Flora London Marathon 2004 Final Instructions
The Flora London Marathon has been described as a combination
of the Lord Mayor's Show, Wimbledon, A Wembley Cup Final and
an episode of EastEnders and you are one of the 33,000 plus
stars of the show. Indeed, you may find yourself on the TV
with 'Janine Butcher' and 'Spencer Moon' from the famous soap
or running alongside famous people from the Sports world such
as Graham Gooch, Adrian Moorhouse, Mark Hughes or Graham Taylor.
If beating politicians is your thing, look out for Iain Duncan
Smith and Jeffrey Archer.
The race is unique in bringing together world-class athletes,
British club runners vying for national titles, fun runners,
TV stars and a vast array of costumed runners. This is your
chance to perform in front of almost a million spectators
out on the streets and a worldwide television audience.
You are taking part on a proven world record course over
a varied tour of the world's greatest city. Make the most
of it. For many taking part, completing the Flora London Marathon
is one of the most cherished and memorable moments of their
life and we want you to enjoy the experience to the full (well,
as much as you can enjoy running 26.2 miles!). So read carefully
the step-by-step guide to everything from Race registration
to travelling to the Start and what you may expect to find
on the course and at the Finish.
We have covered everything you need to know in order to make
this day a very special one, so all you have to do is run
those 26.2 miles.
1 REGISTRATION FORM AND RUNNING NUMBER
By now you should have received your registration form which
shows your running number. On the reverse of this form you
will find a Charity Survey questionnaire, please complete
this section before you arrive at Registration. DO NOT LOSE
THIS FORM. You will need to exchange this for your running
number and kitbag when you register at ExCel exhibition centre
- see Step 2. The acceptance slip sent to you in December
is not acceptable.
You will be asked to sign the declaration on your Registration
Form in front of the Registration Clerk. You may be asked
for personal identification. With your number and kitbag you
will also be given a set of final instructions. Please read
them carefully.
While preferring you to register in person, we recognise
that in some cases this may be impossible.You can nominate
someone to collect your number for you. The person you nominate
must have the following: a letter written and signed by you,
authorising that person - by name - to collect your number.
You must also sign your registration form before handing it
to them. Your signature will be checked against your original
entry form. The person collecting your running number should
have suitable identification with them. Failure to comply
with the above instructions may lead to your running number
not being issued.
Finally, take care of your running number and fill in the
medical information on the reverse side. Do not tamper with
your number in any way, note that duplicate numbers cannot
be issued under any circumstances.
OVERSEAS RUNNERS
There are special desks for overseas runners at registration.
They will be clearly marked.
2 HOW TO REGISTER
You must register and collect your number before Race Day.
Registration is at the Flora London Marathon Exhibition held
at ExCeL,
1 Western Gateway, Royal Victoria Dock, London E16 1XL and
is open at the following times: Wednesday 14th April to Friday
16th April, 10am-8pm and Saturday 17th April, 8am-5pm.
ExCeL is connected to the Jubilee line at Canning Town via
a 3-minute DLR journey (Docklands Light Railway) to ExCeL's
dedicated station Custom House for the west entrance. (Prince
Regent station for the east entrance). ExCeL is also connected
directly to the Central, Northern, Circle, District and Waterloo
& City lines at Bank and the Circle and District lines
at Tower Hill via the DLR. ExCeL is in London Underground
Zone 3. We strongly advise that you purchase a return or travelcard
as ticket purchasing facilities are limited at ExCeL. All
valid London Underground tickets are accepted on Docklands
Light Railway (DLR). Custom House DLR station is adjacent
to the ExCeL centre entrance.
Please try to register on Wednesday or Thursday if you live
in or around London. This will allow Friday and Saturday for
runners from further afield. After registering, take some
time to look round the Flora London Marathon Exhibition -
the biggest of its kind in the UK.
3 YOUR TIME AND YOU
The Flora London Marathon times every single runner by use
of a transponder and 'ChampionChip' worn on the runners' shoes.
Official results and times will be based on the elapsed time
taken by each runner betweenthe Start line and Finish Line.
You will be issued with your chip at Registration.
It is very important that every competitor reads the instructions
on page 10 showing them how to attach the chip to their shoe.
You must wear a chip to get an official
finishing time.
4 GETTING TO THE START
Special trains, courtesy of South East Trains will be running
to the Starts from Charing Cross, Waterloo East and London
Bridge at frequent intervals between 7am and 9am. See point
9 to confirm which start you are on.
If you are starting from the BLUE START (see timetable page
77] you must catch a train that goes to Blackheath Station.
From there you can easily walk to the Start in 15-20 minutes.
If you are starting at the RED START, your trains go to either
Greenwich or Maze Hill (see timetable page 77). Both stations
are about 20 minutes walk from the Red Start. Runners arriving
at Greenwich Station must use the St Mary's Gate entrance
(William Walk and Romney Road). Runners arriving at Maze Hill
Station should use the National Maritime Museum gate entrance.
No cars are allowed into the Park.
If you are starting from the GREEN START you should catch
a train to Maze Hill (see timetable page 77) from there it
is a 15-20 minute walk to the Green Start. Subject to your
acceptance of the conditions of travel, a copy of which will
be included with your final instructions at Registration,
travel for competitors is free on these trains only - your
running number will be your ticket (Travel on connecting Underground
services are not free). Non-runners must purchase a ticket
as normal.
5 TRAVELLING BY CAR
Blackheath has limited car parking areas and these will be
signposted. However, please remember that all roads in the
vicinity of the Start will be closed by 8am.
No parking will be allowed at the Finish.
6 WHAT TO DO WITH YOUR BELONGINGS
At registration you will be given an envelope containing your
running number and an adhesive numbered sticker. This sticker
must be fixed to the front of the kitbag which you will be
given as you leave the Registration Area.
Do not leave without collecting this
kitbag - you will need it for your belongings on Race Day.
7 RACE DAY
On April 18th, we suggest you wear old clothes or a bin liner
before reporting to the Start. Yes, a bin liner! With holes
cut for the head and arms, it will provide you with neat,
disposable, waterproof protection. At the right time, put
your clothes in the kit bag and place them on the baggage
vehicles supplied by TNT parked nearby.
Under absolutely no circumstances will the baggage vehicles
accept anything other than the official kit bag which should
display your running number on the adhesive sticker
(see note 6).
You will be advised by our Public Address when to hand in
your kitbag. At that time look for the vehicle which bears
numbers relating to your running number.
At the Finish, you will be able to collect your kit bag
from the same vehicle, parked in The Mall, on production of
your running number.
8 DROPPING OUT
If you have to drop out during the race for any reason, make
your way to the Finish to retrieve your kitbag. You can travel
free - on production of your race number - on Docklands Light
Railway and London Underground and you should head for Charing
Cross or Embankment Station. Then walk across Trafalgar Square
and through Admiralty Arch to The Mall.
Free travel only applies to runners who, having dropped out
of the race, are returning to the finish. You cannot use your
race number to travel home after the race or after Registration.
Kit bags not collected by 5.30pm will be taken to our office.
Contact us there after Race Day.
9 WHERE AND WHEN TO START
Your number tells you where to start.
Numbers 151 to 1,000 are Championship competitors. Your number
will be blue on a white background and you will start at the
Blue Start on Blackheath. Use Blackheath Station if you are
travelling by train. Your final instructions (Which you will
have collected at Registration) will include details of the
special arrangements for you at the Start.
Numbers 1,001 to 28,000 also have a blue number on a white
background and will start at the Blue Start. Use Blackheath
Station if travelling by train.
Numbers from 28,001 to 33,250 you will have a green number
on a white background and will start from the Green Start
on Blackheath. Use Maze Hill Station.
Numbers 33,251 to 59,000 will have a red number on a white
background and will start from the Red Start which assembles
inside Greenwich Park. Use Greenwich or Maze Hill stations
(see time table page 77).
- There will be drinks and toilets at all three starts.
- The Women's Wheelchair Race (Blue Start) will start from
the at 8.55am.
- The Elite women and Women's (Blue Start) Championship
Races will begin at 9.05am.
- The Men's Wheelchair Race (Blue Start) starts from the
Blue Start at 9.15am.
The Elite men and Men's Championship Races (Blue Start),
the runners at the Green Start and the Mass Field at the
Red Start will begin at 9.45am.
Runners on the Red, Blue and Green Starts should position
themselves in the marked time zones according to the small
number (1-9) which is on their running number. Make sure you
get there in plenty of time - it will get crowded! If the
day is chilly, wear some old clothes or bin liners which you
can discard safely (See point 2). Remember that your running
number must not be obscured while you are running.
10 IF YOU ARE ILL OR INJURED
You must be fit and well to run a marathon. Severe exertion
during or soon after any kind of fever is extremely dangerous.
If you find yourself in this situation you must withdraw -
even if this is the first time you have been accepted for
the Race after years of trying.
If you withdraw and use the following procedures we will guarantee
you an entry for the 2005 race - subject to you paying the
2005 entry fee.
IF YOU WISH TO WITHDRAW
THIS IS WHAT YOU MUST DO
1) Return your registration form to this address: Withdrawals,
Flora London Marathon, PO Box 3460, London SE1 8YA,
latest postmark - 18th April 2004.
2) If you become ill or injured after you have collected
your running number, return it to the Help Desk in Registration
at ExCel before 4pm on Saturday 17th April or post
it to the address above, latest postmark 18th April 2004.
Ill or injured people who withdraw from the 2004 Race will
be accepted for the 2005 race unless they have already carried
their entry over from the 2003 race or if the entry was received
from a charity or sponsor - providing they pay the appropriate
entry fee and follow the correct procedure for withdrawal.
Runners will receive an 'Ill or Injured' entry form for the
2005 Flora London Marathon by the 31st May 2004.
If you have not heard from us by the above date, please telephone
our Helpline on 0207 902 0189 immediately. The closing date
for the return of completed entry forms is 14th June 2004.
Late entry forms WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED.
11 AFTER THE RACE
Once you cross the finish line your ChampionChip will be removed
(see page 10), after that please try to keep moving. If you
become distressed our medical staff and St John Ambulance
officers will be on hand to care for you.
NOTE: If you are on medication or have a physical condition
that could affect your treatment, please write the details
on the reverse of your running number and put a red cross
on the front. Once your ChampionChip has been removed you
will receive your souvenir medal. You will then be given a
goody bag which contains your Finisher shirt, a foil blanket
and a variety of food and rehydration products. You should
then proceed as quickly as possible to reclaim your numbered
kitbag from the baggage vehicles; you must show your running
number to do this. Then move away from the Baggage vehicles
area and put on some warm clothing.
Do not linger in the Finish areas eating, drinking or comparing
notes - please vacate these areas as soon as you are able;
remember, over 30,000 runners must pass through there. If
the day is wet, you will be able to shelter and change clothes
in the underground car park at Waterloo Place on the left-hand
side of The Mall looking towards Admiralty Arch. This will
be signposted.
12 MEETING FRIENDS AND RELATIVES
There will be a repatriation area in Horse Guards Road and
Horse Guards Parade (see page 82) with areas marked by letters
of the alphabet - meet at your family initial or at another
pre-arranged letter. A good idea is to arrange for a third
party to be at home on race day so that you can communicate
through them if for some reason you and your family cannot
find each other. Heavy mobile phone traffic on all networks
around the Finish area means it may be impossible to get a
signal. Do not rely on your mobile as your only means of communication.
Overseas runners have their own dedicated repatriation area
in the Mall, close to Admiralty Arch.
Please note: there will be a PA system in operation throughout
the day at the Finish, this is only for the official race
commentary and emergency announcements, NOT for
runners seeking lost friends or family.
DO'S AND DON'TS
A copy of final instructions,
including detailed information on all aspects of Race Day
and Start and Finish procedures, will be given to you at registration.
DO read these very carefully.
RACE DAY SAFETY AND SECURITY
Please keep all your personal possessions with you at all
times prior to and after the race.
DO NOT give your bag to anyone other than your friends and
relatives or the Baggage bus staff.
DO NOT bring any valuables with you.
Report any unattended bag to any nearby steward or Police
Officer.
Please report any suspicious incident to the police or a
nearby steward.
DO NOT wear new shoes on Race Day.
DO NOT leave valuables in the kit-bag you place on the baggage
vehicles unless you have absolutely no choice.
DO check out the Flora London Marathon souvenir and clothing
stand at the Registration Exhibition.
In August you will receive a new copy of MARATHON NEWS containing
the entry form for the 2005 Flora London Marathon. If you
have withdrawn from this year's race using the Ill or Injured
option (and have not already carried your entry over from
the 2003 race) DO NOT use the entry form in MARATHON NEWS
(please see note 10 for important news about withdrawing).
If you do not want to run the 2005 race, DO pass your copy
of MARATHON NEWS on to a friend.
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