Registration:
Registration will take place on Saturday 11 September 2021 between 6.00am and 7.15am at the Scout Hall in Milngavie. The Scout Hall is located at 37 Main Street, Milngavie G62 6BX and is beside the race start and finish. At registration you will be given your race number and a buff, along with your timing device to be used at the checkpoints during the race. Face coverings must be worn at registration, and when entering the hall at the finish. We would appreciate if you minimise your time inside the registration hall because of the associated Covid risks.
All runners will be required to show photographic ID to collect their race number.
There is no parking for runners directly outside the Scout Hall – the spaces there are required for race officials. You should park in one of the public car parks near to the start in Milngavie, or in an unrestricted area. Parking charges may apply in some car parks. Please do not park in the Tesco car park as there is a 3 hour limit and penalty charges will apply for stays beyond this. You should also avoid parking at the station car park.
Race briefing:
A short race briefing will take place near the start line at 7.20am.
Race numbers:
Race numbers can be found at https://www.sientries.co.uk/list.php?event_id=8447
Race start:
The race will start at 7.30am on Saturday 11 September from behind the Scout Hall. It will follow a marked path on to the Milngavie town centre pedestrian precinct, and join the West Highland Way at the stairs beside the West Highland Way monument.
The route:
The route is approximately 38 miles. It follows a path from the Scout Hall in Milngavie, through the pedestrian precinct in Milngavie Town Centre, and joins the West Highland Way at the stairs beside the monument. From there it stays on the West Highland Way all the way to the checkpoint at Balmaha car park. At Balmaha car park the route leaves the West Highland Way and joins the pavement beside the Oak Tree Inn, then heads south towards Milton of Buchanan. At Milton of Buchanan it takes a turning to the left, heads up the hill, and rejoins the West Highland Way. It then returns to the Scout Hall in Milngavie on the West Highland Way, following the same route as was run on the way out. The finish is at the same point as the start, behind the Scout Hall.
A copy of the map showing the Conic Hill / Balmaha / Milton of Buchanan loop is attached. The loop is run in an anti clockwise direction and is marked with red dots.
The West Highland Way route is well marked with posts which use the logo below (without the web address!). Marshals will be in place at all of the main junctions. The section between Balmaha and Milton of Buchanan can be busy with traffic, and it is important that all runners stay on the pavement where possible.
Checkpoints:
Each runner is required to check in at a number of checkpoints throughout the race, as follows:
Gartness Road – 10 miles
Balmaha car park – 19 miles
Gartness Road – 28 miles
Any runner not reaching the checkpoint at Balmaha car park within 5 hours, or the return checkpoint at Gartness Road within 7 hours 30 minutes, will be withdrawn from the race. This will be based on the electronic timing and all cut-off times will be strictly enforced. It is a condition of entry that any runner failing to reach a checkpoint within the designated timescales surrenders his / her timing card and does not continue in the race. The only exception to this is where a runner has stopped to help another runner in trouble and this has caused him / her to miss a cut-off; in that case the runner will be referred to the Race Safety Officer or Race Director, whose decision will be final.
Water will be provided at each checkpoint, but no cups. All competitors are required to carry their own water bottle, cup or soft flask, as none will be provided by the race. Any other food and drinks needs to be carried by the runner, or be put in the runner’s drop-bag for the half way point (see more details below).
Electronic timing and results:
Each runner will be issued with a SPORTident Timing Card (SI-Card) and a neck lanyard at registration. At each of the checkpoints shown above you need to dip the SI-Card in the hole in the SPORTident Timing station and the station will beep or flash. This indicates that a timestamp has been recorded on your card. Follow the same procedure at the Finish and then go in to the Scout Hall (wearing your face covering) for the data to be downloaded from your Timing Card. You won’t get any times or appear on the results until your SI-Card has been downloaded.
SI-Cards must be handed in to the organising team on the day at the Finish even if you retire during the event. This is an essential safety requirement of the event and avoids an unnecessary search. Failure to hand back your SI-Card will incur a charge of £30 and could disqualify you from taking part in a future event.
There will be no results screen at the Finish so that we can make the race more COVID-19 secure by avoiding folk crowding round the screen. You can see your current overall position and the position in your category on your splits print will be accurate. We will load results online every 5 minutes. There is a QR Code on the bottom of your splits print and if you scan it, you will be taken directly to our online results – mobile signal permitting! Results will be available at:
https://www.sportident.co.uk/results/WestHighlandWayRace/2021/Conic/
Medical advice:
Please ensure you have read, and taken heed of, the medical advice on the race website. This can be found at the following link: http://westhighlandwayrace.org/race-information/medical-advice/
Specifically, please do not take Ibuprofen or other NSAIDs, such as naproxen or diclofenac. These can cause serious medical problems during endurance events and if we become aware of any runner taking Ibuprofen or other NSAIDs that runner may be disqualified. It is also very important that you note the dangers of over-hydration, and ensure you only drink to thirst. We would advise that you remove all rings before starting the race – we have recent experience of a runner’s fingers swelling badly during the race, leading to their ring having to be cut off.
Mandatory kit:
Every runner is required to carry a lightweight space blanket throughout the race. These only cost a couple of pounds from any outdoor shop, and could make a significant difference if you are unfortunate enough to have a fall, particularly if it is in a remote part of the trail.
We are also insisting that every runner carries a mobile phone, with the following emergency numbers programmed in to it:
Sean Stone, Race Safety Officer – 07768 642314
Ian Beattie, Race Director – 07939 535523
In the event of an emergency, Sean should be the first point of contact. If contact cannot be made with Sean, Ian is the second point of contact.
A face covering must also be carried, to be used when accessing any indoor area or a checkpoint. A water bottle, cup or other container is also required as part of your kit. There are other items of kit that you must have available if directed by a race official, although whether you need to carry them on the day will depend on the conditions at any particular time. These include the following:
Full body waterproof clothing;
A whistle.
Remember, conditions can vary considerably throughout the course of the race and it is better to carry too much kit than find yourself short.
Walking poles:
No competitor is allowed to use walking poles at any stage of the race.
Dogs:
Dogs are not allowed to run with any competitor at any stage of the race. This is a condition of our event insurance.
iPods/MP3 players:
iPods/MP3 players are permitted on most sections of the course, but competitors must be able to hear what is going on at all times. Earphones must be removed at checkpoints, at road crossings, when approaching marshals, and at all times when running on public roads. If a marshal signals you to remove your earphones, you must do so immediately. No headphones are permitted on the pavement section between Balmaha and Milton of Buchanan.
Drop-bags:
There will be a facility for runners to leave a small drop bag at the half way point, which should contain any items of food or drink that you may need. Please ensure the drop bag is clearly marked with your race number, and take it to the marked vehicle at the start at the Scout Hall. It will not be possible to return the contents of the drop bag to you after the race.
Litter and general behaviour:
The West Highland Way is a route of outstanding beauty, and we try to ensure our race is well regarded by the West Highland Way rangers, by those living near the route, and by other users. To this end please make sure you do not drop any litter anywhere on the route, but that you carry it with you to the next checkpoint. Please also show consideration for walkers and other users.
Support crew:
This is an unsupported event. A support crew or support runner is not allowed at any stage of the race.
Prizegiving:
Prizes will be awarded to the first three male and first three female finishers. Prizes will be awarded at the finish as soon as the winners have been confirmed. All finishers will receive a race memento.
Withdrawal from the race:
If you need to withdraw from the race, please notify this by e-mail to ianbeattie@westhighlandwayrace.org . Please note that it is not possible to defer any entries to a future race, nor to give any refund at this late stage.
10% Discount at Run and Become:
Edinburgh’s specialist running shop are offering all Conic Canter runners 10% discount instore or online.
Good time to treat yourself to that new pair of shoes or some new gear for Autumn trail running.
Simply use the code WHW21 on line at https://www.runandbecome.com or just mention the race when instore.
Offer valid until 31st October 2021, Offer not valid in conjunction with other offers or on sale items or nutrition.
Active Root discount:
Runners are entitled to a discount at checkout on any purchase from the Active Root website https://activeroot.co.uk by using the code CONICCANTERAR15