Dog Friendly
EVENT FULL - ALL ENTRIES NOW CLOSED & WE ARE NO LONGER ADDING TO OUR WAITING LIST.
The Mortimer 10km has a new look for 2021, with a new multi terrain course and new organisers. As always though, the race will start & finish on Mortimer Fairground, and we have a canicross entry option for those wishing to run the 10km with their dog(s).
PLEASE NOTE - to safely manage the event in accordance with Covid requirements, there will now be no walking event or 1km fun run.
Our new 10km course takes in the beautiful local woodlands, using footpaths and bridleways. The course is undulating and uneven in places, therefore not suitable for pushchairs/buggies or wheelchairs.
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Beautiful multi terrain course - see the video below for our new two lap course
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Canicross 10km with separate start. Start times confirmed by April 3rd
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Race Instructions emailed out & found HERE from March 25th
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Minimum age - 16 for 10km
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Free downloadable race photos
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Online entries close on April 3rd or when capacity is reached
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Staggered starts, social distancing and more Covid safe measures will be in place. Check out our Covid FAQ's & Measures.
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Fundraising for the Ollie Young Foundation
Results
Photos
2021
BEAT THE SUNSET 50KM
RACE BRIEFING
Welcome to the Beat the Sunset 50km, our fourth running of this 50km ultra marathon.
Please make sure that you have read the race guide on the event website. TAKE PARTICULAR NOTE OF PLANS & ADVICE REGARDING WARM WEATHER. It is assumed that you have read and understood this brief prior to attending the event.
Registration -
All race numbers are to be collected on the day – no race packs are being posted out in advance. Your race number has a timing chip on the reverse, so please don’t bend or fold them. Timing chips obscured by hydration packs etc may not be activated, see the photos at race registration for the do’s and don’ts.
Race Registration is open from 11:00 until 11:45, a short distance from the start/finish area/car parks.
Car parking is free & onsite, park as instructed by marshals. Arrive in good time for your start.
At registration you will be issued with your Beat the Sunset buff, your silicone cup & t-shirt if you have ordered one.
Personal Nutrition Drop – you can have your own nutrition taken to checkpoints 3 & 4 on course. Please have it bagged up already & labelled with your race number and drop it in the boxes at registration by 11:45.
Start Times - between 12:00 & 12:30 and can now be found on the event website. You’ll be started off in small groups due to the some narrow paths in the first 3km. PLEASE STICK TO THE TIME YOU ARE LISTED FOR.
Event Day Timetable –
10:30 - Race Venue Opens
11:00 - Race Registration Opens
11:45 - Race Registration & Nutrition Drop Closes
12:00 - First Start Time
12:30 - Last Start Times
15:45 – First Finishers Expected
21:12 - Final Finish Time
WARM WEATHER PLANS & ADVICE
We are in the midst of a record heatwave, temperatures are set to cool slightly by race day but it will be warm & day for a 50km, so we wanted to let you know what we do in such circumstances and to give some general advice to keep you more comfortable and safe.
The current weather forecast suggests we'll have a steady 25 degrees throughout most of the day, with some cloud. Most of us will consider that to be warm for running, so please take care of yourselves.
We are doubling our water provision at the checkpoints on course from normal levels, and adding another water refill station at 37km on the course. To confirm, this will have water only and in situated approx halfway between CP3 & CP4. This is a long section of the course, and typically comes into play at the heat of the day.
Checkpoints -
There are 4 checkpoints on the course, at 11km, 20km, 30km and 42km. These are stocked with water, cola, Hi5 & Active Root, along with a variety of snacks – a reminder again – there are no cups provided, but you have your silicone cup!
You can have your own nutritional items sent to Checkpoints 3 & 4.
Toilets – there are toilets at the Start/Finish, and directly at checkpoints 2, 3 & 4. In addition there are numerous public toilets around the course, check the Google course map provided for details.
Cut Off Times -
We want everyone to finish! However, there are cut off times that you must make around the course in order to have a chance of making the finish in time for sunset.
The cut off times are available to view in the Race Guide. Should you not make a cut off time at a checkpoint you will politely be told to stop.
If you do not reach our last Checkpoint on time or subsequently the last course marshal point at 48km by 20:45 they will ask you to stop as daylight will be running out.
Finish -
As you cross the finish line your result will be live online via the event website.
Remember, there is live tracking throughout the event as well, so spectators can see exactly where you are.
On finishing, grab your finishers medal and some snacks. Water containers are ready for you to fill your own bottles, and there's cola too.
Prizes will be distributed at the finish area. Age category prizes may be posted out afterwards.
Hot & Cold drinks and food are available to buy in the Sports Club bar.
Massage – Muscle & Mind will be providing post event massage at £20 for 20 mins.
We have also amended our usual course in this area so as to include more shaded areas where possible. The course you can find on the website is the race day route.
NO CUPS ARE PROVIDED at the water refill stations. Part of your compulsory kit is to carry at all times a drinks bottle/vessel/hydration pack with you with a minimum capacity of 500ml. You will be given an event silicone cup at race registration to carry around with you also. Use the water stations to top up with - don't leave a checkpoint without having refilled your bottles and replenished supplies. Please do so.
The route is sporadically under tree cover and has shade through the first 12-13km, from there until 30km there is not a lot of cover. You will find shade between 30km & 45km again.
Common sense running rules:-
Wear loose fitting kit, sunglasses, hats and suncream.
This may not be the day for breaking records; adjust pacing plans and expectations.
Leave the ego at the door, relax, keep a positive outlook and enjoy it. Ramping up stress levels about something you can't control doesn't help. Run your own race.
Mandatory Kit -
There are a few items of kit that are compulsory for you to carry with you. These are for your own safety and allow us as organisers to know that you will be safe out on the course. You must carry the following:-
Fully charged mobile phone
Foil Blanket
Drinks vessel with a minimum capacity of 500ml
We also recommend that you carry with you a method of payment & a shower/waterproof jacket.
The Course -
We have a beautiful 50km route for you and around 75% is off road. The ground is firm currently and best suited to road shoes.
We start & finish at the Summerleaze Park, and take in the Green Way, Thames Path, Jubilee River, Taplow & Burnham Beeches before rejoining the Thames at Bourne End and back to the finish.
The course is flat until 30km, and then undulating until 42km before a flat run in again.
There are some sections along narrow footpaths, given recent weather a couple of parts are slightly overgrown, but usable. Please be courteous of footpath users, and be patient with eachother.
Parts of the course are a little uneven underfoot and there are tree roots throughout the woodland areas.
There are a couple of short stretches along country lanes – keep left unless told otherwise.
Safety -
We do have a number of road crossings, the majority of which are at designated crossing points (zebra crossing etc) and others when you should only cross where marshals tell you to. Cars are bigger than you, give way if you have to, and the decision is entirely upto you when to cross roads safely.
Look out for each other on the course. Should you or another runner become ill or injured, please call the event medic, whose phone number will be on your race number. If you don’t require medical attention, but wish to stop, you will need to be self-sufficient in returning to the finish. If you withdraw from the event, you must inform the organisers via the Race HQ number also found on your race number.
In the instance of a high level medical issue please call 999.
Signage -
The course is signed with yellow arrows as well as red and white tape tied to trees/bushes. If you reach a junction and do not see any signage, go back to where you last saw an arrow. Pay attention!
On a course 50km in length it is possible that signage can be tampered with, although our team check and re-check course signage, you are provided with two options as back up, a GPX file of the course and a Google course map usable on your phone.
Your race number includes a QR code for the Google Map, which can be used to orientate yourself back to the course if needed.
Thank You -
Firstly, thank you to the team from Summerleaze Park. Thank you to our race timer, Rogue Racer, Muscle & Mind, our medics from Beyond First Aid, the Jubilee Riverside Centre and our sponsors Stillman Insurance & Lindum Tree Services.
Most of all though, and please show your appreciation when you see them, thank you to our race day volunteers and our race photographers.
WE'LL SEE YOU ON SATURDAY MAY 30TH