Frequently Asked Questions - Cheshire Oaks Chester Half Marathon
WHEN & WHERE
When is the race in
2012?
Where is the race start &
finish?
Where can I
park?
Where can I stay in
Chester?
THE COURSE
What is the race
route?
What are the rules for the
event?
How far apart are
the drinks stations?
What drinks will
be available?
Will there be start
zones?
Will there be mile or
km markers?
Where will the
toilets be on the route?
ENTERING THE RACE
How do I
enter?
How old do I need to be to
run?
Do I need a qualifying
time to run?
How do I get my race
pack?
Do I have to run for
charity to get a race number?
I want to run for
charity
I can't run - What
is your refund policy? Can I transfer my
number?
What is the race
cut-off time?
What if I am ill before the
race?
Can I run in Fancy
Dress?
Can I wear an
iPod or music player?
Can I enter as
a relay team?
ATHLETE
SERVICES
Is there a baggage
store?
Is there an Expo?
Where are the
toilets?
When will the results be
available?
WATCHING THE
RACE
Where is a good place to
spectate?
What can my family & friends do in
Chester?
WHEN & WHERE
When is the
race in 2012?
Sunday 13th May 2012, starting at 9am
Where are
the race start and finish?
The race start is at Chester Racecourse, Chester, CH1
2LY. The race finishes on Northgagte Street outside the
Town Hall and Cathedral CH1 2HJ . The finish is a
short walk away from the Racecourse.
Where can
I park?
Racecourse Parking
Parking for competitors and supporters will be available on the
grass at the centre of the Chester Racecourse. The car park will
open at 0630hrs and will close at 0815hrs to allow for the start of
the race.
There will be a fee of £2.00 for parking. Please have the
correct money ready when you arrive. The car park will re-open at
approximately 0930hrs and will remain open until approximately
1600hrs. Disabled parking will be available closer to the main
buildings of the racecourse.
After the race there may be queues at busy times, please be
patient whilst we work to help everybody leave as quickly and
smoothly as possible.
City Centre Parking
There are over 3,000 car parking places available in car parks
within easy walking distance of the racecourse in Chester city
centre. These car parks will charge a variety of fees dependent on
the length of time vehicles are parked. Further details of the
locations of the council car parks and the fees charged can be
found here.
Park & Ride
Details of the park and ride locations opening early on race day
will be advised nearer to race day.
Where can I stay in
Chester?
Please see our accommodation page.
THE COURSE
What is the
race route?
You can see the route here. The 2012
route starts at Chester Racecourse, before heading up Watergate
Street, through The Walls, along the inner ring road to Fountains
roundabout. Then it's out of the city along Parkgate Road,
towards Two Mills. Shortly before Two Mills, the runners will
start their return to Chester, via Woodbank, Saughall and Blacon
for a City Centre finish by the Town Hall and Cathedral.
It will be a fast course, with the first half on wide roads to
ensure that there will be no congestion, so that everyone gets a
good start.
There will be lots of support, especially on the second half of
the course through Saughall and Blacon, where the local communities
will be out in force to cheer you on and will no doubt be armed
with hosepipes if it's a hot day!
Drinks stations will be every 3 miles, providing bottled water
and portaloos, with a Shotz gel station at the halfway point and Shotz electrolyte tab at the
finish. We'll guarantee that we'll have lots of enthusiastic
volunteers to help and support you along the way.
What are the rules for the
event?
This race is run under UK Athletics rules.
How far apart are the drinks
stations?
The drinks stations will be every 3 miles.
What
drinks will be available?
Water will be available at all the drinks stations and at the
finish. There will be a Shotz gel station at the halfway point
and Shotz electrolyte tab at the finish.
Will there be start
zones?
Yes, there will be start zones clearly marked with estimated finish
times. Please assemble in the appropriate zone for your expected
finish time.
Will there be mile or km
markers?
There will be mile markers, every mile.
Where will the toilets be on the
route?
There will be toilets at every drinks station, as well as at the
start and finish.
ENTERING THE RACE
How do I
enter?
Before you can enter a race you need to register with us here. Once you have registered
with us you can enter any of our races without having to input all
of your information again.
After registering, to enter the 2012 Cheshire Oaks Chester Half
Marathon please click here.
How old do
I need to be to run?
To enter the half marathon, you must be 17 or over on race
day.
Do I need a
qualifying time to run?
No, you don't need a previous qualifying time to
run. But don't forget it is a run, and there is a race
cut-off time of 3 hours.
How do I get my race
pack?
If you live in the UK, your race pack will be posted out to you
two weeks before the race. For those living outside the UK,
race packs will be available for collection the day before the race
and on the morning of the race.
Do I
have to run for charity to get a race number?
No, it is your choice whether to run for charity or not. Many
runners choose to run for a charity.
I want to run for
charity
The Cheshire Oaks Chester Half Marathon supports these nominated charities. You can
of course run for any charity of your choosing.
I can't run - What is your refund
policy? Can I transfer my number?
As with the vast majority of races, we do not offer refunds or
deferrals. However, you can transfer your entry to another runner.
To do this, at no extra cost, please email Linda, who will contact
you with details of how to transfer your place.
What is the race cut-off
time?
The race cut-off time will be 3 hours. The road closures will be
lifted from each section in turn based on a 3 hour finish time.
Marshals on the road will be stood down and normal rules of the
road will apply. You will be expected to become a "prudent
pedestrian" once road closures are lifted.
What if I
am ill before the race?
Running a half marathon is a very strenuous activity, and
running if you are ill could seriously threaten your health. We
recommend that you do not run if you feel ill on race day. If in
doubt, consult your doctor.
Can I run in Fancy
Dress?
Yes we welcome runners in fancy dress. Why not run as a
Roman Centurion? It would be great to see the streets full of
Centurions again!
We do ask that you are considerate to your fellow runners, and
don't wear a costume that might be obstructive or dangerous to
others.
Can I wear an iPod or music
player?
Wearing a music player isn't currently against UK Athletics
rules. However, it is not recommended. For your own safety you need
to be aware of what is around you, and to be able to take
instructions from marshals.
Can I
enter as a relay team?
There is no relay class at this event.
ATHLETE
SERVICES
Is there a
baggage store?
Yes there will be a baggage store at the racecourse.
Is there an
Expo?
There is not a formal Expo as such, but some of our sponsors,
partners and charities will have stands at the event on race
day.
Where are the
toilets?
There are ample toilets at the racecourse, all clearly signed. We
are supplementing these with even more portable toilets which will
be close to the start. There will also be toilets at every
drink station and at the finish.
When
will the results be available?
Draft results will be posted online soon after the race, and final
results will be available no later than two weeks after the
race.
WATCHING THE
RACE
Where is a good place to
spectate?
The best place to watch the Cheshire Oaks Chester Half Marathon
is at the start or finish.
The start of the half marathon is 9:00 at Chester Racecourse. This
is always an exciting spectacle to see our runners heading off on
the 13.1 miles route. From the Racecourse you can walk the short
distance to the Town Hall to cheer home the athletes. The first
runner will be expected to finish at 10:05.
On the route there are several villages where supporters can
cheer on the athletes, such as Saughall and Blacon. Another popular
place will be at the halfway point, which is The Yacht Inn near Two
Mills (access along A550 / Shotwick lane). If you drive out to
spectate on the course, you must abide by all the road closures and
please park responsibly to ensure no obstructions.
What can my family do in
Chester?
Chester is
a destination city on its own right, with lots to do.
There is fantastic shopping with superior high-street stores and
boutiques.
Enjoy a taste of history walking round our famous Roman walls,
visiting the Roman amphitheatre and seeing the unique Rows (dating
from Medieval times). Or take a relaxing stroll along the
River Dee.
If you get hungry there are numerous restaurants, pubs and
delicatessens to suit all tastes. All this in easy walking
distance.
If you want to venture just outside the city, look out for the
Cheshire Oaks designer outlet, Chester Zoo and
the Blue Planet Aquarium.
Visit Activ Chester Online Guide to Chester for
more ideas. To get a feel for our beautiful city look at Chester - a
portrait.