Run in Loch Ness
There is something for everyone in the Highlands of Scotland: full marathon, 10k Corporate Challenge, 10k and 5k event.
Baxters Loch Ness Marathon and Festival of Running – 30 September 2012
About
We are pleased to announce that registrations for the 2012 Loch Ness Marathon are now open.
Voted as one of the most scenic running events in the UK, this is your chance to be part of the Loch Ness running legend. There is something for everyone in the Highlands of Scotland: a full marathon, 10k Corporate Challenge, 10k and 5k event.
The route will take you through wonderful scenery, along the south-eastern shores of Loch Ness, across the River Ness, and into the centre of Inverness, capital city of the Highlands.
Breast Cancer Care is one of the nominated charities for the Baxters Loch Ness Marathon and Festival of Running for a third year and we have guaranteed entry places.
Secure your place through Breast Cancer Care today and do not miss your chance to absorb the unique Loch Ness experience.
How we will support you as part of Team Breast Cancer Care
In return for pledging to raise money for us, we will support you by providing:
- a state of the art running vest or T-shirt if you prefer
- a welcome pack full of fundraising and training advice
- a training plan and top tips from our sports ambassador, Denise Lewis
- support and advice from a dedicated member of the sports team
- regular newsletters and emails to keep you updated
- a goody bag
- fundraising materials
- 20 per cent off your first purchase from Sweaty Betty - specialists in performance wear for women.
We hope to welcome you to Team Breast Cancer Care very soon!
Race day
To make sure you are fully prepared for your race we have included some key information to ensure that your race day runs as smoothly as possible.
Pre-race registration
For marathon runners will take place between 12.30-18.00 on Saturday 29 September 2012 at Bught Park where you will collect your race number, timing tag, baggage label and Pasta Party tickets (if purchased in advance).
Timings
Saturday 29 September
12.30-6pm Pre-race Registration at Bught Park, Inverness. IV3 5SS
12.30-6pm Baxters Pasta Party – all runners, friends and family welcome!
Sunday 30 September
7.30am Runners arrive at Bught Park to be transported by bus to the start
7.45am Buses depart from Bught Park
8.15am Bus pick-up from Drumnadrochit Tourist Information Centre (for this option, see important note below)
8.40am Bus pick-up from Fort Augustus Tourist Information Centre (for this option, see important note below)
9.05am Buses arrive at start
10am Start of Baxters Loch Ness Marathon
10am–4pm Festival of Running at Bught Park open to the public
1.45pm Prize-giving at Bught Park
Full marathon
The Marathon starts at 10.00am on Sunday 30 September 2012 between Fort Augustus and Foyers on the south side of Loch Ness, and will finish along the River Ness at Bught Park in the centre of Inverness.
All marathon runners are transported by bus to the Start from the Ice Rink, a short walk from Bught Park. Please arrive by 07.30 as buses will depart promptly at 07.45. Due to logistical reasons and route access it is impossible for runners to travel to the Start independently.
Transport to the start of the race
All runners will be transported to the start of the race from three pick-up points:
Pick-up point 1 – Ice Rink, near Bught Park, 7.30-7.45am
Pick-up point 2 – Drumnadrochit Tourist Information Centre, 8.15am
Pick-up point 3 – Fort Augustus Tourist Information Centre, 8.40am
IMPORTANT – We are anticipating minimal numbers of people requiring pick-up from Fort Augustus or Drumnadrochit. If you do require pick up from here please e-mail info@lochnessmarathon.com by 10 September. (Please note that the organisers will NOT be organising return transport to Fort Augustus or Drumnadrochit after the race).
Festival on Race Day
We are planning a fantastic line-up of entertainment and activities at the finish at Bught Park (open to the public from 10.00–16.00) with massed pipes & drums, live music, charity and sports retailer stands, the Baxters Food & Drink Fayre, kids’ activities, and great Highland hospitality.
The route
The Marathon will start on the high ground between Fort Augustus and Foyers (B862) and will drop down to the banks of Loch Ness at Foyers (B852). From there, the route follows the loch’s south eastern shore, heading north east towards Dores on the northern tip of the loch. From Dores, the race heads directly into the centre of Inverness (B862), turning left over the main road bridge and left again for the last half mile along the River Ness to the finish at Bught Park in the centre of Inverness.
To make sure that you are fully prepared for race day, please keep an eye on the Loch Ness Marathon and Festival of Running official website for all the information you require.
Join our team
We have guaranteed entries for the marathon. Entries for the Corporate Challenge, 10k and 5k can be made directly with the marathon officials. For more information see the entry page.
Need a guaranteed charity place?
To secure a guaranteed place we ask full marathon runners to pledge to raise a minimum amount of £400 in exchange for their place. We do not ask for a registration fee. To apply for one of our guaranteed places please email us at scottishruns@breastcancercare.org.uk or call 0141 353 8330.
If you already have your place
If you have secured your own place in this event, we would be delighted for you to join our team. We don’t set a minimum sponsorship target, we just ask you to raise as much as you can.
To join the team, please email us at scottishruns@breastcancercare.org.uk and let us know the following details:
- your full name
- address
- telephone number
- running vest size
- how you heard about Breast Cancer Care.
Alternatively, you can telephone us on 0141 353 8330 to speak to a member of our team.
Training tips
Training is essential to your Loch Ness Marathon and Festival of Running preparation. The more you put in the more enjoyable your experience will be!
We have designed some guidelines for you to follow, you can download these below.
Our week by week training plan specifies how far and how often you should run. It also tells you when to rest in order to get the most out of your training. The increase in mileage in our training plan is designed to help you improve your fitness level for the big day.
Use our stretching guide to help you fully prepare for yourself for your training sessions and on race day.
Don’t forget to keep visiting this page to get the most up-to-date advice.
Fundraising
Reaching your fundraising target can be a challenge, but don’t worry as we have some useful tips to help you plan and coordinate your fundraising.
Check out our seasonal fundraising ideas to ensure that your fundraising is fresh and on trend.
All fundraising should be collected and returned to Breast Cancer Care by 9 January 2012
Social networks
Remember, it’s your network of friends, family, colleagues and contacts who will support you with your training and fundraising. Keep them updated every step of the way with your Facebook profile, blog or Twitter account.
Tell them how your training is going (with pictures for added impact!) and let them know how you’re getting on with your fundraising target. You can even upload pictures on the day to show everyone your progress along the route! If you follow Breast Cancer Care on Facebook and Twitter, we’ll keep you up to date with the goings-on here, and keep you on track with support and tips.
Fundraising materials
Download your very own fundraising planner to follow to ensure that your fundraising activities run as smoothly as possible.
Use this downloadable poster to promote your fundraising events.
Online fundraising
Now you can raise sponsorship without all the hassle. No more dealing with cash and cheques, no more chasing friends after the event. Simply create a free, online fundraising page, personalise it with a photo and message, and email it to your friends, family and work colleagues. They can donate quickly and securely online with a credit or debit card. Online donations from UK taxpayers are worth almost a third more to us with Gift Aid, which can be claimed on online donations. Follow the instructions to set up your unique JustGiving page.
Once you’ve created your page, email the link to friends, family, colleagues and classmates. You can even add the JustGiving application to your Facebook page to make it even easier for your friends to donate.
For more information or help setting up your page, visit www.justgiving.com or call the Justgiving helpdesk on 0845 021 2110.
Please note: Justgiving money will only be attributed to the person who set up the Justgiving page, so please do not set up joint pages as we are unable to share the money between several people.
How do I pay in my sponsorship?
There are few ways in which your sponsorship money will reach us:
JustGiving
If you have decided to create a Justgiving fundraising page, then you do not need to do anything as all your sponsorship money will automatically be sent directly to our bank account. Please note that it can take up to four weeks to show up on your fundraising record at Breast Cancer Care.
Cheque
Please send all cheques to the address below:
Breast Cancer Care Events
Admail 4161
London
SE1 0ZB
Don’t forget to write your name, Breast Cancer Care number and event name on the back of your cheques.
Online
You can also pay money in directly on the Breast Cancer Care website. If you use our online paying in function then please remember to send us your sponsorship forms so that we can claim Gift Aid.
Enclosed in your welcome pack, which you will receive when you register for your event, will be your pay-in forms. You can send them to us along with your sponsorship money and sponsorship forms. Please do not send cash in the post.
Once you join Team Breast Cancer Care we will provide you with further fundraising tips and ideas!
FAQs
Questions
How do I sign up?
What is the minimum fundraising total I have to raise?
Will I receive a vest to wear on the day?
When will my welcome pack arrive?
What happens on the day?
Can I collect sponsorship online?
How do I pay in my sponsorship?
How do I withdraw from the event?
I am looking for accommodation for the event, where is best to stay?
All other questions
Answers
Please visit the 'Join our team' section to find out how to sign up.
What is the minimum fundraising total I have to raise?
If you have your own place in the race, there is no minimum sponsorship target – we just ask that you try and raise as much as you can.
If you have one of our guaranteed places then we ask that you pledge to raise a minimum of £400 in sponsorship for a full marathon entry. For the Corporate Challenge, 10k and 5k we do not ask for a minimum amount as you secured your own place, we appreciate anything you can raise for our charity.
Will I receive a vest to wear on the day?
Yes. We will send you a state of the art running vest to you in the post about a month before race day. Please remember to specify which vest size you would like when confirming your place.
When will my welcome pack arrive?
We will send out your welcome pack in the post within two weeks of you signing up. While you wait for the pack to arrive, please click on the Fundraising tab (above) for some great hints and tips to get you started.
Please visit the 'Race day' section for details on what to expect on race day.
Can I collect sponsorship online?
Yes. We recommend you sign up to JustGiving and follow their easy step by step guide to create your own online fundraising page. All money raised through your page will be automatically sent through to us here and allocated to your record.
How do I pay in my sponsorship?
The easiest way to pay in your money is online. However, you can also send cheques in the post to:
Breast Cancer Care Events
Admail 4161
London
SE1 0ZB
Don’t forget to write your name, Breast Cancer Care number and event name on the back of your cheques.
How do I withdraw from the event?
You must notify the race officials of your withdrawn entry. You can email them using info@lochnessmarathon.com or call them on 0844 875 1411
You must notify us if you are withdrawing your entry particularly if you have taken one of our guaranteed places as Breast Cancer Care will be liable to pay the full amount for the place unless you inform us.
I am looking for accommodation for the event, where is best to stay?
Please visit the Loch Ness Marathon website for information on where to stay and things to do during your visit.
For all other questions or queries on the event, please see the Loch Ness Marathon website.
