Race Information – Bedford Autodrome Races

Address: Thurleigh Airfield Business Park, Thurleigh, Bedford, MK44 2YP

If using the app What3Words, use the words ///confusion.actual.fancy for exact event village location.

(When you arrive, please look out for & follow signs to the Autodrome for parking & the event village).

START TIMES:

9:00am – Marathon (6 hour cut off time)
9:15 am – 20 Miles
9:30am – 16 Miles
10:00am – Half Marathon
10:30am – 10k
10:45am – 5k

**Please note that due to COVID restrictions, these times may be different to what you have previously seen advertised**

If you have been in an affected place, been in contact with someone with coronavirus or had any symptoms in the last 14 days please refrain from attending the race. For further guidance please visit the NHS website HERE.

**ALL RACE PACKS ARE TO BE COLLECTED ON THE DAY**

Race Pack Collection

All entries will be assigned a number. To collect your number you need to make your way down to the collection desks on Sunday morning. It will take around 15 minutes to collect your number. The earlier you get there, the more efficient we will be on the day. You will only need one number attached to the front of your shirt. If you have your own pins then that would be great but we will have supplies if needed.Your timing chip will also be in the envelope, this needs to be attached to your shoe as per the instructions on the back of the chip. Please make sure you keep your number on at all times during the race. At the finish you can dispose of your chip (we do not need to collect them back).

We will have queue markers on the floor, so please ensure when queuing you are 2m from another runner.

When you receive your race packs, please take a couple of minutes to fill out the brief runner Information form which can be found printed on the back of your bib. This will help us greatly in case of an emergency!

Collection Times:

Marathon – 7:45-8:45am
20 Miles – 8:00-9:00am
16 Miles – 8:00-9:00am
Half Marathon – 8:30-9:30am
10k – 9:00-10:00am
5k – 9:15-10:15am

SEE ENTRY LIST HERE

Race Start 

Runners will be set off 4 at a time (2m apart), every 10 seconds.

Our marshals will be on hand to guide you into the start area and ensure social distancing so please make sure you listen carefully to MC instructions and we will get you started as soon as it is safe to do so.

Please listen closely to all marshal instructions and remember to keep a safe distance from the runners around you.

TRAVEL

Address: Thurleigh Airfield Business Park, Thurleigh, Bedford MK44 2YP

(If using the app What3Words, use the words confusion.actual.fancy for exact event village location)

By car

Bedford Autodrome is located approximately 10 miles North of Bedford town centre and 20 miles East of Northampton.

Please note that the postcode MK44 2YP will not take you all the way to the event village. Once you reach the postcode destination please look out for and follow the signs to the Autodrome for parking & the event village.

Please ensure you are looking out for and following all signage & marshal instruction to get you parked as quickly and safely as possible.

You can see more details on how to get to Bedford Autodrome HERE.

By rail

Nearest station: Bedford

Bedford train station is around 20 minutes from Bedford Autodrome. Trains from London leave from either St Pancras or any Thameslink station approximately every 20 minutes.

Local Taxi numbers:

• A1 Stretch Limos – 08001 832525
• AtoB – 01234 211111
• AGS Cars – 01234 340900
• Calloway Cars – 020 7183 2872
• Chryslux Executive Travel – 01234 357465
• Executive Drive – 0208 950 4591
• Town and Country Cars – 01234 213030

By bike

Bedford Autodrome is easily accessible by bicycle and there will be bike racks available at the venue for you to lock up your bike during the race.

Toilets

There will be portaloos available within the event village. Lining up for these loos will be socially distanced.

Hygiene Stations

There will be multiple hygiene stations around the event village and start/finish area for all participants to use throughout the event. These will have hand sanitiser, tissue and bins for the disposal of any tissue or litter.

During the race

The entire course is on the Motor Circuit itself.

We will have distance markers throughout the course and plenty of helpers to keep you quite literally on track and encourage you on your way to that chequered flag finish.

The Miles for the Marathon, 20 Mile 16 Mile, and Half Marathon distances will be marked out with countdown signs of how many miles you have left until the finish. Marathon runners you will see signs counting down from 26 miles to 1 mile to go. 20 Mile runners you are looking for signs counting down from 19 to 1 miles to go. 16 Mile runners you are looking for signs counting down from 15 to 1 miles to go. Half Marathon runners you are looking for signs saying 13 miles to go down to 1 mile to go.

There will be red KM signs from 1-4 for the 5k and 1-9 for the 10k.

The laps required for each race distance are detailed below:

• Marathon – 8 laps (+ mini-lap at the Start)
• 20 Mile – 6 laps  (+ mini-lap at the Start)
• 16 Mile – 5 laps  (+ mini-lap at the Start)
• Half Marathon – 4 laps (+ mini-lap at the Start)
• 10k – 2 laps
• 5k – 1 lap

All distances other than the 5k & 10k will have an out and back section at the start of each race before completing the laps stated above.

See course map HERE

Spitting and nasal clearance during the race is NOT permitted.

Refreshments

There will be water provided on every lap of the race, and there will also be water available at the finish. In order to avoid congestion on the course, we recommend brining your own water and staying hydrated in the lead up to the event.

Baggage

Please limit the number of belongings you bring to the event and if possible leave anything in a car.  This is in order to reduce contact between runners and staff. There will be an informal self-service bag drop area within the event village for runners who need it.

Spectators

Due to trying to limit the numbers gathering within the event village area, we please ask that you refrain from bringing spectators to the event.

Love Corn have kindly provided some post race goodies for you all to try and can be collected from the finish line alongside water, bananas and of course flapjacks! To check out more of their product, see their website HERE.