Registrations open for Bath Running Festival 25th July 2021!
March 2021 Update
We can't wait to be back at the Bath Running Festival! Here is how the event plan looks in relation to the current guidance.
- We should be back to normal wave sizes of up to 150 at this point, but we retain a back up plan for waves of 30 runners. Waves determined by runners when they enter.
- Self serve number collection, bag drop and refreshments. All manned by a member of the Relish team to help with any questions. Please be as self sufficient with your refreshments as much as possible when out on the course.
- Covid secure environment; extra hygiene measures, social distancing etc where relevant. Spectators likely, but runners should be prepared to attend the race without spectators incase the guidance changes.
- A really excited marshal and event team who can't wait to put on an event for you!
Safe Race
Our new event format has been approved by Public Health England the Safety Advisory Group for Events. We have very detailed plans to ensure social distancing measures are in place through out your race day, along with additional hygiene measures in place through out the venue.
It is very important you familiarise yourself with our updated event plan, check out our safety plan and measures, so you can not what we will be asking of you on race day, and what you can expect from us. You can see all this info on ourSafe Race page.
The Bath Running Festival is a celebration of off road running around the beautiful hills and valleys of Bath. All the runs take in breath taking vies of Bath from Sham Castle and the open meadows about Bathampton. The long the race, the more hills, and fantastic views you will get to experience. The half marathon and marathon routes include sections along the Kennet & Avon Canal and through the historic Sydney Gardens.
The real hills begin for the half marathon and marathon runners on the original Roman Fosse Way (6.5 miles in) which is straight up for 1 mile, and the down the other side. This lumpy profile continues as the route traverses the valleys in St Catherine's and up to the famous Solsbury Hill (of Peter Gabriel fame). The views from this iron age fort are very special with views down to Bath and all the the surrounding hills and valleys on the route.
All the races are designed to be fun and friendly. We put on glorious buffets of fresh fruit and tasty treats at the feed stations around the course and at the finish line. We have a great time of marshals to point you in the right direction and to cheer you round. All finishers will receive a custom medal, unique to this race and year at the finish line.
The race is based at the University of Bath and there is free parking on Sundays. We are based at the amphitheatre, a lovely circular seating area cut into the grass by the lake. Follow the Relish Running signs to event registration and the start/finish point. We have use of the on site toilets, but no showers or changing rooms.
After the race we recommend you return to the Sports Training Village for a restorative meal at the Sports Cafe, specifically designed to replenish and refuel the country's top athletes.
Align Body Clinic
Is an injury or pain stopping you from running as much as you would like to? Check out Align Body Clinic in Bath who are offering all Bath Running Festival participants an exclusive 25% discount off their first consultation which will include;
An explanation of what is causing the injury and how to resolve it.
Treatment programme tailored to your specific goal.
A full biomechanical assessment specific to runners including strength and endurance testing of major muscle groups used for running.
Hands on treatment to help relieve symptoms on the day.
Carefully prescribed exercises to improve running performance and reduce injury
Click here for more info. on how to claim the discounted offer.
Format
Going by the roadmap released in late Feb, we should be able to hold this event in pretty much normal conditions with our usual wave sizes of between 50 and 100. We may also need to reduce the wave sizes down to 30 should restrictions determine this is the way to go. If you would like to run with another runner please ensure you select the same wave when you register (as usual).
As a contingency, if we need to reduce the wave size, please enter the same predicted time to the same second as another runner. Please make it obscure, as lots of people will put a predicted time of 1 hr (1:00:00) for a 10km, but if you put 1:00:19 it will be easier for us to pick out people who want to run together should we need to split the waves into smaller waves.
Please see the Race Day page for a provisional schedule, noting above, that we hope to condense the schedule in time.
Notes
Please note there is a cut off of 3hrs for the marathon runners to complete the first 14.5 miles of the marathon which takes them to the lap turn around point. After this time runners will have to complete the long half marathon course where they will be awarded a long half medal, but unfortunately we won't be able to provide a finish time. This event is not suitable for canicross.
There are no hidden booking or processing fees. Please note prices are £2 extra for on the day registrations. There are great group discount rates for groups of 10 or more, the runners can cover any range of distance on race day. 10-19 runners save 15%, 20-49 runners save 20%, 50+ runners save 25%. All bookings must be made in advance of race day to qualify for the discounted rate. We ask for all groups to be registered four weeks in advance of race day so we have the opportunity to take all groups into account when we finalise our medal order.
All our finishers receive a top of the range custom medal as well as a buffet of fresh fruit and other tasty treats. We also recognise a few of the speedy runners on the following basis.
Prize Categories
Top 3 male and top 3 female
First U20 male and female
First 20-39 male and female
First 40-49 male and female
First 50-50 male and female
First 60-69 male and female
First 70+ male and female
The final number of prizes awarded is determined by the number of finishers for each gender in a given race distance. If there are more than 100 finishers then the full range range of awards are made as shown above. If there are less than 50-100 finishers then the top 3 finishers overall will be awarded a prize. If there are less than 50 then only the winner will be awarded a prize. We do not have any winner's prizes for any of the children's events as would like to keep this participation focused.
There is no on the day prize giving because of the multi wave, multi start time format of the events. Prize winners will be contacted mid week via email.
Cancellation Policy
Whilst it feels like life is returning to normal, and we sincerely hope it is, there is the potential for further disruption which could come into play at any time. In this event we will still owe payment to our suppliers; medical cover, portaloos etc which we will honour. This means we will have to pay for these facilities twice, in full again on the rearranged date which will put a big hole in the funds. This does mean we won't be in a position to offer a refund.
In the event of a cancellation (local or national restrictions, bad weather etc) everyone will automatically roll over to our contingency date/race OR you can have a free transfer to a friend (within 7 days of the event postponement notice) OR you can email us within 7 days of the event postponement notice to let us know you can't make the back up date and you will be able to choose any other event in the following 15 months.
The automatic contingency date for this race is the Two Tunnels finale race on the 15th August 2021, also held in Bath, on very scenic but flatter trails. If you don't wish to run on this contingency date then you can opt out as indicated above and hold your race to be used sometime in the next 12 months.
Safe Race
We have approval from the Safety Advisory Group for Events (SAGE) for this new event format, which is hugely exciting, and we feel is a real testament to the seriousness that we approach our events. This SAGE is local version of the national team that advises the government on safety. On the board are Public Health England, police, ambulance service and all council departments within Bath and North East Somerset Council. This is the highest level of approval an event can receive, it serves as the strongest signal that an event can have that we are doing things right. Whilst you read the event plan below, some of the format will be new, some things have changed, but this is absolutely the only way an event can be held right now.
To keep inline with government guidance and our SAGE review, we have some easy to follow rules which I am sure you are all used to by now. Best summarised as; be socially distanced, apply hand wash/hand sanitiser and wear a face covering (not during your run), respect other users on the route. In more detail;
- Please do not attend the event if you have displayed anycovid symptomsin the 14 days in the run up to the event.
- Please download the Track and Trace App to your phone...you know you will end up doing it eventually so lets do it now!
- If arriving by foot or bike, please aim to arrive with 30mins to spare before your start time. Please make your way from the race site 30mins after you finish your race.
- We are practising a 2m+ social distance policy, we have the luxury of space so we are going to make good use of it. One way systems will be in play with socially distanced markers on the floor where you might need to queue.
- If you see some hand sanitiser, please apply it.
- Gatherings of 6 may only take place away from the main race areas; please don't meet up by the start line, or the finish area. We have use of a large site :-)
- Spectators...confirmed spectators are not permitted. Sorry. In light of the recent announcements we felt this was the most appropriate course of action.
- We are not performing temperature checks pre race. If you do not feel well in any way, do not attend the event. Covid tests are not available on site.
- The course is largely on private land, with a few very quiet parts which are shared with to the public. As always, our definition of a successful event is one that our runners enjoy and one that the wider community enjoys. More so than ever, it is vital you respect the space of other users, there are far more significant matters at play here than chasing a new PB. Please give way to other users if you can not pass safely.
- The Relish staff will be wearing PPE; masks, gloves/hand sanitiser, visors or screens will be used when we need to work more closely with you and each other.
Beast of Bath
You can enter any race in the Bath Running Festival as a stand alone event using the Enter Online options below. We also have a series of events called the Beast of Bath Mini Challenge/Challenge. The Mini Challenge is a 5km + 10km + Half Marathon race series, the Challenge is a 10km + Half Marathon + Marathon race series.
The Beast of Bath series is 3 events on 3 dates taking on all the hills of Bath. The Pipley Wood Mud Bath on 9th Feb, the Two Tunnels 'Hilly Ticket' race options on 10th May and the finale event at the Bath Running Festival on 26th July. All runners who complete the series are awarded an amazing glass trophy, see the Beast of Bath event page for more details.
