| 1 REGISTRATION FORM AND
RUNNING NUMBER
Please read
these instructions very carefully; and you will find all the
information you need to have a trouble-free Race Day. We will do our utmost to look after you all the
way through each of the 26.2 miles. All you need to do is
follow the few simple guidelines here.
You will have received your registration form which shows your
running number. DO NOT LOSE THIS FORM. You will need it to
collect your running number and kitbag when you register at
the ExCeL Exhibition Centre. The acceptance slip sent to you
in December is not valid. If you do lose or mislay your
registration form please go to the help desk at registration
and remember to bring a form of identification with you.
On the reverse of the registration form you will find a
Charity Survey questionnaire, please complete this section
before you arrive at Registration. There are also instructions
for you to register for your Race Day photos.
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. Please note, an individual can only pick up one
running number in addition to their own.
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.
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 22nd April 11am-8pm.
Thursday 23th April 10am-8pm
Friday 24th April, 10am-8pm.
Saturday 25th April 9am-5pm.
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.
3 OVERSEAS RUNNERS
There are
special desks for overseas runners at registration. They will
be clearly marked.
4 GETTING TO ExCeL
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 NOTE: DURING A CLOSURE OF THE JUBILEE LINE ON SAUTRDAY
25th APRIL (THE LAST DAY OF THE EXHIBITION AND YOUR LAST
CHANCE TO REGISTER) YOU ARE ADVISED TO USE DLR FROM BANK OR
TOWER GATEWAY STATION FOR SERVICES TO CUSTOM HOUSE FOR EXCEL.
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.
5 WHAT
TO DO WITH YOUR BELONGINGS ON RACE DAY
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 also
be given when you collect your running number. You will use
this kitbag for your belongings on Race Day.
6 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
Flora London Marathon after years of trying.
If you withdraw and use the following procedures we will
guarantee you an entry for the 2010 race - subject to you
paying the 2010 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 0YA, latest
postmark - 21st April 2008.
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 12th April or post it to the
address above, latest postmark 25th April 2009. Ill or injured
people who withdraw from the 2009 race will be accepted for
the 2010 race unless they have already carried their entry
over from the 2008 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 2010 Flora
London Marathon by the 30th May 2009.
If you have not heard from us by the 30th May 2009 please
telephone our helpline on 0207 902 0200 no later than this
date, failure to do so will result in loss of entry. The
closing date for receipt of the entry form in the Flora London
Marathon offices is the 12th June 2009.
WE RECOMMEND YOU RETURN THE ENTRY BY RECORDED DELIVERY - LATE
ENTRY FORMS WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES.
7 YOUR TIME AND YOU
The Flora London Marathon accurately times every single runner
by means of a transponder and 'ChampionChip' worn on the
runners' shoes.
When you cross the start line you will run over a mat on the
road which will register your time as you pass over it. There
is another mat under the Finish gantry. Official results and
times will be based on the elapsed time taken by each runner
between the Start line and Finish Line. There are also timing
mats at each 5K point as well as half way.
Your chip will be issued to you at Registration. This must be
fixed to your running shoes in accordance with the
instructions. In the envelope with your running number are
Tyvek strips to attach the Chip to your running shoe.
It is very important that every competitor reads the
instructions showing them how to attach the chip to their shoe
(see magazine). You must wear a chip to get an official
finishing time. If you do not wear your Chip the system will
not record you finishing and therefore will be unable to
provide you with a finishing time.
When you cross the finish line, we have teams of specially
equipped helpers to remove the chip from your shoe – you do
not need to do anything apart from follow the marshal’s
instructions. Please do not fix the chip through your shoe
laces; if you do we will have to cut your laces to get the
Chip back.
7 BEFORE LEAVING HOME
Make sure you have the following: running number and safety
pins, ChampionChip, tyvek strips and instructions on how to
fix it to your shoes (Better still; put it on your shoe before
you leave.) Kit Bag and baggage label with your running number
printed on.
8 BEFORE THE EVENT
Pin your running number to the front of your t-shirt or
running vest. Your running number has a small round sticker in
the bottom left corner with a number between 1 and 9. This
indicates your zone at the Start (see section ‘Start Zones’ on
the following page).
You must not use someone else’s number, nor let someone else
use yours. Imagine the anxiety caused to either set of
relatives and friends in the event of mis-identification
should there be a medical emergency. Don’t do it!
Do not forget your running number. There are no spare running
numbers at the Start. If you forget your number and still
insist on taking part, our marshals will remove you from the
race before you cross the Finish Line. They are instructed to
do this in order to prevent non bona fide runners who have not
entered the event joining in and attempting to cross the line
to receive a Finisher’s medal.
Your ChampionChip timing device must be fixed to your running
shoes in accordance with the instructions. If you need
additional instructions, or Tyvek strips to fix the
ChampionChip, these can be collected from a booth located in
the assembly area at each Start.
If you do not wear your Chip then the system will not record
you finishing and therefore we will be unable to provide you
with a finishing time.
9 TRANSPORT TO THE START
If you are on the Blue Start you need a train to Blackheath
Station. If you are on the Red Start you should travel to
either Greenwich Station or Maze Hill Station. If you are on
the Green Start you should travel to Maze Hill Station. There
are marshals at the exits from all stations and on the routes
to the Start Assembly Areas. Allow 15 – 20 minutes for the
walk from the Station to the Assembly Area for all three
starts.
Trains depart Central London from Charing Cross, Waterloo East
and London Bridge Stations. Marshals at all three stations
will direct you onto the appropriate trains for each Start.
The journey takes between 12 and 20 minutes, with trains
leaving every few minutes from 6.54am onwards.
Travel on these trains is free to competitors, but friends and
relatives must pay the normal fare.
London Underground and Docklands Light Railway are also
offering free travel to runners on Marathon Day for those who
need to connect with mainline stations. You will need to show
your running number to station staff. Friends, family and
other spectators will need to purchase tickets as normal. Take
the earliest train you can, all trains are busy, but the later
ones are especially so.
The Docklands Light Railway (DLR) enables runners to travel to
Greenwich from various stations north and south of the river.
Trains will leave Bank from 07:00am and Tower Gateway Stations
from 05:30am. It is also possible to travel from Stratford to
Canary Wharf and connect with these two services.
Transport to the Start – Cars and coaches
We do not advise competitors to travel by car, but if there is
no other alternative you should remember the following:
Roads in the area will close at 07:00 am, with local
diversions in operation in the Greenwich, Charlton and
Deptford areas.
There is limited parking available on Blackheath.
If you intend to leave your car at the Start, you will need to
retrieve it after the event once you have reached the Finish
in The Mall. There is NO parking in the vicinity of the
Finish.
Coach parties – Please refer to the map on
magazine pages 46 and 47.
10 RACE START TIMES
09:00 The Flora
London Marathon for Elite Women and the UK Athletics and AAA
of England Championships for Women – Blue Start
09:20 The Flora London Wheelchair Marathon for Men and Women –
Blue Start
09:45 The Flora London Marathon Mass Start – Blue, Red & Green
Starts
Elite Men and the UK Athletics and AAA Championships for Men –
Blue Start
11 WHERE AND WHEN TO
START
Numbers 151 to 1000 are
Championship Women competitors. Your number will be blue on a
white background and you will start at the Blue Start on
Blackheath. 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 and 54,251 to 59,000 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 54,250 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.
12 START ASSEMBLY AREAS
Large blimps will be flown over each startalong with signs and
a PA system will help you to find your way around. There are
toilets, Vittel Water, Lucozade Sport, and Tea and Coffee
available at all three Starts.
13 KIT BAGS AND
BAGGAGE LORRIES
The PA Systems at each start will tell you when to put your
kit bag on to the appropriate baggage vehicle in the start
area. All lorries are labelled with a range of numbers
corresponding to runner’s numbers. So for example, if your
running number is 27,582, you should hand your bag in at the
lorry with the number range 27,000 – 27,999. Staff on the
lorries will only accept the official Marathon Kit Bag which
was handed to you at Registration. Kit bags are sorted into
number order to allow for easy retrieval at the Finish. Ensure
you have stuck your self adhesive running number label to the
Kit Bag where indicated, and that you have drawn and tied the
drawstring cord to prevent any items from falling out. Once
you have deposited your bag, move towards the start zones.
Once you have deposited your bag on the lorry, you will not
be able to retrieve your belongings until you arrive at the
Finish. Therefore, please ensure that you have all you require
for your run BEFORE depositing your bag on the lorry. Many
runners wear either old clothes or a bin liner to keep warm
before the Start. If you discard these items when you start
running, please do so carefully so as not to hinder the
runners behind you. Bin liners are slippery when wet!
14 START ZONES
Running numbers are issued on a random basis, to assist with
baggage retrieval at the Finish. Please line up in the
numbered zone (1 – 9) which has been allocated to you on the
basis of your predicted finish time. Marshals will ask to look
at the zone number sticker on your running number and will
only allow runners to enter the corresponding zone at the
start. Do not attempt to promote yourself to a faster zone –
start in the correct
zone, start steadily and you will be much more likely to enjoy
your run.
If you are running in an elaborate fancy dress costume, you
must position yourself at the rear of Zone 9 at the red or
blue start so as not to impede other runners who want to run
as fast as they can. No wheeled vehicles of any kind or
animals are allowed on the course. Anyone who disregards this
rule will be disqualified, removed from the course and banned
from participating in any future Flora London Marathon.
15 THE COURSE
The Blue Start and the Red Start follow different routes for
the first three miles, and then converge on a section of dual
carriageway. The two routes run alongside each other for the
next 800 metres, please do not cross over the central
reservation to the other route, both are accurately measured
and if you switch from one side to the other you may find you
have run a
greater distance. The Green Start merges with the Blue route
after 1200 metres. Some short sections of the route have
traffic running on the opposite side of the road – these are
wide main roads, do not cross over
these coned sections. At various points on the course, slower
runners will be directed to switch from one side of the road
to another. This allows batches of spectators and vehicles to
escape from the island caused by the route. Please follow the
instructions of marshals; the switches do not involve any
extra distance for runners. The wheelchair athletes start
before the mass race, so some runners will be overtaking the
slower wheelchairs during the
race. Please give them plenty of room and do not cut across
their path. There may also be other runners with disabilities
in the race, keep a look out for them, give them space (and
your encouragement) as you pass.
16 THE BLUE LINE
A broken Blue Line painted on the road indicates the shortest
route and represents the exact and correct measured distance.
Elite runners and faster runners follow this line closely;
slower runners will find it less important to do so. Our
agreement with the Highways Department in each of the Boroughs
through which the race passes is that this line must be
removed from the highway before the roads can reopen. The line
will be removed by crews who follow the last runners. If the
line is being removed around you, this is a clear indication
that you no longer have priority on the highway and you must
move onto the pavement.
(See section ‘Slow Runners’ over the page.)
17 TOILETS
In addition to the toilets at the Start, there are facilities
along the route as follows:
• Blue route: 600m, 1.25 miles, 2 miles, 4 miles, 6 miles and
so on, at approximate 2 mile intervals, up to and including 24
miles.
• Red route: 1 & 2 miles – then as Blue route
• Green route: As Blue route, with the exception of 600m,
first toilets are at 1.25 miles.
18 DISTANCE
MARKERS AND TIMING CLOCKS
Each mile and 5km is clearly indicated, and a clock will show
the running time, based on the actual Start time (not elapsed
time.) There is no clock tower at mile 26.
19 DRINKS STATIONS
Drinks Stations are situated as follows: VITTEL WATER is
offered at every mile from 3 miles through to 25 miles. Water
is in 330ml plastic bottles with the top removed. LUCOZADE
SPORT is available at miles 5, 10, 15, 19 and 23. It is
offered in 330ml bottles with the top removed. Please discard
your bottles and pouches to the side of the road – do not drop
them on the road in front of you where they can be hazardous
to runners behind you. A Drinks Station requires an adequate
stretch of straight road to be set out effectively, so not all
stations are immediately adjacent to mile markers. Each
station will be clearly signed. Wherever possible, drinks will
be offered from both sides of the road. Do not rush for the
first table; tables are spaced over approximately 80 metres on
each side and supplies distributed evenly. Before you veer off
to the side, remember there are runners behind
you!
20 SHOWERS
Six shower units are placed on the course and are a welcome
relief in warm weather. If it is a warm day, please use the
shower units to cool down; do not use bottled water from
the Drink stations to tip over your head, as this reduces
supplies for slower runners at the back of the field.
Locations of the shower units are Surrey Quays (just before 9
miles), The Highway (13 miles), East Ferry Road (17 miles),
West India Dock Road (19 miles), The Highway again (22 miles)
and Upper Thames Street (23.5 miles). Units are positioned
slightly off of the course so you will need to deviate from
the Blue Line to pass through. Signs in advance of each unit
showing ‘Shower 200m Ahead’ will indicate that you are
approaching. Obviously the road surface will be wet both under
and around the shower unit, so take extra care at these
points.
21 SPECTATORS
There is a course guide for spectators on page 111. If you
have friends and family coming to support you along the course
make sure they have read these pages carefully. There are now
very few places on the course where there are not many
hundreds of spectators to cheer you on, your friends and
relatives are more likely to catch a glimpse of you if they
avoid the busy
spectator areas of Tower Bridge and the Tower of London and
the City Pride Pub on the Isle of Dogs. Cutty Sark, always one
of the most crowded areas, is currently undergoing
refurbishment and building work. We strongly advise spectators
to avoid this area.
22 WALKING
At some point, perhaps through tiredness, cramp, blisters etc,
you may be forced to walk. If this happens to you, please move
over to the side of road furthest from the Blue Line to allow
runners to overtake. It is both frustrating and tiring for
those who are still able to run to have to dodge around people
who are walking. Please show consideration to your fellow
competitors and walk at the side of the road. Please endeavour
to walk in
single file, not in groups, to give more room for faster
runners to pass.
23 SLOW RUNNERS
Our event only has priority over the roads on the route for
the time that it takes a seven hour runner to reach the finish.
Therefore, if you are slower than this then you will need to
become a ‘prudent pedestrian’ and move onto the pavement.
Before the roads reopen they have to be cleaned and made safe
from bottles and other debris, and the Blue Line removed. If
this activity is happening around you then you must move onto
the pavement. Our marshals and Drinks Stations will still be
in place to assist you, but the Police will encourage you onto
the pavement. Please follow their instructions.
24 DROPPING OUT
There are two sweep up coaches which follow the tail enders
around the course. If you have to drop out, you should make
your way to the nearest St John Ambulance First Aid point,
give them your running number and then wait for the sweep up
coach to stop and pick you up. There are St John Ambulance
personnel on each coach and your details will be transmitted
to the St John Ambulance Information Point at the Finish. You
will be dropped off at the Finish and if you do not require
further treatment you will be able to retrieve your belongings
and make your way home. The other alternative is to make your
own way back to the Finish to collect your belongings. London
Underground, the Docklands Light Railway and London Buses
will honour your running number as a free pass to enable you
to get back to the Finish. Our marshals at all the Underground
and DLR Stations on the route will be able to direct you and
give you printed instructions on how to get back to the
Finish. They will also remove your ChampionChip from your
running shoe and put a cross through your running number, so
that we know that you have been accounted for. You should head
for Embankment Station where our marshals will direct you back
to the Finish Area in The Mall to collect your belongings.
London Underground and Docklands Light Railway (DLR) are
offering free travel to all runners until 5:00pm on Marathon
Day.
Friends and Family will need to purchase tickets as normal.
25 THE FINISH
ROYAL PARKS
The Royal Parks Agency has allowed us to use Horseguards
Parade, Horseguards Road and St James’s Park itself as a
Runner’s Meet and Greet Area and the map on pages xx
shows the layout of facilities. We
are grateful for the Royal Parks Agency for their assistance
and would ask that you show your appreciation by treating the
area with the respect it deserves and not littering the Park
and surrounding areas.
THE FINISH LINE
The Finish is in The Mall. As you cross the Finish Line,
try to keep moving. If you become distressed our medical staff
and St John Ambulance officers will be on hand to care for
you. Please make sure not to obscure your running number with
your arms, otherwise we will not be able to identify you for
the Finish Line photographs. Only participants who finish
inside 8 hours (by 6pm real time) will receive a finish time
and a medal from our Finish Line team on
the day.
SECURE
FINISH
The Finish area is an 800m long secure area with no public
access. Once across the line you will be ‘processed’ through
the system. First your ChampionChip will be removed from your
shoes. Then you will receive a
medal. Then you will be offered a goody bag which contains
Vittel water, Lucozade Sport, a foil blanket, food items and
your finisher t-shirt. You should aim to retrieve your own
belongings from the Baggage lorries as quickly as possible.
Follow the signs, lookout for the colour of your start and
collect your baggage from the lorry with your running number
range displayed on it. Then move away from the baggage
vehicles area and put on some warm clothing. If the weather is
poor there are two covered changing areas available, both of
these are outside the secure Finish area. please refer to the
Finish Area map on page xx for further details.
RUNNER
MEET AND GREET
The runner meet and greet area can be very busy, so please
take note of the following advice. There will be meeting
points in Horse Guards Road and Horse Guards Parade with areas
marked by letters of the alphabet - meet at your family
initial or at another pre-arranged letter. Overseas runners
have their own dedicated repatriation area in the Mall, close
to Admiralty Arch.
Please ask your friends and relatives to meet you at one of
these meeting points and ask them NOT to congregate around the
exit from the secure area. This causes massive congestion for
exiting runners as well as other health and safety issues for
the large numbers of people in this area. Both the Police and
our security personnel are under instructions not to allow
people to congregate here and to move them along. Please make
your arrangements to meet friends and relatives carefully - a
little forward planning will prove extremely worthwhile. We
strongly suggest that you have a contact telephone number to
relay messages, a third party who will be at home and will be
able to take calls and pass messages between you, should your
plans go awry. Please ask any friends or relatives to bring
this magazine with them - there is a spectator guide with
details and a map of the finish area on pages xx.
In the
unlikely event of the Finish Area becoming unavailable as a
result of a
serious incident on race day or the race being stopped for
some other reason, you are advised to agree an alternative
meeting place (our suggestion is not within a mile of the
Finish Area) with friends and relatives. This will ensure you
have a predetermined place to meet which will be more
accessible.
Heavy mobile
phone traffic on all networks mean you may find it impossible
to get a signal in and around the Finish Area. Therefore, do
not rely on mobile phones as your only means of communication.
Remember you will most likely be tired and weary, as well as
proud of your achievement, and meeting with your friends and
relatives after the event will be difficult among perhaps
100,000 other runners and relatives if you haven’t made simple
arrangements. Remember that 50% of runners finish in four
hours plus. You are more likely to run slower than faster than
your predicted time. After crossing the Finish Line it will
take a minimum of 15 minutes and closer
to 30 – 40 minutes to reach the runner meet and greet area.
Remember to build these factors into your arrangements for
meeting friends and relatives.
Also on Horseguards Parade there will be a St John Ambulance
Station and our Information Point, as well as toilets and
payphones. We are very limited in terms of space in this area
and would ask that once you have been reunited with your
friends and relatives, you move off to allow access to runners
behind you.
26 OTHER POINTS TO
REMEMBER
• Tell friends and relatives your running number. It is the
easiest way for our
Information Point to identify you on our database.
• 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.
• Running for a charity that has a reception afterwards? Find
out where it is
and how to get there in advance.
• Need to return to your coach for the journey home? Find out
where it will be parked and how to get there before the Race
starts. Arranging to meet your friends and relatives “at the
finish” is simply not adequate and will only lead to distress
and frustration on both sides. Following the instructions
above will help you to avoid this situation.
27 HEADING HOME
Remember, DLR and London Underground will allow free travel up
to 5pm on their entire network system to RUNNERS ONLY.
Friends, relatives and spectators will need to purchase
tickets as normal.
© copyright The London Marathon Ltd. 2009
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