MINCE
PIE RACE FAQsWHAT IS THE COURSE
LIKE?
DO YOU ACCEPT ENTRIES ON
THE DAY?
WHAT ARE THE FACILITIES LIKE?
WHAT
IS THE WEATHER NORMALLY LIKE?
WHEN IS THE CLOSING DATE?
CAN
I ENTER ONLINE?
DO
YOU HAVE AN ENTRY LIMIT?
WHAT TIME SHOULD I ARRIVE?
DO I NEED TO REGISTER?
WHAT SHOULD I DO IF I HAVEN'T RECEIVED MY RACE NUMBER?
ARE THERE ANY PRIZES?
WHAT ARE
THE COURSE RECORDS?
WILL I GET LOST?
WHAT IS AN UNATTACHED RUNNER AND
WHY DO THEY PAY EXTRA?
WHERE DOES ALL THE MONEY FROM THE ENTRY FEES GO?
The course is ten miles long, undulating, with one quite testing hill at around six miles. It is approximately 6 miles off road on farm tracks and bridleways, while the remaining 4 miles are on reasonably quiet roads. It is therefore not suitable for cross country spikes, however ordinary running shoes are usually fine, with a waffle sole probably being the best for traction. Obviously with so much of it off road, and given the time of year, the course can be fairly muddy.
DO YOU ACCEPT ENTRIES ON THE DAY?
Yes, although obviously subject to the race limit of 500 not being reached. So far this has not yet happened, but we live in hope. In recent years the entries have averaged around the 300 mark, so we are not quite challenging the London Marathon yet. All entries on the day are set at a fixed charge.
The race headquarters are at the Meridian Leisure Centre in Peacehaven, where there are changing rooms, showers and toilets and a limited range of refreshments. There is ample parking either at the Leisure Centre or at the nearby shopping centre (but we do ask all runners to be mindful and courteous to all other users of the facility).
WHAT IS THE WEATHER NORMALLY LIKE?
Obviously it is difficult to be specific (we are in England) but given the time of year for the race it is reasonable to expect the temperature to be quite low, and there is always a likelihood of rain. In addition this part of the South Coast is fairly exposed, so it is not unusual for there to be a strong breeze knocking about. Having said that conditions in the past have ranged from freezing sleet to sunny and warm; the best bet is to assume the worst and bring plenty of layers just in case. You can then make a decision closer to the start time.
This will vary from year to year depending on the actual date set for the race, however as a general rule the closing date for postal entries is usually 9 days before the actual race day.
Unfortunately we do not have the payment facilities to take entries on-line, however we do provide an entry form (in two formats) that you can download and print.
Yes we do, purely to ensure that the facilities do not get over stretched. The limit has been set at 500, although to date it has yet to be reached.
The race starts at 11.00 am, so we would recommend that you try to arrive by 10.00 am in order to make sure you can get parked and do everything you need to do before the off. For those of you travelling from outside the area who are not familiar with the town, allow yourself extra time for any unexpected traffic delays and to navigate the last few miles to the Centre. We cannot hold up the start of the race for any late arrivals.
Provided you have entered in advance and you have been sent your race number, then there is no need to register on the day. Only entries on the day need to go to the Registration Desk.
WHAT SHOULD I DO IF I HAVEN'T RECEIVED MY RACE NUMBER?
Race numbers and details are sent out in the last couple of weeks before the race. If you have pre-entered and have not received your race number by the Friday before the race date please contact the Entries Secretary (01323) 897055 or email mince pie
There are trophies for the 1st 3 men and the 1st 3 women and a special award to the largest team entry. There are also Christmas Puds for the first five men and the first five women in the race. Every finisher gets a goody bag and a mince pie.
The current course records are:
Men - ROBBIE JAMES (Lewes AC) 57:51 December 2005
Women - ALICE BRAHAM (BBC Running Club) 62:11 December 2005
We sincerely hope not, we haven't lost anyone yet! The course is well marked and has some of the best marshalls in the known Universe keeping everybody on track. There are large scale course maps on-line and at Race HQ and we always provide a back marker on a bike to follow the last person to finish.
WHAT IS AN UNATTACHED RUNNER AND WHY DO THEY PAY EXTRA?
An unattached runner is someone who doesn't belong to a club that is affiliated to the Amateur Athletic Association. The extra charge is a fixed amount that is levied from us by the AAA to cover non affiliated runners for insurance purposes. Afiliated Club runners are already covered by their club membership.
WHERE DOES ALL THE MONEY FROM THE ENTRY FEES GO?
Once all the expenses for staging the race (hire of hall, prizes, goody bags, affiliation fees, etc.) have been deducted, the surplus is divided between that year's nominated charity and the Running Club. The Charity is usually one that is local to the area and chosen from suggestions by Club members. Since the race began we have raised several thousand pounds for a variety of charities and hope to continue to do so for many years to come.