Self Transcendence 100km Race: FAQ’S
So why would you want to run 100km race?
Much like the standard marathon of 26.2 miles (42.195 km) 100km has become, along with 24 hours, the adopted standard international ultra distance at which performances can be compared around the globe. Championships are held over these distances and records are kept.
I see it is a championship race for “good runners”, but is there an open race that anyone can enter?
Yes, it is an open race for runners of all standards and we welcome novice ultra runners, providing they have run a qualifying event or can show they have a few years experience in distance endurance events. It does incorporate the Anglo Celtic plate home countries international and also the Scottish and UK 100km championships which is why it looks like it is just for “fast and good runners”.
Are there any qualifying conditions?
If you want to run the 50km, we ask that you have run a standard certified marathon in the previous 12 months. If you want to run the 100k, it is advisable to have run at least a race of 50km distance on the roads or trails in the previous 12 months. The nature of ultra distance means all rules have exceptions!! If you feel you have done some other inspiring endurance event like an ironman or a mountain marathon email us with the details and we will consider your entry.
Is there a time limit for the race?
Yes 12 hours for the 100km and 8 hours for the 50km.
Who will be running in the race?
A mixture of some of Scotland’s and Britain’s top ultra distance runners trying to win championship medals , and mere mortals like you and me just wanting to complete a 50k or 100k race before everyone else goes home.
Why run it on the roads and not on a trail?
To establish any sort of national standards or ranking system it is important that courses can be compared, rationally. Without getting into the geeky science of measurement, road race measurement has been developed to the extent that a 100k or marathon course in Scotland, Europe or south America for example, is exactly the same in distance. The nature of trail courses with rocky and sometimes stepped terrain dictates that the “course run” can never be measured to the same degree of accuracy. That is not to say trail running is an inferior challenge, far from it, it is just that it is difficult to compare one trail race with another.
Why run on a looped course?
Organising a long road ultra on a point to point course, in the 21st century is filled with many logistical problems of traffic safety. A loop traffic free course offers a safe environment with very regular feed stations.
Isn’t running round a park all day however beautiful, just boring?
Not necessarily. People have been doing these races for many years and very successfully. It is all down to attitude and why you want to do the event in the first place. 100k is 100k whether it is point to point or on a loop.
What about feed stations?
There is one every lap (2.3 km ) so as one experienced 100km runner once commented “ getting your food and drinking right is fairly straightforward”.
Can I bring people to help me?
Certainly you can, but they are only supposed to help you at the feeding zones and are not supposed to run with you.
What do all entrants recieve?
An event organised to International Ultrarunning Association (IAU) standards. A technical event tee-shirt, goody bag with bars/gels. An event momento. All runners will get post race food too.
100 marathon club qualifier? Age group records?
The course has been measured by an IAAF course measurer and intermediate splits of 30miles, 50km, 40miles and 50 miles have been noted and will be displayed on the course. This applies for the marathon distance also, although we cannot guarantee to take any or all intermediate splits for everybody. However, if anyone aiming for 100 marathon club status especially wants their accurate marathon time recorded, and this applies to anyone with an eye on any age group performances at intermediate distances, please advise us beforehand so we can make sure the timekeepers are aware on the day.
Do you have any other questions not dealt with here? Please e-mail us at [email protected] and if relevant we’ll add to the above.
