It's just a week until you will be unleashed in to Pippingford Park for the inaugural Rat Race Green Belter. We’ve been blazing trails through this rugged estate within Ashdown Forest to find the best biking and running routes for your delectation, we hope by the end of the event you’ll agree. So what’s the score? Well...
Pippingford Green Belter Format Update
Timings
Friday:
1800 – Site opens for camping
Saturday:
0900 – Registration opens
1030 – Pre-event briefing
1030 – Registration closes
1100 – Start
1400 – First finishers expected
1600 – Last finishers expected
1630 – Course closes
1630 – Prizegiving
The Course
To make the most of the area and to ensure you get to sample all the best bits, there will be several colour-coded loops for you to complete in the following order:
Red Run loop 1 – This is a short burst along some tracks to get you warmed up and ready for the rest of the day ahead
Blue Bike loop 1 – A shorter loop taking in some tracks, intricate paths and some of the newly established mountain biking trail.
Yellow Bike loop 2 – This takes you a little further afield along tracks & paths then on to some nice quiet back roads for a quick blast until you duck back in to the estate.
White Run loop 2 – You’re back on foot for the final loop with an entertaining run along more paths & tracks as well as a section of the downhill mountain biking course. Watch out for the steep descent!
Each loop starts and finishes at the event village.
Kayaking - Within run loop 2 you will visit the kayaking stage where you will have a short paddle before carrying on your run.
Obstacles - Along the course we will aim to slip in a couple of obstacles to keep you on your toes. You’ll just have to wait and see where they pop up but expect to get a bit wet & muddy.
The Green Machine - If that wasn’t enough, once you’ve completed all the loops you have one final hurdle to overcome, The Green Machine!
Conquer all that and you deserve to cross the line.
The course will be fully waymarked so no need to navigate your way round. When you register you will receive an info sheet including a detailed route map which you can bring with you if you wish. There will also be maps to view at the event village.
Safety & Conduct
Conduct – Please respect the estate and any other users. Some of the course overlaps with running & biking on the same sections. Be courteous to other participants, control your speed and warn others of your presence.
Accidents & injuries – Look after each other out there, if you see someone in trouble please stop and help. Use other participants to get a message to the nearest marshal who can call for help.
Litter – Do not drop litter while out on the course. You return to the event village several times where you can dispense with it.
MOD Site – This area is regularly used as an MOD training area, do not pick up or touch any foreign objects.
Live roads – While on Bike Loop 2 you will travel along a section of quiet B roads. These roads will be LIVE. Please obey the Highway Code and remain vigilant.
Teams – if you are entered as a team, you must stay within 50m of each other.
Kit
You don’t need much to have a belter of an adventure but here are some essentials:
Mandatory Kit (*1 denotes per team sufficient):
- Mountain Bike
- Bike Helmet
- Suitable clothing for running & biking in for all weather conditions
- Whistle & space blanket *
- 1st Aid Kit*
Recommended Kit (*1 denotes per team sufficient):
- Trainers you don’t mind getting wet & muddy
- BIKE BELL
- Bike Lock *
- Compass *
- Towel/spare clothes for afterwards, expect to get wet!
Note: We’ve added BIKE BELL to the recommended list. On sections of the course some tracks will be used for the running & biking loops. We’ve added a bike bell as a safety measure so you can warn others you are on your way. If you do not have a bike bell please be courteous and let your fellow participants know you are coming by giving them a little shout.
If you are short of any of this on the day, the Rat Race Store will be onsite to help you get geared up. See later for more info on the latest deals and also their kit hire offerings.
You need no kit for kayaking – this is all provided (kayak, paddle and buoyancy aid).
Location
Pippingford Park is 9 km SE of East Grinstead as the crow flies! It lies just off the A22 which extends between East Grinstead and Uckfield. You will therefore arrive via the A22 either from the north (East Grinstead) or the south (Uckfield). Click here to view on a map. Enter the estate and follow the event signage to the parking.
Parking
Parking is handily placed right next to the event village. On entering Pippingford Park, take the first right and continue down the track. The parking is in the flat section of the field to the left of the track. A marshal and signage will be on hand to guide you.
Registration
Registration
The Registration will be open from 0900. Please come early to avoid queuing.
Start list will be published at the registartion. At the registration you will receive:
- Race number (Medial Form will be printed on the back of the Race Number. Please do not forget to fill it in)
- Safety pins
- Endura Rat Race T-shirt (please note that there will be no fitting available, sizes will be on a display and will be give on first-come, first-served basis)
- Rat Race Buff
- Info sheet
Make sure your race number is visible on you at all times during the event.
Following this newsletter you will receive an email 'Virtual goodie bag'
outlining the special offers available to the competitors for the Pippingford Challenge.
Rat Race Store
Rat Race Store will be on site for any kit advice, last minute bits n'
bobs with a 2XU representative in attendance to give you the lowdown on their compression wear. Remember your Rat Race Reward £10 discount is only available online but we will be featuring these great offers at Pippingford:
- 20% off all Ron Hill
- 20% off 2XU compression wear
- 15% off all packs
- 15% off all shoes
- Half price Honey Stinger Energy Chews
- B.O.G.O.F on all Buffs
Bike Hire
If you do not own a bike you can still hire it from the Rat Race Store for
£39 per bike. Hire includes - bike bell, helmet, bottle cage including complimentary 750ml Rat Race water bottle. If you sign up to Rat Race Store Newsletter you will receive 10% discount!
Facilities
Catering – There will be some catering on hand to get refuelled after a full day’s adventure. They will be serving toasted sandwiches, teas, coffee and other refreshments and snacks. There will be water available at the finish and there is a water tap on site.
Toilets – There will be toilets available at the event village only
Camping – While there is no official camping site, you are welcome to camp at Pippingford Park on Friday night. There will be no showers facilities available. If you wish to camp please turn up after 1800.
Crewing
We are still looking for more crew for this exciting event. Perhaps forward this newsletter to a friend that might like to help. Be entertained and do a sterling chunk of work for us on the course. Pre-event. During event. After event. Please email us at crew@ratraceadventure.com
Green Belter Team
|
