The “Druid Challenge”
Ridgeway
Multistage Ultra
November 6th– 8th 2009
Competitor Update 1
This communication is for all those competitors taking part in the
"Druid Challenge" Ridgeway Ultra.
I wanted to write to you all to bring you up to date with a few
specific topics that are relevant to you.
There are so far 140 competitors from all over the UK, in ages from
21 to 64.
All the information with regard to the event is on the website atwww.xnrg.co.uk.
This includes all route information, logistics, timings etc. Please
review it carefully and ask any questions early so that we can
answer them fully.
I have been asked by one competitor about "car sharing", so that
there is a car at the start and finish. I do not want to share
competitors personal details, such as telephone numbers etc, but if
anyone would be interested in car sharing I will happily collect
your information and pass it on to other people who may be prepared
to share lifts
It is important to us that we think about and support people who are
less fortunate and able than us. It is also important to the Extreme
Energy team personally to recognise the fantastic contribution made
by our armed forces. To this end we have chosen Help For Heroes as
our nominated charity for the Druid Challenge 2009. We are very
fortunate to have Mike Buss running in the event. Mike is aiming,
over the next 5 years, to raise £1,000,000 for Help For Heroes. He
will be running the Druid Challenge with a 40lb pack, just to make
it that
bit harder ! If you would like to raise money for Help For Heroes
please print off sponsorship forms from our website. If you are
going to put so much effort into running wouldn't it be great to
benefit someone else as well. You will also have the opportunity to
make donations throughout the event.
Marathon Des Sables competitors - as you will probably have seen
from my recent emails we are delighted that Rory Coleman (6 times
MDS competitor) will be with us at the event. We will also have Jen
Salter (2009 MDS fastest UK female) running the race. We are
therefore planning a 1 hour Q & A for all future MDS competitors to
ask Rory, Jen and some of us other vets, any questions you may have
about racing in Morocco.
We have had a question from one competitor asking why we are
finishing at Barbury Castle and not Avebury which is at the end of
the Ridgeway. When we set out to organise the Druid Challenge the
intention was never to run the full length of the Ridgeway, but to
use the majority of the Ridgeway as a base to put together a
multiday running event covering more than a marathon each day. The
logistics of finishing at Avebury did not seem achievable, with no
real base to use as a finish, and a distance that would be nearer to
88 miles than 82 miles, which would mean a very late finish on
Sunday night. I understand the attraction of running the whole
Ridgeway. I have done it more than once. If there is a small group
that want to do this on Sunday, so extending their run by approx 6
miles to 33 miles ,we will see what we could do to help out
logistically to get you to Swindon or back to Barbury Castle.
Clearly the majority of competitors will be our focus. We will leave
it to competitors to discuss amongst themselves and discuss with
anyone interested on the first night of the race.
For those people doing day 2 and 3 there is the option to stay over
one the Friday night in the school with the rest of the competitors.
If you would like to take this option please contact me directly on
neil@xnrg.co.uk . There
will be a £15 per person charge for food andthe accommodation for
the night. For those people just running on the Sunday please
contact me if you would like to stay the night before.
High 5 sponsorship - I am delighted to confirm that High 5 will be
sponsoring the events. So there will be High 5 energy bars and gels
at some of the checkpoints each day.
Marshalls / Supporters / Helpers - if you have any supporters who
would like to come along and help manning checkpoints and giving
loads of support to the competitors for all or some of the 3 days we
would be delighted to welcome them to the team. In return for their
help we will offer free food and accommodation for the Friday and/or
Saturday night.
|
