Bath Half 2012 - Video -
A quick snapshot of the 2012 Bath Half Marathon, the full edit to follow shortly!
Race Results 2012 -
Congratulations to everyone who successfully completed this year's Bath Half Marathon, or Family Fun Run.
To find your official race results please choose below:
Race Day Tips -
Race Day Tips – from our Bath Half runners
Are you doing the Bath Half for the first time? This week we asked our Facebook and Twitter crowd who’ve run the Bath Half before to give us their top tips.
So here they are – we hope you find them useful – and thank you to everyone who contributed.
> At the gun don’t go out too fast. Take an extra 30 seconds for the first mile.
> Have an old jumper to wear to the start line which you can throw off afterwards – waiting around can get chilly!
> Allow extra time to get out of Bath afterwards- traffic is a bit miserable
> It’s really crowed at the start so use it as an excuse to start slowly don’t waste energy weaving & ducking the crowd soon thins
> Get your name printed on your running shirt – the crowd are fantastic and will give you a cheer to keep you going!
> Find a group running at your pace and join them. They will keep you going without you pushing too hard or beyond your ability.
> If you get a stitch in your foot, make sure you slow down and exercise it out. Just slow down and get some movement on it.
> If you’re running in a gorilla suit, be prepared to ditch the mask after the first mile and drink all the water you can get!
> There is water and Lucozade on offer as you go round but don’t drink tonnes of it – drink as much as you normally in training. Drinking too much can be very dangerous.
> Try things in training first – don’t eat or drink anything on race day that you don’t normally have when you’re planning a long run.
> It can be chilly so wear something that you don’t mind ditching at the start.
> Don’t forget to stretch afterwards – it’s so easy to forget in the excitement of finishing
> Boys – make sure you wear a quality t-shirt or else you will have very sore nipples.
> The toilets are all very busy just before the start of the run and doing a Radcliffe is not acceptable, even for the lads!
> Try out the sports drinks that will be on offer in advance while you’re training to make sure you’re ok with them.
> Agree cheering and meeting points in advance with your friends and family so you can look out for them.
> Take a little bit of loo roll with you – just in case!
> Take a few jelly babies with you to see you through the last few miles.
> Try a smile as you’re coming down the home straight – it will feel great!
> Always run your own race – don’t try and compete with anyone around you.
> If you have a target time in mind then wear a pace band and stick to that
> Try to relax and enjoy it – watch your speed as you’ll probably run faster because of the adrenaline.
> There’s loads of support all the way round – even if you walk a bit, finishing is really fantastic – Good Luck!
> Love the steel band – it really motivates you!
> Remember it’s downhill at the start so be careful not to go off to fast at the start – and remember you have to go back up it at the end!
See you on race day everyone!
Race Day Information -
Race Day information
Thank you to everyone who has asked us race day related questions this week via Twitter and Facebook or who have telephoned Bath Half HQ. Thank you also to all those runners who have put forward their own race day tips too – they’re great and we’ll collate those into a separate blog post.
This is a massive post - we’re aiming to answer as many questions as possible and we’ll pick up any others in Thursday's newsletter. That way we hope you will be totally up to speed and ready to really enjoy your race day – which is 4 days away!
We’ll be launching our brand new Bath Half mobile site just before race day too, which will be a great race day resource for those of you with smart phones. We’ll be keeping that and our main website up to date with the latest news over the coming week.
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Before the race
Please listen to your body
The most important piece of advice we can give at this stage is to listen to your body. If you’re injured or are unwell (with a fever or vomiting or diarrhoea) 7-10 days before a race then you shouldn’t take part. This is always the hardest thing to say to runners, and it is the last thing that runners want to do, but it is a really important health message and one that should be taken seriously.
If you are faced with this decision and decide to pull out then please let us know via our online cancellation form and return your race pack by Monday 12th. We can then offer you a guaranteed place for 2013 at the early bird rate.
What to eat and drink
We’ve had quite a few questions about this and so our main point is not to do anything different for race day than you would when you do your long runs in training. There’s some great information about nutrition and hydration over on the Runners Medical Resource website which is well worth reading
Race numbers and timing chips
Please check that your race number matches the number on the front of the envelope and timing chip. If not please contact the event office email: racesecretary@runninghigh.co.uk or phone 01225 422255. The IPICO timing chip that you have received records your race time – if you don’t wear it you won’t be recorded in the results. Tie the chip onto one shoe using the tags provided – see the diagram provided with it. Do not wear or carry your chip anywhere else or it will not work.
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Arriving at the race
Trains & Buses
We’re just waiting for the latest information regarding trains from the folk at First Great Western. We’ll include this in next week’s newsletter and post it up onto Facebook and Twitter as soon as we get it. Please check services with your bus and train operator.
Road Closures & Parking
There is no parking available at the venue but all Park & Ride car parks will be open. In previous years these have all been full before 8.30am so get there early and expect to have to queue to get on the buses. Have a quick look at your race map and identify alternative city centre car parks just in case you get to Park & Ride and it’s full. You have all been sent a race day map in your packs (it’s small enough to bring with you on the day). This is also downloadable on available on the Bath Half website. City Centre car parks are indicated on this map. There is additional parking at Bath Racecourse (next to Landsdown Park & Ride). Customers can book their tickets and select their travel time either online or by calling the racecourse on 01225 424609.
There are over 11,000 runners plus spectators converging on Bath at a similar time so please plan ahead and do be aware that road closures and parking suspensions will operate on the entire course route and on streets adjacent to Great Pulteney Street. Further parking suspensions will operate on designated alternative access routes for ambulances and buses in Oldfield Park, Bathwick, Walcot and Newbridge. All affected areas have been clearly signposted in the weeks leading up to race day. Road closures come into affect at 09.45am.
Race Village
So once you made it into Bath be sure to make use of all the entertainment that is provided in the Runners Village. To reduce congestion at the Runners Village there is a one way pedestrian system in operation. For entry into the Runners Village competitors and spectators will be directed to use the Sports Centre gate via North Parade Road (or the Turnstile entrance via Edward Street). The Riverside Gate and Grove Street will be exit only. Please check your race day maps and plan your route to avoid frustration on the day. Diversion signage and stewards will be in place to assist. There will be toilets in the Runners Village – some for spectators and some for runners. These do get exceptionally busy and you will need to queue. There is a church service in the Runners Village at 8.40am. Changing facilities and the baggage tent are open from 09.00am.
Race Weekend Help Desk
The help desk in the information tent in the Runners Village will be open on Saturday 10 March between 10am -4pm and on Sunday 11 March between 8am and 4pm.
Luggage Tag for Baggage Tent
If you want to leave your kit in our baggage tent please tear off the detachable tag at the bottom of your race number and thread through the end handle of your bag. All baggage is left at the owners own risk and the organisers cannot be responsible for any loss or damage caused by the use of these facilties.
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Start of the race
To get over 11,000 runners off to a flying start and to reduce congestion at the start we have seeded our runners according to their estimated finishing time with the faster runners at the front and slower ones at the rear. There will be three start pens – white, green and orange. The one you have been placed in will be on your number – it is the block of colour that your race number is printed on. Each start group will enter their start pen from a different exit off the Runners Village so please take time to look at your map.
Orange start group are the slower runners and will enter from the rear of the start area in Henrietta Street via Grove Street – use the rugby club Riverside Gate from the Runners Village.
Green start group will enter from the rear of the start area at Laura Place fountain – use the rugby club Riverside Gate from the Runners Village.
White start group with white banded are the faster runners and will enter from the rear of the start area at William Street – use the Lower Gate from the Runners Village.
You may move back a start group but not forward. We will start calling runners to the start at 10am – it takes us quite a while to assemble all 11,000 of you! Race marshals will walk you forward before your start time and remember that whichever start bay you are in you will receive your own personal chip time. Bring an old hoodie or jumper to keep your warm that you can discard at the side of your race pen as you start. One of our race charities will recycle these. Please don’t bring bin bags to wear – we have had runners who’ve tripped over these and badly injured themselves. They also just end up in landfill.
All runners will be asked to show their race numbers included the next of kin and medical details on the back of your race number before entering your start area. It’s a good idea to complete this information before travelling to the race.
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Race information
2-lap race and the iPod issue
Bath Half is a 2 lap race. We are the only major half marathon in the country that has a 2 lap course which makes us a little different. Most runners will be lapped by the lead runners – at speed. We therefore need our runners to be able to hear our marshal’s instructions as they lead runners approach. You will not be able to hear them if you are using an iPod or personal stereo.
Bath also is home to the RUH – a major hospital for the people of Bath and those in a wide area around it. Occasionally we have to issue instructions to our runners to give way to emergency vehicles. Again, you need to be able to hear our marshals to assist them in helping the emergency services.
There is lots musical entertainment, cheering stations and so much support from spectators as you make your way around the course and we hope you will enjoy this – we get really great feedback from our runners about the atmosphere at the Bath Half. If you absolutely have to run with an iPod or personal stereo we urge you to run with one ear piece only so that you can hear our marshal’s instructions. It’s really important.
Toilets
A major concern for runners is often around being able to use the loo – there are toilets provided on the verge in Green Park just after the 1 mile marker and then at every first aid post and drink station around the course (approx every two-thirds of a mile). It’s important to note that many runners drink far too much on race day – which is extremely dangerous. Try to moderate your fluid intake – do as you would do on a training run – you don’t need special treatment on race day.
Mile markers
The exact measured point of each mile mark will be spray-painted on the roadway, but these marks can be difficult to see if you are running in a large group. Signs will also be fixed on the nearest lamp post – but these can be several metres away from the mile mark itself. There will also be digital clocks displaying the ‘gun’ time on the start/finish gantry, at the 10K point and on the lead car.
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Spectators
And of course some race day tips for your hard working support team too...
Designated meeting points will be signposted in the centre of the Runners Village, and at the fountain at Laura Place. These are good places to arrange to meet your supporters after the race, avoiding some of the more crowded locations. Look out for the meeting point banners and don’t rely on mobile phones at the event to make your arrangements – at peak times during larger events mobile networks are often overloaded due to the volume of calls.
Bath Half is well regarded as a family friendly race, and for its fantastic crowd support from local residents and visitors alike. The most popular places to watch the race are the start/finish in Great Pulteney Street and more accessible points on the course, particularly at Churchill Bridge, Green Park, Park Lane and Queen Square. To get a good viewpoint at these locations you will need to arrive 45 mins to 1 hour before race start, and at peak times the pavements may become too crowded for infants, elderly or the infirm. As an alternative there are some great family friendly viewing spots at quieter locations around
the course (for instance the Royal Victoria Park playground) adjacent to facilities such as toilets, cafes, play areas for children and parking and a number of churches on the course route will also be staying open during the race to offer refreshment, shelter or a meeting point for spectators and runners – and to support their own runners. Facilities on offer vary with each church – some include play areas for children, tea, coffee and toilets.
The race venue, city centre and central car parks will be very crowded on race day, so allow extra time for your journey, to get into and out of the Runners Village, for the toilets and to get a good viewing point.
For safety’s sake, spectators must follow marshals’ instructions in crossing the road. Do not encroach onto the carriageway or obstruct either the runners, race officials or the medical team. Please do not smoke near runners or other spectators. Please respect local residents and take your own rubbish home with you or use the bins provided! The toilets in the Runners Village, at first aid posts and drinks stations are designated for runners’ use. Separate toilets are provided for spectators in the Runners Village, but expect these to be busy, particularly before the start of the race.
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The finish!
Crossing the line
The digital clock on the finish gantry will show your provisional ‘gun’ finishing time. The IPICO timing chip on your shoe will automatically record your start and finish time as you pass over the timing mats on the start line, plus your intermediate time at the 10K point.
The finish line in the Bath Half is busier than the landing runway in an international airport, with over 150 runners crossing the line every minute at peak time! It is also the most likely place for collapse and serious medical problems. It is not the place to wait for friends or enjoy the view. It is essential we keep the finish area clear to avoid runners backing up across the line behind you, and to allow us space to identify and treat casualties and collapsed runners around you. Highland Spring bottled water is provided 50 metres from the finish line around the corner in William Street. Bottled water in the finish area is for medical casualties only.
If you feel sick or unwell at the finish move to the side of the finish area and ask for assistance from the marshals and medical team who are on hand and trained to help you. Otherwise please leave the finish area immediately after finishing the race, and do not linger in the finish area or goody bag area. Runners will not be allowed to re-enter the finish
area after collecting their goody bag – and will exit via the Lower Gate into the Runners Village. We recommend that you pre-arrange to meet supporters and fellow competitors at one of the designated meeting points in the Runners Village or in Laura Place.
Goody bags
Goody bags will be handed to half marathon in Runners Village just after the finish area. In addition to the medal and an event t-shirt given to half marathon finishers you can purchase other official half marathon race merchandise on the day, or through the race website.
Post race massage
Students from City of Bath College will be giving massages to runners at this year's Bath Half Marathon to help them ease their tired limbs. Sports students will be joined by complementary therapies and spa students to give free massages to runners once they have crossed the finishing line. The students will be based in a marquee provided by the charity Leukaemia and Lymphoma Research.
Race results
We hope to get race results up on to the Bath Half website by the Sunday evening.
Bath Half 2013
You can sign up for Bath Half 2013 the day after Bath Half 2012!
See you all on Sunday - and Good Luck!
Race Packs -
If you require a replacement race pack please visit the Information Tent in the Runners Village at the below times:
Saturday 10th March – 10am to 4pm
Sunday 11th March – 8am to 10am (race starts at 11am)
Entries to the Bath Half Marathon are personal to the applicant, and race numbers cannot be sold or transferred. Any runner who competes in another person's race number will be disqualified.
Replacement race packs can be purchased for a fee of £15 which covers the cost of a new race number, timing chip and administration charges