2021 Bush Capital Bush Marathon Festival newsletter, 6 August 2021

Event program Sunday 8 August

6.10am registration opens
6.50am marathon briefing
7.00 am marathon start
7.50am half marathon briefing
8.00am half marathon men’s start
8.05am half marathon women’s start
8.50am 10km briefing

9.00am 10km start
 

New registration centre, start/finish, and car parking
The start/finish, registration and toilets are now on the east side of Campbell High School. Only 150 metres away there is plenty of parking at the former CSIRO Headquarters car park. To access this from Limestone Avenue turn on to Quick Street in Ainslie then turn right in to Hayley Street and follow it south for 300 metres to the CSIRO car park. Please DO NOT PARK at the War Memorial or Campbell High car park off Treloar Crescent. 
Once you park, walk across the Campbell High outdoor basketball courts following the witches hats to the start/finish. Do not walk close to the school buildings. If you do, you will probably set off the school building alarm system, which is extremely loud and difficult to get turned off. 

Event information

Please download a copy of the start/finish map, event program, course maps and other event information at
Bush Capital Bush Marathon Festival - Register Now
 

Course changes
There are 4 course changes compared with previous years:

1.      Start/finish and first 500 metres

2.      Mt Ainslie road crossing now at entrance to gun club (safer crossing point)

3.      The first drink station is now after 4.7 km. So 10km participants will go 300 metres past the drink station to the 5km point before turning around

4.      The half marathon turnaround point on the out and back section is now 300 metres further along the trail.

Weather forecast: very good (see http://www.bom.gov.au/act/forecasts/canberra.shtml)
The current weather forecast is 0 – 14 degrees, cloudy, only 10% chance of rain.

Arrival time for your event
It is recommended that you aim to arrive 50 minutes prior to your start time to allow sufficient time to find a parking spot, walk to the start/finish area, use the CheckIn CBR app, collect your race bib (if you don’t already have a permanent bib number) and pin it on the front of your T shirt or vest, warm up, visit the toilets, and attend the compulsory pre-start briefing 5 minutes before each start.
 

Race bibs
Important: no race bib, no start! If you have a permanent race bib, pin it onto the front of your race T shirt/jacket on Saturday night so you don’t forget to bring it on Sunday morning.
If you don’t have permanent bib already, collect it  when you arrive on race day. Please keep it after finishing and use it for all future AMRA events.
Race bibs for all runners and walkers MUST be worn on the front of the chest clothing and clearly visible as you approach both the start line timing mat and the finish line timing mats for the electronic chip to work and to facilitate backup recording of finishers. You must not have a backpack strap over the bib as this can prevent the electronic chip from recording.
Pre event injuries and ill health
Each year some runners start the events with pre-existing injuries which they managed by taking pain killers pre-start and while out on the course. The Sports Medicine Australia attendants have said that this is extremely dangerous, both to health and to masking pain from an impending stress fracture or muscle or ligament failure. Please DO NOT START in these circumstances.
You can also swap to a shorter distance if those are manageable within the constraints of the injury.
Having a bad day on the day
If you are doing the marathon on Sunday, you can cut short and just complete the half marathon and go in the results for that event. However, you must advise the finish recorder you have done this. You will not be eligible for a place getter trophy if you swap to a shorter distance.
Toilets
There are male and female student toilets just near the start/finish. Please arrive early and warm up early and visit the toilets early to avoid a queue. Races will be starting on time.
There is NO portaloo on the course this year as they are very expensive to hire and the number of entrants is much lower than in previous years.

Campbell High School security system
Please do not walk close to any parts of the school building apart from the gymnasium, as this will set off the security alarm. 
Start arrangements
All competitors in each event must be at the start line 10 minutes before the start for a compulsory pre-race briefing. This is a compulsory requirement in respect of the event risk management procedures agreed by the ACT government approval agencies, and so that you understand the finish procedures with the electronic timing.
Finish arrangements

Please ensure that your chest number is fully visible on the front of your jacket or T shirt as you approach the finish line. After you finish you will be handed a race mug with a KitKat. Place getters will be handed their trophies as they finish as we are not allowed presentation ceremonies under Covid restrictions.

Please bring your own water and food for after you finish as these cannot be provided under COVID restrictions.

Results onlineLive results will be available on any device with Web access (smartphone, tablet, PC) via the following link: http://my.raceresult.com/176973/
Your finish time recorded will be the gun time- ie time when you crossed the finish mat minus the start time at the start cones. 
Online Finisher’s Certificate
When you access the Web result if you click on your name in any Results List a pop up box with a downloadable/printable Finisher’s Certificate will be available for you.

Out on the courses
Nearly all of each of the courses is within Canberra Nature Park. As a condition of access, Park Management has requested that runners and walkers do not drop empty gels or other rubbish along the way, and that all such material is left in the garbage bag at each drink station.

We are also required to advise you that Mt Ainslie many years ago was an army firing range and a few unexploded ordinances have been found in recent years. You will not encounter any such things on the Bush Capital Bush Marathon Festival trails. However, if you venture off the trail for any reason (such as answering a call of nature) and encounter any metal objects on the ground, stay right away from them and do not pick them up. If they look at all like an unexploded military device, please report the location to police.
 

Compulsory gear for events half marathon and longer (& recommended for 10km races)

Wear a hydration vest or carry either a collapsible cup or 0.5 litre to 1 litre water bottle or water bladders in race vests and refill these at drink stations.

Contactless drink stations
There are 2 drink stations on the half marathon course, each with water containers with taps. The drink station helper will have a plastic pourer to pour water into your hydration vest or collapsible cup.

Recommended gear
Trail running shoes, mobile phone.

Marathon drink stations
The marathon does 2 laps of the half marathon course. Please set up your own personal drink station near the start/finish turnaround where you may put your own special drinks and food.
Race time limits and intermediate cut off times
In the interests of competitor safety and fairness to the volunteer helpers, there are time limits and cut off times. Competitors not achieving the cut off point time of 3 hrs 15 mins in the marathon at the end of 1 lap must withdraw from the marathon at that point but will be included in the results for the half marathon. The course is hilly by marathon standards, and the second 21.1 km lap tends to be significantly slower.

There are also time limits for the other events (half marathon 4 hrs 30mins; 10km 2 hours). Participants not finishing within the time limits will be disqualified.

Mobile phone coverage
There is excellent mobile phone coverage right around Mt Ainslie and Mt Majura.

Photography
Photographers will be taking photos of as many participants as possible. These will be published afterwards in online photo albums. If you do not want your photo published, please call ‘no photographs’ to any photographer you see.
Event queries

Please do not email event queries on Friday or Saturday. Course sign posting, filling water containers and packing all the gear for the weekend takes all day from dawn until late at night. Please read this newsletter and the event information and your question should have been answered. This includes information on withdrawals and refunds.

Finally, enjoy yourself and have a good time.

John Harding
Race Director
Australian Mountain Running Association