Aldershot, Hampshire, UK
3 & 4 October 2009
On Monday March 9th this site will be moving to:
http://www.caesarscampenduranceruns.co.uk
Official qualifying event for:
GBP280 purse for awards put up and sponsored by:
Where, how to get there:
The event is on MoD land just west of Aldershot. Caesar's Camp is an iron age fort, used by the Roman troops (hence the name) and now by the British Army as a base. Aldershot is in the north east corner of Hampshire, bordering Surrey, within easy reach of the M3 motorway, junction 4, then following the A331 down.
Course:
The course is a 10 mile loop, completed 3 x for the 30, 5 x for the 50 and 10 x for the 100 miles, all in the same direction.
There are no roadcrossings and the running surface is firetrail, access tracks and singletrack. It will be fully marked with proper signposting around junctions and marshalling at crucial points. At night we use lightsticks in strategic places. This is a tough loop!!
We have measured the altitude rise and drop multiple times. Due to a landslide at one part causing an uphill diversion we now have the final course measured at 1520ft per lap, making the 100 15200ft in climb.
Date, start time, cost & prices:
Start time - 50 and 100 miles - 12 midday on the Saturday, Midnight 30 at 12:00 Saturday to Sunday night.
Who can enter:
Anyone is welcome to enter the 30 and 50 miles.
For the 100 miles you need to have completed 3 other ultra's in the last 2 years within the cut-off time set by the respective organisations. If you feel up to the 100 without the experience, entry is at my discretion.
The course is closed for vehicles other than parking at the start. There will be two checkpoints, one at the start and one at 5.6 miles. Both will carry a full range of drinks, gels, and food. The second checkpoint can be reached from Beacon Hill Road where there is some space to park cars and walk up to the checkpoint should crews wish to do so.
Aldershot is not exactly a culinary heaven (it's pretty dire alround really), unless you are into take-away food of dubious quality. If so, the area around Station Rd and Victoria Rd, downtown A'shot, has a fine range of shabby establishments. For any decent evening meals you will need to travel to nearby Farnham which has a Pizza Express, Cafe Uno, Cafe Rouge and various other more international delights. Booking a table is recommended in all of these as they tend to get full on the Friday and Saturday.
Note for all competitors and crews:
As competitors and crews, please do not leave any litter around anywhere, don't go off course or create shortcuts or new trails. Treat the area with respect.
Equipment recommendations:
The race being laps you can change throughout the run adding or removing layers as and when needed.
The top of the fort is quite exposed so if the weather is not working with us, it can be cold up there. About half of the course is tree covered, the other half is heathland.
As far as shoes go, a pair of Pegasus or Jazz will work fine but thinner roadshoes are not recommended as you might bruise your feet on the rocky up and downhills. So if you use roadshoes make sure you have sufficient underfoot protection.
Questions and entries should be send to :
henk_vanderbeek-at-yahoo.com (replace -at- with the at symbol)
Coming from the east, exit the A3 in Guildford, follow A31 down to Farnham/Aldershot or the A31 up from Winchester if you come from the coast.
Anyone who needs a lift for raceday from a railway station, please contact me.
For 2009 the course will be the same as in 2008.
Entry fees:
Midnight 30 Miles - GBP20.00
50 Miles - GBP26.00
100 Miles - GBP33.00
The fee includes food & drinks every 5 miles, race t-shirt and my bemused laughter when you have a hard time.
You can send the entry fee, cheques made out to "Caesar's Camp Endurance Runs" to:
Henk van der Beek, 66 Stratfield House, Birchett Road, Aldershot, Hampshire, GU11 1LW
Entries on the day are ok, please indicate via mail if you plan to arrive on the day without having entered formally so that I can estimate what we need for t-shirts, food and other things.
There are no entry forms. Terms and conditions will at the race registration for all to read against which you sign to indicate that you read, understood and agreed to the terms and conditions.
This means that you will not receive any post from me, just find your name on the online entry list.
Via sponsorship by Fitstuff, Guildford we are now able to offer the following prices: 1st Male/Female GBP40, 2nd Male Female GBP20, 3rd Male/Female GBP10. The prices are the same across both distances and are being awarded immediately upon finish of the runner, unless some irregularity has been raised during the run. The prices exists out of vouchers for Fitstuff in Guildford, not cash! This is for the 50 & 100 Miles only.
Cutoff times:
30 miles - 9 hrs for 50 and 100 miles
60 miles - 20 hrs for the 100 miles
No cutoff times for the 30 and 50 miles on finishing times, 30 hrs cutoff for the 100 miles
Support, safety, nutrition and crewing:
Buddies and pacers are allowed from 30 miles for the 50 milers and from 60 miles for the 100 milers.
Accomodation pre and post run, and places to eat:
The nearest and possibly cheapest hotel is the Premier Travel Inn, less than 1 mile from the start, on the Wellington Roundabout, next to Tesco superstore.
Other hotels are the Falcon and the Hogs Back Hotel.
Tesco is obviously also ideal to pick up any last minute essentials (painkillers, anyone?).
Obviously for the midnight 30 you will need a headtorch. For everyone who starts at 12 midday, most people will need a headtorch heading into the night.
If you don't use one and hit the ground, such is life, don't come crying to me or other staff.
or alternatively on 07891 788274.
Page Updated 17:32 07/03/2009