Introduction
This information applies to all involved including competitors, volunteers, crews, buddy runners and spectators; it must be forwarded to all those attending the event. If there is any question, contact Keith Godden on keith.godden@canalrace.org.uk or 07780 685538.
Covid-19 risks will be mitigated through social distancing, hand hygiene and face coverings at Registration, Baggage Drop, Refreshments Table, Start, Aid Stations, Finish, en route as well as during Transportation for retired Unsupported (tended by organiser) competitors.
The race waiver must be signed at registration – it includes an additional C-19 opt-in statement; by signing the waiver competitors will acknowledge they are aware of the potential C-19 risk of attending the event. By signing you will also agree to follow and comply with all C-19 Secure guidance, policies and procedures. Anyone that refuses to sign the waiver will not be allowed to participate in the event.
Competitors will be provided with 2x face masks in their race packs. Crews and spectators should bring their own face covering. Masks will be made available to volunteers, or they can use their own. Spares will be available at all locations for anyone who may arrive without a suitable face covering, or who may ask for one.
Hand sanitizer will be available for use by Competitors, Buddy Runners and Volunteers; we ask Crews and Spectators to bring their own. We suggest Volunteers carry an additional small hand sanitizer bottle to encourage regular use.
All involved must stay 2 metres away from people you do not live with (wherever possible) or 1 metre if wearing a face covering; referred to from now on as Social Distancing.
Anyone that does not comply with all the C-19 procedures and plans in this document may be asked to leave the event. In the case of competitors, their crews or spectators failing to comply, runner disqualification is the penalty.
Health, Welfare and Asymptomatic Testing
Before the event, all involved should monitor themselves for any sign of C-19, as well as general health.
Anyone showing signs of ill health or C-19 within 14 days before the event must not attend.
Anyone self-isolating because of track and trace or suspected contact with an infected person within 14 days of the event must not attend.
Anyone without symptoms should get a rapid C-19 lateral flow test. You can do a test at home or at a lateral flow test site. You can collect packs of multiple rapid tests from a local pharmacy or test site, or, order them online. If you test positive, you must not attend, and immediately self-isolate to avoid passing the virus on to others.
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/understanding-lateral-flow-antigen-testing-for-people-without-symptoms
Anyone who becomes ill or showing symptoms of C-19 within 48 hours following the event must inform Keith Godden immediately on keith.godden@canalrace.org.uk or 07780 685538
Visit the NHS website for further information https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/
Health Assessment
It is unclear what impact C-19 has on the long-term health of those who contracted the virus. As a precaution, consider the following health screening advice.
1. If you were hospitalised due to C-19, you should undergo a form of health screening prior to taking part. This screening is best led by a doctor with specialist training in sports medicine. However other doctors may feel competent to make decisions on your fitness to compete and to decide any appropriate investigations that might be required.
2. If you were not hospitalised due to C-19, but self-isolated having shown symptoms at any time, you are also recommended to undergo a form of screening.
3. If you have felt entirely well during the pandemic, you are not routinely recommended to undergo health screening, but it is something to be considered as part of your normal health monitoring for the health-conscious competitor. Your GP should be able to guide you on what level of screening you may require, and who is the best person to assist you in the process.
4. Individuals who fall into the ‘vulnerable’ or ‘clinically extremely vulnerable’ must assess their own risk in association with attending the event and follow government guidance in this area. Individuals who are not themselves ‘vulnerable’ or ‘clinically extremely vulnerable’ but are in contact with individuals in these descriptions should make a personally informed decision about attending the event.
Travelling
Avoid car sharing with anyone from outside your household or your support bubble.
Plan ahead and avoid busy times and routes on public transport. Follow the guidance on the safe use of public transport, including wearing a face covering https://www.gov.uk/guidance/coronavirus-covid-19-safer-travel-guidance-for-passengers#public-transport
Regularly wash or sanitise your hands.
Social distance from people you do not live with wherever possible.
Registration Table
Competitors and nominated volunteers only should attend; crews and spectators should not.
All attendees must…
1. wear a face covering.
2. maintain social distancing.
3. use hand sanitizer before and after touching any surface or object e.g. cash, pens, paper, table.
Volunteers must…
1. display signage including ‘social distancing’, ‘wear a face covering’ and ‘sanitise station’ signs.
2. clean surfaces with antibacterial spray and/or wipes before packing away equipment.
Refreshments Table
A hot drink and a biscuit will be available on a self-serve basis. Competitors and volunteers only should attend; crews and spectators should not.
Competitors must bring their own cup
All attendees must…
1. wear a face covering
2. maintain social distancing.
3. use hand sanitizer before and after touching any surface or object e.g. hot water urn, spoon, tea and coffee containers, table.
Volunteers must…
1. display signage including ‘social distancing’, ‘wear a face covering’ and ‘sanitise station’ signs.
2. clean surfaces with antibacterial spray and/or wipes before packing away equipment.
Baggage Drop
Competitors and nominated volunteers only should attend; crews and spectators should not.
All attendees including Competitors dropping off their bags must…
1. wear a face covering.
2. maintain social distancing.
3. use hand sanitizer before and after touching any surface or object.
Volunteers must…
1. display signage including ‘social distancing’, ‘wear a face covering’ and ‘sanitise station’ signs.
Gas Street (before the Start)
All attendees at Gas St must…
1. wear a face covering.
2. maintain social distancing.
Competitors that have already registered on Friday night should arrive ‘ready to run’. We suggest arriving no later than 05:45.
Competitors that have not registered on Friday night should arrive earlier yet still ‘ready to run’, particularly if you are Unsupported (tended by organiser) and have a kit bag to pass to our baggage crews. We suggest arriving no later than 05:30.
The race briefing will be at 05:50 in Gas Street where there is more space.
The Start
Competitors that wish to start at the back should proceed to the start line by passing through the red brick archway to the canal side – those that wish to start at the front should go through the archway last. Get a move-on, we’ll start at 06:00 sharp!
All start area attendees including competitors must…
1. wear a face covering.
2. maintain social distancing.
Competitors must wear their face covering until after crossing the start line.
Crews should minimise the number of members at the canal side start area as much as possible, ideally nominating one crew member only. There is space further down the canal to watch.
The Course
Competitors and buddy runners must…
1. maintain social distancing when overtaking other competitors and passing by members of the public as much as possible.
2. wear a face covering when accessing amenities i.e. pubs, shops, cafes etc.
Aid Stations
Competitors and buddy runners must…
1. use hand sanitizer at the entrance and exit of all aid stations.
2. maintain social distancing.
3. use your own cup.
4. avoid spitting and nasal clearance.
5. minimise time spent at all aid stations (this might well help the outcome of your race!).
Crews and spectators must…
1. wear a face covering.
2. maintain social distancing.
3. use their own hand sanitizer regularly.
4. not approach aid station tables, water points or hand sanitizer points i.e. crews must replenish food and water supplies elsewhere, and carry their own hand sanitizer.
5. not attend CP3 Birdingbury Bridge, CP4 Weedon or CP6 Water Eaton (including parking areas) – alternative locations on the Possible Meeting Points list should be used.
6. not touch other competitors. If it is unavoidable, hand sanitizer must be used before and after.
Volunteers must…
1. display signage including ‘social distancing’, ‘wear a face covering’ and ‘sanitise station’ signs.
2. wear a face covering.
3. maintain social distancing.
4. use hand sanitizer regularly.
5. position competitor hand sanitizer points at the entrance and exits of each aid station.
6. position and space tables, chairs, water points, hand sanitizer points, and bin liners to maximise social distancing.
7. decant water, coke and squash into jugs to allow competitors to self-serve as much as possible.
8. position and/or decant food items as single-serve items i.e. a bag of crisps, not a bowl of crisps – a small cup of nuts, not a bowl of nuts – a small cup of M&Ms, not a bowl of M&Ms etc. Generally, if it has a wrapper i.e. chocolate bars, leave the wrapper on.
9. regularly apply antibacterial spray on contact surfaces i.e. tables, chairs, water taps and jug handles.
10. pass a face mask to anyone who may arrive without a suitable face covering, or who may ask for one.
11. if necessary, remind competitors, crews and spectators of their obligations above, and report any subsequent repeated infringement to Keith Godden immediately on 07780 685538 via telephone call, text, or WhatsApp stating all the details including who, where, what, why and the competitor’s race number the person is associated with.
12. clean surfaces with antibacterial spray and/or wipes before packing away equipment.
Handling Baggage
Volunteers handling kit bags must…
1. wear a face covering.
2. maintain social distancing.
3. use hand sanitizer regularly.
Transport
Unsupported (tended by organiser) competitors retiring and needing transport, must wear a face covering at all times inside the vehicle.
The Volunteer driver must…
1. wear a face covering.
2. maximise social distancing inside the vehicle as far as possible.
3. open vehicle windows as appropriate, depending on weather conditions.
4. regularly apply antibacterial spray on contact surfaces i.e. seats and door openings.
5. pass a face mask to any Unsupported competitor who may be without a suitable face covering, or who may ask for one.
6. refuse transport if the Unsupported does not comply with wearing a face covering.
The Finish
Upon arrival in Little Venice, Finishers will be offered a medal over their head/neck and a handshake – be assured the hand will be freshly sanitised! You may be offered the chance of a photo, standing side-by-side with the person greeting you on the Finish line – the greeter will keep their face covering on, but ask each Finisher for their permission to remove it for the purpose of a photo.
Soon after Finishing, the competitor will be ushered up the ramp and away from the canal path; seating and refreshments will be positioned on the pavement alongside the railings in Delamere Terrace.
Competitors and buddy runners must…
1. use hand sanitizer immediately after accepting a hand shake at the Finish, and when entering and departing the aid station.
2. maintain social distancing.
3. use your own cup.
4. avoid spitting and nasal clearance.
5. minimise time spent at the Finish.
Crews and spectators must…
1. minimise the number of members at the Finish as much as possible, ideally nominating one crew member only.
2. wear a face covering.
3. maintain social distancing.
4. use their own hand sanitizer regularly.
5. not approach Finish aid station tables, water points or hand sanitizer points.
6. not touch other competitors. If it is unavoidable, hand sanitizer must be used before and after.
Volunteers must…
1. display signage including ‘social distancing’, ‘wear a face covering’ and ‘sanitise station’ signs.
2. wear a face covering.
3. maintain social distancing.
4. use hand sanitizer regularly, including before and after greeting each Finisher.
5. position competitor hand sanitizer points at the Finish line and entrance to the aid station.
6. position and space tables, chairs, water, hand sanitizer, and bin liners to maximise social distancing.
7. decant water, coke and squash into jugs to allow competitors to self-serve as much as possible.
8. position and/or decant food items as single-serve items i.e. a bag of crisps, not a bowl of crisps – a small cup of nuts, not a bowl of nuts – a small cup of M&Ms, not a bowl of M&Ms etc. Generally, if it has a wrapper i.e. chocolate bars, leave the wrapper on.
9. regularly apply antibacterial spray on contact surfaces i.e. tables, chairs, water taps and jug handles.
10. pass a face mask to anyone who may arrive without a suitable face covering, or who may ask for one.
11. encourage competitors and crews to disperse away from the Finish in as short a time as possible.
12. if necessary, remind competitors, crews and spectators of their obligations above, and report any subsequent repeated infringement to Keith Godden immediately on 07780 685538 via telephone call, text, or WhatsApp stating all the details including who, where, what, why and the competitor’s race number the person is associated with.
13. clean surfaces with antibacterial spray and/or wipes before packing away equipment.
14. encourage politely any large group of pedestrians to cross over to the opposite pavement so they can maintain social distancing.
Post Event
A reminder that anyone who becomes ill or showing symptoms of C-19 within 48 hours following the event must inform Keith Godden immediately on keith.godden@canalrace.org.uk or 07780 685538
NB. check canalrace.org.uk/news/c-19-secure/ for further updates. Keith