FAQs – The Grand Hotel Mini Mile Races
Q1. Who can enter?
A1. Boys and Girls 8-17 years. Each entrant must have a signed Parents/Guardian consent form in order to complete the registration.
Q2. Can I raise money for a charity?
A2. Yes we are encouraging participants to raise money for “The Variety Club of Great Britain”, which is the chosen charity of The Grand Hotel, Brighton. The Variety Club is dedicated to improving the lives of children and young people who need their help.
Q3. Can my child’s School enter a team?
A3. Yes, you can enter a team, and there is a prize for the School that enters the most runners. Ensure you enter your school name when entering the races in order to count towards your total.
Q4. Can my child’s team wear its own team kit?
A4. We regret that they cannot, each runner will be issued with a coloured t-shirt, which relates to which race they are running in – this will help with managing the runners and their safety.
Q5. What happens if my child can’t make it on the day – can his/her place be deferred till next year?
A5. We will not be rolling over any entries to 2012, but entries for future Mini Mile Races will be on a first come, first served basis. For anyone wishing to cancel their 2011 entry we will issue a 50% refund only up until midnight on Sunday 13th March 2011.
Q6. Can a friend run in hers/his place?
A6. We can arrange this, but you will need to ensure you contact us to update the entry information. Phone: 08453 100088 or Email: info@minimileraces.co.uk . Last date for changes: Tuesday 1 March 2011.
Q7. What do we do if my child is injured before April 18th and is considering pulling out?
A7. The basic advice for any mild injury or “niggle” is ‘r.i.c.e.’ (rest, ice, compression, elevation), but this should not be relied upon for anything other than a slight sprain or ache. For any pain that persists, it is best to consult your local physiotherapist to have the injury properly diagnosed – and to prevent a reoccurrence of your injury. Make sure you prepare correctly, as they say....”Fail to prepare...prepare to fail!”
Q8. What does my child receive for their £5 entry fee?
A8. A limited place in the Mini Mile Races, a medal, a souvenir T shirt to run in and a Goody Bag and of course the thrill of running Mile 26 on marathon day.
Q9. Is there a deadline date for entries?
A9. Yes, midnight on Wednesday 13th March 2011.
Q10. What time are the Races starting?
A10. The first race will start at 8:30am.
Q11.Will there be group ‘warm-up’?
A11. Seagull Mascot Gully and Gully’s Girls will be joining us again to lead the warm up for each race. The timings for each warm up will be posted soon.
Q12. What do runners need to bring on the day?
A12. Checklist:
- Coloured T-shirt – which will be in your race pack
- Running Shoes – with socks
- Warm clothing – especially if you are going to stay and watch the Marathon
- Running Number – pinned to the front of your coloured T-Shirt, and completed medical info on the back of the running number.
It is advised that you prepare all essential race day items you need to bring with you the day before the race .Your running gear of course, your race number with the important medical information completed on the reverse side; don’t be scrabbling around for a pen half an hour before the gun! You should have tested, in a training run, your race day running shoes and clothing as you should not wear new items on race day without having tried them first. Don’t forget cold/wet weather gear for pre and post race warmth; there’s nothing worse than being cold! All items thrown to one side will be collected and will be donated to charity.
If you forget your number there will be an Information Point in the start area that will be able to help you. But please don’t forget anything....!
Q13. Is there anywhere to put runner’s belongings?
A13. We would advise that a parent or responsible adult accompanying the runner should hold the runners' bag and kit while the race is taking place. However, we will also provide a baggage holding area.
Q14. How may runners will there be?
A14. There will be eight races with a maximum of 250 runners per race.
Q15. Where are the hilly parts of the course?
A15. The 1 mile route is completely flat – this is a fast course with stunning views and atmosphere.
Q16. Will there be a photographer taking pictures of runners as they go through the finish line?
A16. We have an official race day photography company taking pictures.
Q17. Is the Finish line easy for friends to get to?
A17. The Finish line will be located just east of the iconic Brighton Pier. Spectators will be able to line the route into the finish but because of congestion it will be difficult to access the actual finish line.
Q18. What prizes are there for the winners?
A18. Details to be confirmed.
Q19. What do our children get at the finish line?
A19. They will receive a souvenir medal, goody bag and a drink. They will also experience the buzz created by huge crowds and a huge sense of achievement.
Q20. Where can the runners be picked up after they have finished their race?
A20. The Finish line is on Madeira Drive, a couple of hundred metres east of Brighton Pier. Once the runners have picked up their Goody Bags and Finishers Medal they are directed into one of the corals. All parents should make sure they make their way to the correct coral at the designated time to collect their children. This area will be very busy in preparation for the finishing 9,000 runners from the Marathon; we would encourage people to clear the area as soon as possible.
Note: there will be limited north-south ‘crossing’ points across Marine Parade and Kings Road (the main seafront road). The nearest crossing point to the Mini Mile Finish area is on Marine Parade, just up the hill from the Sealife Centre.
Q21. Security for the Children
A21. As parent or responsible adult for the child runner you remain responsible for the whereabouts and behaviour of your child at all times.
Details of our Lost Child strategy will be published shortly.
Q22. What part of the Marathon course does the Mini Mile Race use?
A22. The Mini Mile Races start at Mile 25 of the Marathon. There will be plenty of opportunity to watch the Marathon after the Finish of the Mini Mile Races as the lead runners of the Marathon come through soon after 10am. The seafront is brilliant for spectators.
Q23. Will there be loos / food / water / energy drinks?
A23. There will be loos at the Start and Finish, and the goody bags at the Finish will contain water and an energy bar. The safety and well being of each entrant is our number one priority.
Q24. What’s the best way to get the children to the start line?
A24. By car – However, Grand Avenue and the A259 Kingsway will be closed from 7.30am.The exception to this is access to the seafront via Montpelier Road from where left-hand turns will be allowed so you can drive to the Regency Car Park. If you want to park, we strongly advise that you park in Regency Car Park. From here, you can exit north even though the seafront road will be closed for much of ther day.
By Train – the nearest train station for the Start is Hove Station; it is 1½miles from the Start and some 2½miles from the Finish. The nearest station to the Finish is Brighton Station – approx 20 minutes walk away.
By Bus – There will be Sunday service provided by Brighton & Hove buses but we advise there will be restrictions to normal routes due to the marathon. Please see Brighton & Hove buses website at www.buses.co.uk for more information, nearer the time.
Q25. Is there much parking on the seafront?
A25. Most of the city’s seafront stretch (the A259) is part of the course and so all parking along the A259 from the marina in the east, to Southwick in the west, will be halted for the day. Regency Square underground car park is accessible for the day.
Q26. Will there be a Park and Ride service for The Grand Hotel Mini Mile Races?
A26. No. Park and Ride services will only be provided by the Brighton Marathon for the Marathon race – with the drop off point for this on Preston Drove near Preston Park, the start of the Marathon, and over 2 miles from the Start of the Mini Mile Races.
Q27. If we are staying over for the weekend, where is the best place to stay?
A27.Brighton has an array of fabulous 4 and 5 star hotels and some fabulous boutique hotels, plus many B & B’s suitable for all budgets! Please visit www.visitbrighton.com. Just bear in mind when booking, that the start is along the seafront west of Brighton Pier, and that the finish is a few hundred metres east of The Pier.
Q28. Are you affiliated to any hotels
A28. We are not affiliated with any hotel directly but please visit www.visitbrighton.com for hotels associated with our event.
Q29. Can runners listen to music as they run on the course?
A29. No. It is considered dangerous to wear headphones or iPods at events of this size. Should there be any blue light services needing to pass you or any emergency messages given out over tannoy systems whilst you are running you will need to be aware of them; therefore we must insist that headphones are not worn.
Q30. Can runners roller blade? Or walk?
A30. Neither unfortunately. While we know that some children will walk for a portion of the mile we cannot say it is ok to walk through the entire event, as the Marathon race will be coming through soon after the anticipated finish of the Mini Mile Races. Rollerblades are neither appropriate, nor safe and will not be permitted.
Q31. What medical care/treatment do you have?
A31. We will have full medical care/treatment available to all runners at the start, along the route, and at the finish. We take medical safety of the entrants as of paramount importance. Our medical cover will be provided by St John Ambulance.
Q32. What happens if the weather is bad? How will we know what to do?
A32. Keep an eye from five days out, on the weather forecast so that you have time to prepare all the correct running kit. Not only to run in, but to warm up in before the race and to wear after the race.
