NEW TO CHALLENGE WALKING/RUNNING?

The "Challenge" is in the mind of the competitor. It may be to complete the distance, it may be to do a personal best time, it may be to keep up with friends, and it may be to be the first to finish. The choice is yours.

RE THE STANDARD ENTRY FORM FOUND IN "STRIDER". We prefer you to use our own entry form and NOT the SEF so we can be sure that you have all the information you require and that you have signed to comply with the special rules for our event. Our own entry form can be downloaded from www.essexwalker.org

DISTANCES QUOTED IN STRIDER. These must always be regarded as nominal because Strider entry is often made before the routes are finalised. Our long routes will always be at least standard marathon distance and the short route will be around 15 miles.

REGISTER on arrival at venue. If you do not register you are not in the event even though you have entered. All entrants are monitored throughout the event and must be accounted for. If you don’t register you don’t exist. Allow plenty of time to do this.

CHECKPOINT CARD (Note emergency number) You will be given a card bearing your number which will be signed or punched, at every checkpoint to prove that you have visited the checkpoint and have covered the whole route. MAKE SURE you get your card signed/punched or we may start a time-wasting search for you. AND you may not get your certificate. Do this before taking refreshments. There may be unexpected checkpoints to discourage shortcutting. HAND IN your card at the finish. Please remember, nobody will be looking out for you personally. Often entrants arrive at a checkpoint in groups when it is hectic for the marshal. You must ensure you get your own card punched/signed.

SELF CHECK (CLIP) (Uncommon) This is an unmanned checkpoint where you must clip your own card using the clipper provided. Failure to do so will almost certainly mean that you will not receive your certificate. Self check points are used to prevent shortcuts being taken and as a security measure.

MAPS Some events display a map of the route at the start and you may wish to copy the details onto your own map. There is usually a crush around the map(s) so allow plenty of time. Events organised by Essexwalker can be walked without a map because the greatest care is taken with the route instructions which will have been checked many times, often as many as eight times by eight different people.  Walkers keen to walk with a map can download a series of waypoints from www.essexwalker.org after the routes have been finalised.

LOOS There will be high demand for the loos, another reason to get there in good time or make use of public toilets en route to the venue. (Superstores?)

ROUTE DESCRIPTION Most route descriptions begin with a list of abbreviations, intended to save typing time and paper (e.g. TR for Turn right) but at Essexwalker we prefer not to do this. We have made every effort to ensure that our wording is not open to interpretation and the routes have been checked many times. Follow instructions and you will get round. If you feel lost backtrack to where you last felt on route and try again. Do not read too far ahead. Keep a thumb on the current paragraph so as not to lose your place. Keep your description dry. Essexwalker descriptions come in a plastic cover. (NOTE: if you have to call emergency please be prepared to give the paragraph number as an aid to locating you.) We are constantly surprised when experienced walkers DO NOT read the notes.

WALKING SPEED. You are allowed ample time to complete the course at rambling speed of around 2.5 miles per hour. Top walkers, who are trained athletes, may average 4.5 to 5mph and the day may come when you can do the same. "Take it steady" is the rule for beginners. Please bear this in mind if your event is a massed start and DO NOT ask for an early start. If you are on the short route you will not require an early start. If you are on the long route and cannot walk at the modest 2.5 mph (rambling pace) then enter for the short route. If the event is MASSED START do not ask for a special start time.

DOGS Under our terms of hire dogs are not allowed in the village hall. Dogs must be on a lead and care must be taken to ensure that leads don’t tangle with the legs of walkers and that dogs do not rush past walkers negotiating stiles. Take care that dogs do not foul checkpoints or approach food tables.

START Do not leave ahead of time. In some events entrants may leave to their own time but must register their departure time with a marshal.

CHECKPOINTS Opening and closing times are carefully calculated to accommodate both fast and slow walkers. Later start times for runners/joggers ensure that checkpoints are not open for too long. If you arrive at a checkpoint ahead of time you may have to wait to get your check card signed/punched. Fast walkers at 5mph will find the checkpoint open.

ARE YOU ENTERED.? For essexwalker events a list of entries will be posted on www.essexwalker.org so you can check up that your entry has reached the organiser. The list is updated as often as possible but please allow time for your entry to come through the system.

DRIVING, it is not wise to tackle long distances immediately after a tiring walk. Take a rest.

CLOTHING It is wise to take a complete change of clothing in a hold-all for after the event.

RETIRING. You must tell an official if you retire otherwise an all-out search will be mounted to find you. If using the emergency line quote the paragraph where you are located.

COURSE MARSHALS Course marshals may be on duty at awkward places, such as road crossings. Please be guided by them for your own safety and to minimise inconvenience to other road users. Thank you.

CLOSING DATE FOR ENTRIES. If the event has a closing date for entries please do not attempt to enter after the closing date as this always causes embarrassment for the organiser who will have given you months to enter. The organiser wants provisions and paperwork in place so that up to 200 entrants can be properly cared for and so that no undue stress falls on volunteer marshals on the day.

SOME RULES MAY SEEM ONEROUS but organisers are doing their best to give you a happy day of walking/running and this can only happen with a degree of rule and regulation. Thank you.