Race Instructions – Waterside Half Marathon
Sunday 1st September 2024
Thank you for registering for the forthcoming Waterside Half Marathon which takes place on Sunday 1st September 2024. We are delighted that you have entered this year’s event and wish you every success.
The Waterside Half Marathon Start Time is 9.30am at Ebrington Square, a short walk from the Race HQ at Foyle Arena
During the event we would ask you to co-operate fully with the Police, Organisers, Stewards and Race Marshalls to ensure a safe and enjoyable event for all.
Race Meeting Point
Race HQ is in Foyle Arena, 2 Limavady Road, Derry BT47 6JY. Race Start is in the adjacent Ebrington Square outside Ebrington Hotel at 9.30am sharp. Wheelchair Participants start at 9.28am.
You have worked hard for this event so please arrive in good time to facilitate Parking, warm up etc.---- by 8.30am latest, is recommended!
Parking
Limited Parking is available at the Foyle Arena but is likely to be taken up early. Convenient overspill parking is available at the following nearby locations:
- Ebrington (This will close once it is full)
- Oakgrove Integrated Primary School, Limavady Road.
- Old Bridge Car Park on lower Glendermott Road.
- Council Offices, Strand Road (Free)
- Foyleside East Carpark (paid carpark)
- Queens quay Carpark
Alternatively, you may choose to use the Quayside Shopping Centre Carpark which will open at 8am until 2pm and offer all participants a reduced daily rate of £4.00 for 6 hours of parking. Normal parking rates of £1 per hour apply thereafter. Tickets must be purchased from security on arrival to avail of the discount. This is located beside the City Hotel and walk across the Peace Bridge to Ebrington Square. Getting dropped off is another option! We ask that you advise any family or friends who are coming to support you to use city centre car parks, but to be mindful that the peace bridge will be closed from 9:00am, so to ensure that they are early. A shuttle bus will operate from the train station over to Foyle Street and back. Foyle Road carpark will also be closed.
Race Pack – Number, Chip, T-Shirt
You can collect your Race Pack from Foyle Arena on
Friday 30th August 12 noon – 8pm
Saturday 31st August 10.00am – 4pm
For those travelling race packs can also be collected early on Race Day Sunday 1st September 7.30am – 8.30am.
Changing Facilities
It is advised to come changed and ready to run, however changing facilities and showers are available in the Foyle Arena. Toilets are in the Foyle Arena and Portaloos at the Start area in Ebrington site. You will be unable to use the Ebrington Hotel toilets unless you are a resident of the hotel.
Warmup
Please warm up inside St Columb's Park, the Waterside Greenway or Ebrington---do not use St Columb's Road, Browning Drive or Limavady Road.
You will be called to the start line at the Clock Tower in Ebrington from: 9:20am (Remember this year the runners run in the opposite direction)
Baggage Area
There will be Bag Drop/Pick up area at the finish area in Ebrington Square. Warm-up gear and other essentials should be placed in the numbered bag provided in your race pack and left in the supervised tents before you go to the start line. Alternatively, there are lockers available in Foyle Arena, you will require £1 in order to use these.
Race
Wheelchair participants will go at 9.28am from the front of the start line. Everyone else, including the first-leg relay runners go at 9.30am. The front ranks of the start area is reserved for the faster runners, please respect this!
The wearing of earphones while running (whether in a race or warming up) can be especially hazardous therefore the wearing of headphones is not permitted. Bone-conducting headphones such as Aftershokz are allowed. You have to be able to hear what is going on all around you and particularly any information or warnings from Marshalls, Police, Officials or other Runners on the course.
Most of the course is within dedicated Runners Lanes, traffic-free Parkland and Greenways. Please let race organisers or marshals know if you are having difficulties at any time during the event.
Water / Toilets
There are five water stations and a number of toilets located at each of these points for the Half Marathon,
4.5 Miles, After Waterfoot Park
8 Miles, After Judges Road
9.5 Miles, Layby after Foyle Bridge
11 Miles Bay Road
Finish Line
In an effort to make the race more environmentally friendly we will have large Recycling Bins located 150m after the water stations for the empty water bottles. These bottles will be reused and recycled in art installations at our upcoming events. All finishers will receive one water bottle each which can be refilled at the Water refill van at the finish area.
Don’t forget to Squeeze and Squash your water bottles before throwing them into the bins so they can be recycled.
First Aid Cover
Static and Mobile First Aiders will cover the course...there will be 2 First Aiders at each mile point and ambulance back up is in support.
Race Number & Chip Timing
Your Race Number must be worn at the front of your running top and fastened with safety pins. The Chip Timing is incorporated into the Race Number and the chip will record your race time and place, so it is important that you fasten it securely and it is always clearly displayed. You may be disqualified if your number is not clearly visible. On the back of your race (bib) please put any important medical information and a contact number in case of emergencies. YOU WILL BE DISQUALIFIED IF FOUND SWAPPING NUMBERS.
Finish
Everyone must cross under the finish gantry on the Ebrington Square to register a finish time. (Wheelchairs, Half Marathon and final leg Relay Runner)
DO NOT STOP--Keep moving on through the finish funnel to receive your well-deserved finishers medal--the final Relay runner gets 3 with Drinks/ Snacks.
Finish line First Aiders will identify and treat anyone needing attention and may direct them to the finish area Triage station.
Results
The results will be available after the race on the Website and our Waterside Half Marathon Facebook Account.
Sports Therapy
We have two sports therapist who will be positioned at the finish line area. They are local independent suppliers and will be able to book in with them after the race and may them directly.
Buses
Shuttle buses will leave Foyle Arena to take relay runners to their changeover point.
Bus 1 – Leg 2 Runners leaves 9.10am for Gransha Social Club (Under Foyle Bridge)
Bus 2 – Leg 3 Runners leaves 9.40am to Back road of Gransha
Bus 1 – Leg 1 Runner Last pick up Gransha (Under Foyle Bridge) leaves 10.45am SHARP
Bus 2 – Leg 2 Runner last pick up Back road of Gransha leaves 11.45am SHARP
There will be a free shuttle bus which will run from Waterside Railway station – Foyle Street from 9am – 1pm.
Prizes
The podium finishers will be presented with their awards in the podium area straight after they finish their race.
All prize money— Open, Age Categories and Relay winners-- will be posted to prize winners as soon as processed by Council Staff.
Pacers
We will have race pacers running 1.30, 1.45, 2.00, 2.15 and 2.30.
The designated pacers will be visible around the start area from 9.00am. They can be identified by their pacer flags.
The external pacing of runners by non-participants/cyclists, etc. is not permitted and may result in disqualification of the runner.
Race Cut Off Point
The Waterside Half Marathon is a running race in which participants should make best efforts to complete the course within the 3 hour cut-off point. For purposes of Health and Safety, to safely get traffic flowing again and protect all participants, after this time all roads will be reopened throughout the race route. After this time individuals are at their own risk, they must use the footpath and comply with the rules of the highway, no marshals or First Aid will remain on the course after this time as the race is over.
Route
Just a reminder that the route has changed slightly from 2023.
The main changes are at Ebrington, Limavady Road, Kingslink Roundabout, Duke street, Craigavon Bridge and new pedestrian bridge.
Please read the details of the route and a map is also available here https://www.derrystrabane.com/whmraceroute
Sustainability
Any clothes left at the start and finish areas will be donated to charity if not collected. There will be refill stations at the finish line please use these once you get your water bottle to refill.
Race Permit/Certificate
This race has a Permit from Athletics NI.
The route has a Certificate of Measurement by a certified Athletics Ireland Course Measurement Official.
Once again thank-you for your registration and we wish you all the best on Sunday.
For more information on the race please go to www.derrystrabane.com/whm
If you require any further details before the event, please do not hesitate to contact us at [email protected] or 02871 253253