essential to keep hydrated please be aware of the potential for over-hydration and the problems that this can cause. We have some advice in this leaflet which has been produced by the London Marathon and is reproduced here with their permission.

Your health. If you have been ill in the 2 weeks leading up to the event, you should seek medical advice. If you are unwell within 2 days of the race, do not run. Do not put your long term health at risk just for a race. For the latest advice regarding running visit the Runners Medical Resource which has lots of useful articles on training.

YOU MUST WRITE YOUR CONTACT DETAILS ON THE BACK OF THE RACE NUMBER.

Should anyone find themselves in difficulty, medical and RAYNET radio cover will be on hand, they are located at the water stations. There will be a cut-off time for the 16 mile race. You must be able to compete the 16 miles in 3.30 hours (12.00pm), should you be outside this time, we recommend you switch to the 8 mile race. (This is 12 min per mile pace). You have to have completed 1 lap (8 miles) and be over Kingston Bridge in 1hr 40min (10.10am), then the loop will be closed down. Safety cover will be gradually withdrawn from 11.40am and timing will be until 11.45am.

Kingston and Hampton Court will be busy on race day, hence the early start.

The relevant authorities have been informed and plenty of support is expected from the crowds as you pass over the bridges and finish in Kingston.

Environment

All races generate a lot of rubbish, please help us by depositing leftover cups, bottles, pouches, gels etc next to the mile markers. Everything has to be collected and picked up. We try and recycle all the plastics after the race.

Race T-shirts

A number of limited edition long sleeved shirts are available for sale in advance of the race in S, M, LG and XL at £10 plus £1 for postage from the Human Race office at 12 Southcote Ave, Surbiton, Surrey KT5 9JW (cheques payable to Human Race and please put your name, address and T-shirt size on the back). They may also be available for sale on the day near the baggage store.

Prize giving

Prize giving will be held as the athlete crosses the finish line (at the end of the funnel). In both races prizes will be given as follows:
Male, 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th
Female, 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th
(20 prizes in total)

Winners must be present to collect their prize, they will not be mailed out.

Results

Some results and race pictures will be printed in the Surrey Comet the following week and this will be available at local newsagents.

We hope to have the results available online by Monday morning.

Official charity

If you would like to run for a charity this year we are supporting Leukaemia Research. They can be contacted on email at running@lrf.org.uk.

Official photographer: SportCam

There will be pictures of you running in the ASICS Breakfast Run on the SportCam website. Pictures can be viewed before purchase on their website, just click on the SportCam logo on the right hand side of this page and type in your race number. Photos should be available to view from Wednesday morning.

FREE race memento

These will be given out to all finishers near the finish line.

Volunteers

If you are bringing a partner to the race and they would like to help, please let us know on the day. Help is always needed at the Water Stations.

Withdrawals

If, for any reason, you need to withdraw from the event after you have entered you should read our Withdrawals Policy on the website and follow the instructions there.

Post race food

There are lots of shops, restaurants and several cafés open in the Eden Walk Shopping Centre and the market place. Meet your partner afterwards for lunch or shopping.

Post race massage

Post race massage will be available upstairs in the Market House (big white building in the middle of the Market Place).

Accommodation

We are recommending the Antoinette Hotel as the official hotel, please contact Roy on: running@antoinettehotel.com or call on 0870 011894 and quote the "breakfast run". It is only 5 min walk from the start and free parking is available. Check out is 12 noon and they do a great Sunday lunch. The manager has even done the race.

Kingston Tourist Information is on (020) 8547 5592.

Cannons Health Club

Cannons Health Club in Surbiton (see location on the route map) has provided a free Seven day guest pass with your race information. (Please see the enclosed leaflet) This leaflet will allow you to use the fantastic facilities at the best Health Club in Kingston. Vouchers are valid from 01 Oct to 30 Nov. Cannons Health Club Surbiton (020 8335 2900)

For other Cannons Health Clubs see www.cannons.co.uk

Official retailer

The triandrun store will be present at the event and will have all the latest running gear and products available for all your running needs. Please contact them on 020 8500 4841. They have some great ASICS shoe in store and on line. If you prefer to buy online then specific ASICS shoes can be bought from our online merchandise area.

TIMEX

Human Race have some great TIMEX watches on offer. TIMEX have a 50 lap model which will allow you to record every mile split. Vital information when you are training for a marathon. See our online merchandise area

Men's Fitness Magazine

Men's Fitness magazine will be at the event and offering some great goodies to subscribers. They will also be covering the race in the magazine.

Local running information

The Stragglers RC are the friendly local running club in SW London, based in Kingston. Club night is Thursday evenings in Ham and they cater for all abilities from 5k to Marathon distance advice. They have over 500 members and only £5 per year to join which allows you some great discounts. For details contact Andrew: andrewghlane@aol.com or visit their website: www.stragglers.org

Finally

The start and finish in Kingston does create a few problems and your help and patience is required to make it work. Please show courtesy to other road users, especially the buses! A wave, smile and a "thank you" does wonders, (and don't forget the marshals).

Special thanks must go to the organising team of; Kingston Town Centre Management, Royal Borough of Kingston, Kingston Police, Hampton Court Palace, Raynet and the St John Ambulance, London Buses, All Saints Church and Eden Walk Shopping Centre.

There are plenty of places to eat and drink close to the finish line especially in the market place area and the Eden Walk Shopping Centre. So why not meet your partner after the race and have a wander round. We hope you enjoy the ASICS Kingston Running Festival and that you and your supporters will have a great day out in Kingston. Should you have important last minute queries, please phone 07885 964 664 between 11am and 6pm.

If you have any comments on the event, please let us know so we can improve the event next year.

Don't forget the ASICS Kingston Breakfast Run on March 30th 2008. Same distances as the Running Festival.