On The Day – Vanguard Way Marathon

The Vanguard Way Marathon Course 2018.
There is a full mapped route shown below – 13.1 miles out, and then back to sunny Croydon = 26.2 miles in total!

The Half marathon course will follow the same route along the VGW – to the drink station after Chelsham Village – about a mile after passing the big pub – apron 6.5 miles – then you turn round and head back to Lloyd Park along the same paths and trails . 

http://gb.mapometer.com/running/route_3337738.html
Also – we will be following the definitive route from the Vanguard Way website , the link is shown below – we will be covering sections one and 2 just up to the junction of the end of Broomlands Lane and the A25 Westerham Road – then turn around and return back along the same path – the views both out and back, will look different and amazing!.
http://www.vanguardway.org.uk/
There are also 2 short videos you can watch to give you a flavour of the out route from Croydon to Selsdon,Farleigh, Chelsham , Woldingham and onto Limpsfield. By watching these, you will hopefully be put at ease on the navigational issues on race day.
Out from Lloyd Park to Selsdon Wood , with some classical, Eurovision, Reggae and Pop ;
https://docs.google.com/file/d/0B99E6bSWIKh6MzFBbUlrbUJzWkE/edit

Out from Chelsham to Limpsfield , with some Spandau Gold and Hotel California
https://docs.google.com/file/d/0B99E6bSWIKh6M05XWTg5MnRBNWM/edit

All the runners will collect their unique race number AND CHIP TIMINGS  – most of them with have their names on – those who registered early will, the others will be written on for them – so we can all pretend we really know each other’s first names, nice ice breaker right ?!

The marathon will start at 9.30am sharp – ! With that in mind , please get there nice and early , park and get changed in the changing rooms which we have booked for our marathon runners – the showers will be there after the race as well , so please bring a towel ,soap, gel and a change of clothes – we have standards in South Croydon ! The Croydon Pavillion Cafe  – Park Cafe should be open early for that coffee boost you might need – and ice cream reward and energy drinks at the finish!

There is free car parking at Lloyd Park – but you may only be allowed to park for 3-4 hours – so unless you are Paula Radcliffe or Dave Ross (sorry Dave, you’re a sub 3 !!) please can you use the vast spaces of Melville Ave, Ballater Road, Castlemaine Ave and Croham Park Ave. See the google map link to where these roads are , just across from the race entrance 

https://maps.google.com/maps?gs_rn=20&gs_ri=psy-ab&tok=ZLACjfKoWLS-YKALJjq3CQ&pq=lloyd+park+cafe+croydon&cp=11&gs_id=3&xhr=t&q=lloyd+park+croydon&bav=on.2,or.r_cp.r_qf.&biw=1093&bih=687&um=1&ie=UTF-8&hl=en&sa=N&tab=wl

This is simple for you train lovers – get to East Croydon train station , then get on a tram for 3 stops and get off at Lloyd Park (takes 5 mins)- Destination will say New Addington – Route 3 .

Changing mens/women rooms open from 7.30am (next to Cafe) , we will lock the changing rooms once the runners have set off – please leave your valuables locked in cars or kept safe with the HQ team at Lloyds Park.

All bags can be left in the changing rooms which will be locked until the runners return.
Note: Organisers (ie myself) cannot be held responsible for any belongings or items that may go missing which are stored in the baggage area, however we are aiming to secure this area and have our marathon officials supervise bag drop off and collection – they will ensure the changing rooms remain locked.

We will provide aid – drink and snacks/gels stations approximately after every 6 miles – so you will pass the first aid station. In view of the hot weather I will ask runners to take a bottle with them for good measure – drop in bins not in the countryside.

Limited first aid will be available at HQ any runner who feels unwell should stop and notify other runners and ask for assistance/support and we will get someone out from the the medical support team. Please do not run if you feel unwell on race day, as this is a tough out and back course. Your health and well-being is paramount to us all. Any emergencies can be phoned to the race director on 079677 29922. Please complete the medical info on the back of your race entry numbers – to assist in the event of any emergency – pens will be at HQ to help you.

There will be open clean toilets at Lloyd Park – and sadly non along the course route, which is essentially in the countryside – however, there will be a pub after the 6 & 20 mile mark if you are desperate – otherwise please do as nature intended, where you feel hidden from public view.

There will not be any individual mile markers along the course , except for the 6 miles , 13.1 miles and 20 miles and finish 26.2m  – so just have a look at the link showing the mapometer and where the estimated mile markers should be.

Please drop all your litter in the bins or area situated next to the Aid Stations or the many various bins along the course. It’s important we leave the Vanguard Way with only our footprints of the running and nothing else, to ensure the beauty and well-being of the VGW is maintained.

For your own personal safety we recommend that you do not run with MP3 music in your ears – so you can be aware of other runners and  users along the VGW. There will be a number of key road crossings that we ask you to pay extra caution, at OAKS ROAD (TRAMS), COOMBE LANE (USE THE ROAD ISLAND TO CROSS), BALLARDS WAY, CREST ROAD (USE FOOTPATH – SEE ARROWS ON FLOOR) , ADDINGTON ROAD – REPEAT ADDINGTON ROAD CAN BE QUITE BUSY , THERE IS A PELLICAN CROSSING A LITTLE FURTHER DOWN THE ROAD ON YOUR LEFT IF YOU PREFER – OTHERWISE, PLEASE WAIT FOR A SAFE OPPORTUNITY TO CROSS – DO NOT TAKE A CHANCE AND RUN ACROSS ADDINGTON ROAD – IF I HAVE A SPARE MARSHAL I WILL PLACE THEM THERE TO ASSIST – OTHERWISE , PLEASE USE YOUR COMMON SENSE ! Otherwise, the rest of the route is pretty quiet and rural , one or two others LIMPSFIELD  ROAD , THE RIDGE and TITSEY ROAD – that’s it !! Have a look at the map link to see where these are – you run and cross roads at your own risk.

There will a limited number of race marshals and supporters who will be situated at some road junctions, aid stations and the HQ start and finish area. Please do bear in mind they are all giving up their time to support you on race day, and make sure it’s both fun and successful – without these people we would not be able to put on the Vanguard Way Marathon. I would encourage you, to give your thanks to our wonderful support team right throughout the day – they will be cheering you on !!
We would also urge all runners to use caution when crossing busy junctions, as marshals do not have rights to stop any traffic, but will obviously help runners at certain key points. It is the responsibility of each entrant to ensure care and caution is exercised when crossing roads and junctions within the park to ensure there are no accidents or injuries.

We would encourage friends and families to congregate at Lloyd Park HQ to watch the finishers come in, and witness the presentation of medals and tee shirts to all of the finishers. The whole Lloyd Park is accessible so we will let you roam free to explore all the amazing sights of Croydon and beyond.

The shop at Lloyd Park will be open throughout race day itself – spectators will be able to sit outside and watch the runners leave and return while drinking a lovely coffee or tea and eating cakes and sandwiches.

All half and full marathon runners upon completion at the finish line will need to collect the following;
A Vanguard Way medal and a unique VGW 2015 tee-shirt (various sizes) – and some goody-goody bags !
We will also have some special trophies to award to successful men/women runners in the event (first men/lady) etc.

A race cut off time of 7.0 hours ish.. (4.30pm) will be strictly adhered to. Any runners who appear to be unable to complete the distance by then we be asked to stop and return directly to Croydon HQ. A race sweeper will monitor the slowest runner/s to communicate this with the race directors. We hope as in previous years, all of our runners will safely and successfully complete the distance!

Results and photographs will be emailed to all the runners and results posted onto the VGW Marathon website as soon as possible after the event. Richard our brilliant photographer will aim to get some of your best shots along the course – so if you see a man smiling with a big camera – near a red sports car – smile back please. ALL our photographs will be free to download for your to post on your personal social media sites and indeed I will endeavour to have some of the best ones reported in the Croydon Advertiser Newspaper with the results.
Our event will be chip timed so Martin and Louis will make sure these are all recorded at the finish so we can get them uploaded onto the www.1m2go.co.uk website  – for both the half and full marathon runners.
I am also delighted to announce we will have Chris Philp – MP for South Croydon along in the afternoon to award the runners medals and the winning trophies. We look forward to welcoming him to the Vanguard event for 2018 !