Frequently Asked Questions | Canalrace C.I.C.

Frequently Asked Questions

THE 3 MOST FREQUENTLY ASKED


QUESTION	SHORT ANSWER	LONGER ANSWER
What shoes should I wear?	Comfortable ones	C O M F O R T A B L E O N E S
Are there toilets at the Start?	Rarely	There may be Canal & River Trust, public or hotel toilets nearby, but we do not hire event toilets.
Are there toilets on the route?	Rarely	There are Canal & River Trust toilets shown on the provided maps. Most require a key. Competitors are requested to ask permission and leave a monetary donation if they use canal-side pub/café/shop facilities.

NAVIGATION


QUESTION	SHORT ANSWER	LONGER ANSWER
Is route-finding easy?	Yes	Simply follow the canal, be wary at junctions, and know your position on the excellent waterproof maps provided.
Is the course marked?	No, but…	…towpaths are waymarked, however, the waymarks can be hard to spot.
Do you provide maps?	Yes	We provide very good waterproof maps. You are strongly advised to familiarise yourself with these maps beforehand.
Are map distances accurate?	Yes, as much as possible	We use official canal map mile marks. These show waterway distances, and not towpath ones, which are different because of bridge and tunnel crossings. (It’s not our fault you can’t walk on water.) Do not expect map distances to match unofficial gpx files that you may have found on the internet.
Are routes fixed?	Yes, but…	…there are sometimes official towpath diversions which can add or reduce overall distances.
Do you provide gpx files?	No	The Canalrace C.I.C. ethos is to provide low-cost events. You do not need expensive navigation equipment. Please do not rely on gpx files found on the internet.
Do you provide trackers?	No	Trackers are expensive to hire, the Canalrace C.I.C. ethos is to provide low-cost events.
Are trackers banned?	No	Those competitors who believe the rest of the world needs to know their whereabouts, may use their own trackers or phone apps.

QUALIFICATION


QUESTION	SHORT ANSWER	LONGER ANSWER
Do I need to have successfully completed an ultra to enter?	No	We have seen successful completions of 145 mile races by runners who previously had only competed at marathon distance.
Do Canalrace events earn points to qualify for other ultras	In some cases but…	… we do not provide official course details directly to other race organisers (e.g. UTMB). Frankly, we want you to enjoy our races on their merits and not as a means of entering another event.

CUT-OFF TIMES


QUESTION	SHORT ANSWER	LONGER ANSWER
Are cut-off times fixed?	Yes	As a rule, if you arrive at a CP after the cut-off you are DQd. If your late arrival is because you stopped to help a runner in difficulty, you may be allowed to continue only if, in the opinion of the CP Principal, you are capable of reaching the next CP within its cut-off time.
When must I leave a CP after arrival?	Within 40 minutes	The rule is that competitors have a maximum of 40 minutes stoppage time at any point. We expect supported runners to abide by this rule when meeting their crews.
What if I’m over the cut-off because of a diversion on the route?	You are DQd.	If, before the Start, you were notified of that diversion, you are DQd. If the diversion happened during the event (e.g. a police incident) you may be allowed to continue if, in the opinion of the CP Principal, you are capable of reaching the next CP within its cut-off time.
What if I’m over the cut-off because I went off-course and did extra miles?	You are DQd.	You are DQd even if, in your opinion, you could easily reach the next CP before its cut-off. (Because in our opinion, you got lost once and may get lost again!)

UNSUPPORTED RUNNERS (crewed by Canalrace C.I.C.)


QUESTION	SHORT ANSWER	LONGER ANSWER
What food is available at CPs?	Cheap & basic	We provide simple snacks and basic meals with vegetarian options for “average” people. We cannot afford specialist food for individuals. Most CPs will also have fresh fruit. If you have special dietary needs or suffer allergic reactions to common foods, you are advised to bring your own. Your bag will be made available at all checkpoints (except those very close to the Finish).
Are drinks available at CPs?	Yes	Most checkpoints will have common squashes, cola and other carbonated drinks, plus tea, coffee and hot chocolate. All CPs will have plentiful tap water. We do not supply specialised sports drinks.
What happens if I drop out?	Tell HQ	You must notify Race HQ directly. You will then be reunited with your kit bag and transported to the nearest train or bus station. If late in the race, you may get lucky and have a lift to the Finish.

SUPPORTED RUNNERS (with your own crew)


QUESTION	SHORT ANSWER	LONGER ANSWER
What food is available at CPs?	None	Unsupported runners have paid extra for food at CPs.
Are drinks available at CPs?	Not usually but….	although your crew is expected to provide for your needs, we can supply water (plus cola and hot drinks when necessary) if they have failed in their task.
What happens if I drop out?	Tell HQ	You must notify Race HQ immediately. You do not have to hand in your race number. Your crew is responsible for collecting you from wherever you are on the course, and for your transport afterwards.

CHECKPOINTS (CPs)


QUESTION	SHORT ANSWER	LONGER ANSWER
Are there toilets at CPs?	Not usually	…although some CPs are near pubs or other public buildings. Please be courteous & show gratitude if you use such facilities.
Can I sleep at CPs?	Yes…	…for up to your 40 minute max time stopped and only if you can sleep in a chair, or are able to find somewhere flat close by. Do not expect total silence or an alarm call!

SUPPORT CREWS


QUESTION	SHORT ANSWER	LONGER ANSWER
How many crew members do I need?	1 upwards	Many runners have completed with just one supporter, but 2-3 is the norm. Only one supporter should accompany you into CP shelters. Please remind your supporters to make way for other towpath users and not obstruct race officials.
Can a runner be DQd for the actions of their crew?	Yes	It’s not happened yet, but it has come close! Runners must make their crew members aware of event rules. Crews are expected to respect race officials. We’ll say no more!

BUDDY RUNNERS


QUESTION	SHORT ANSWER	LONGER ANSWER
Can unsupporteds have buddies?	Yes but…	…they may not be a priority for the organisers, should they have difficulty or drop out.
Can buddies take CP drinks?	No but…	… we would not let anyone suffer.
Can buddies take CP food?	No but…	… we would not let anyone suffer.
Do I need to pre-register my buddy/buddies?	No	Let’s keep it simple. Remember, only one buddy at a time can be on the course with you.

VOLUNTEERING


QUESTION	SHORT ANSWER	LONGER ANSWER
How do I volunteer?	Please click…	here
Do you provide proof of volunteering?	No	We do not encourage people to help at our events purely to gain entry to other races. However, if you are a regular member of the volunteer canal family, we would happily confirm your participation.
Are volunteers paid?	No but…	…modest, reasonable expenses are reclaimable.

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