Bewl Water Frequently Asked Questions
The ultra marathon 50km, marathon and half marathon and 10km will all start near the main car parking area which is close to the main Bewl Water Visitor HQ, Bewl Water, Bewlbridge Ln, Lamberhurst, Wadhurst, TN3 8JH. The start / finish for these 4 races and will be clearly marked with the Hermes Running start / finish blue feather flags, and directional arrows indicating the starting area. Your chip time (net) will record the exact finish time, as all the timings will be based on net chip times Please take the time to read the individual route descriptions, all the course descriptions are very clearly described within my FAQ’s for all the run-routes.
Registration will only take place on the day at the Bewl Water Visitor Centre HQ, Bewl Water, Bewlbridge Ln, Lamberhurst, Wadhurst TN3 8JH. You will also be able to switch race distances on the day and race entries on race day will also be accepted.
The ultra marathon 50km start time will be at 8.30am, marathon start time will be at 9.00am, the half marathon will start at 9.30am and the 10km will start at 10.00am. We will also have a mandatory 10 min health & safety race briefings that will commence before each race distance is set off so please ensure you allow yourself enough time to get to the start right beside the Bewl Water Visitor Centre HQ, this will be clearly signposted.
The Bewl Water routes for all four course distances vary, these run-routes all start and finish right beside the main Bewl Water Visitor Centre.
Bewl Water Ultra 50km / 31.25mile (8.30am start) – clockwise route is 2 x12.4 mile loops of Bewl followed by a final loop of 6.45miles (8.00hr time limit)
Bewl Water Marathon 26.2 mile (9.00am start) – is an out / back 1.4 mile loop, then a clockwise route 2 x12.4 mile loops of Bewl (7.15hrs time limit)
Bewl Water Half Marathon 13.1 mile (9.30am start) – is an out / back 0.7 mile loop, then a clockwise 1 x 12.4 mile loop of Bewl (6hrs time limit)
Bewl Water 10km (10.00am start) – this will be an out / back 6.25 mile run-route, the turnaround point will be well marshalled (2.5hrs time limit)
The distances have been measured using a Garmin Fenix 6X Pro-Solar watch and Strava’s mapping. The routes are as accurate as trail races can possibly be, the trail distance is dependant on the line you run as sections of the course can be rutted too, so the routes will always vary slightly, so be aware that this is as accurate as possible for a trail running event.
There will be 4 Check Points and they are located at:
Check Point 1 – Start / Finish (TN3 8JH)
Check Point 2 – Rosemary Farm (TN5 7PT)
Check Point 3 – Burnt Lodge Lane / Birchetts Green (TN5 7LB)
Check Point 4 – Wards Lane (Wadhurst) TN5 6HP
These are the time limits for each designated rrace distance:
Bewl Water Ultra 50km / 31.25mile – 8.00hrs time limit.
Bewl Water Marathon 26.5 miles – 7.15hrs time limit.
Bewl Water Half Marathon – 13.1 miles 6hrs time limit.
Bewl Water 10km – 2.5hrs time limit.
These time limits will be strictly adhered too so please be aware of these, as we have a duty of care to our marshals, timing support staff and the medics too that will only be in attendance for the duration of the longest event which is the ultra marathon being 8hrs.
The chip timing will be done by Liam Burke from Sports Systems Chip Timing and registration will take place on the day, your race bib and will be handed out to you by our registration team. You are also encouraged to keep any baggage stored in your car, the carpark is situated very close to the Bewl Water Visitor Centre too. We will have some baggage storage facilities near the Bewl Water Visitor Centre too, this will be supervised by one of our marshals during the day.
There is a cafe called the Waterfront Cafe’ so you will be able to buy tea, coffees, sandwiches and hot food during the day.Our check point tables will be stationed at the Start / Finish (Check Point 1) and at (Check Point 2) Rosemary Farm and (Check Point 3) Burnt Lodge Lane and Check Point 4 (Wards Lane). All Check Points will contain a selection of food and drinks including High 5 Electroltyes, pretzels, crisps, jelly babies, fruit cordial and water, these will be provided at all four check points.
There will be a mandatory health & safety briefing 10 mins before the start of each event race distance so please get to the start early, in order to attend this.
We will be marking the course with Hermes Running pink and black chevron signage, Hermes Running stickers on posts and pink fabric ribbons on trees throughout the run-route, and in addition there are also permanent brown signs indicating the around the reservoir route titled Bewl Water route. We would ask for safety reasons that you run in single file when running on the road sections so that you can observe any approaching vehicles. We will also be using fixed caution runner signs on these road sections, please take extra care with approaching traffic when running on these road sections.
There will be a secure baggage storage area near the start / finish area near the Bewl Water Visitor Centre where you will be able to leave your bags, however we urge all runners coming by car to leave baggage in their cars as this will be very close to the race HQ venue. The baggage area will be supervised throughout the day by our marshals.
There will be changing facilities at the Bewl Water Visitor Centre, and there are men’s and ladies public toilets that you are able to use within the Bewl Visitor Centre.
Within the Bewl Water Visitor Centre right there are a number of toilets that you can use and in addition four portable toilets beside the start and finish area.
This is predominantly a trail run but it includes sections along the roads on quiet country lanes so it is advisable to wear trail shoes or hybrid shoes as conditions underfoot can be muddy on stretches. We also strongly advise that you take a hydration pack or 500ml water bottle so you can maintain your electrolyte intake throughout the race and take gels and food to assist you with your race nutrition too. Some areas are quite exposed too so a cap, gloves and lightweight jacket might come in handy too. It is well worth checking the weather reports here is the BBC weather link to ensure you arrive with the right kit for the conditions on the day.
We suggest that you take down our numbers and store them in your phone should you need them on race day and we have also printed our contact mobile numbers on the front of the race bibs in case of an emergency. We’d also urge you to complete the contact details for a friend / family member on the reverse of the race number. Our numbers are RD: David Ross 0798 454 0177. We also have medical support that is provided by our professionally trained KLP Medics managed Kevin Peach should any runner require support. If you aren’t carrying your mobile please notify a marshal at the nearest checkpoint or a fellow runner if you’re not feeling well or if you get injured, so we can summon our medics to attend to you. Please also notify someone if you have to withdraw from the race, so we can account for you.
If you have to use music players (MP3 Players / iPod’s) please ensure that these are the Aftershokz over-ear bone conducting earphones, not in-ear earphones as your health and safety is our primary concern, and we ask you to comply with our marshals instructions at road-crossing and to be courteous of all other trail users. The use of any earphones in accordance with our “terms and conditions” of entry also means that if you use any form of earphones, you do so entirely at your own risk.
Needless to say this is a public reserve and there will be a number of people out walking, cycling or dog walking, so please be courteous when out running this course to people you come into contact with en-route, as we would like to maintain a good relationship with the Solomons Estate Management team.
This will be done by Gareth Parker Photography and will be uploaded on my homepage within 24hrs of the race having taken place for you to purchase, they will cost £12.00 per photo.
- Bewl Water bespoke fish medal.
- Winners’ slate awards for the 1st, 2nd & 3rd Male / Female podium runners for each event distance.
- Sports Systems Chip Timing professionally chip timed results.
- Gareth Parker Photography race photo’s which will be available to purchase for £10.00 after the event, bundle purchase options too.
- Well stocked check points supplying High 5 Electrolytes, pretzels, crisps, jelly babies, water and fruit cordial.
- KLP Medical Supplies first aid at Check Point 1 (Start / Finish) and Check Point 3 (Burnt Lodge Lane).
The race is fully Association of Running Clubs Certified (ARC), fully RFID chip timed by Sports Systems Chip Timing and is this respect we have all the necessary indemnifications in place required for these to be officially recognised events as a pre-qualification event for the Comrades Ultra Marathon in (South Africa) and the 2 Oceans Ultra marathon (South Africa).
Yes we work closely with High 5, Steigen Socks and the Ultramarathon Running Store, they sponsor our events and provide the electrolyte drinks which will be at each of the check points.We recommend using these as they are there for a specific reason and that is to help balance the electrolytes lost when sweating and help restore glycogen levels, enabling you to have more fuel in the tank and sustained energy. It is in your interests to pay particular attention to drinking little and often especially if it’s a hot day due to increased sweat rates that can occur, as a 2% drop in body weight (caused by excessive sweating) can lead to a 20% drop off in overall performance.The responsibility for your fuelling needs lies solely with you, although our check points will be very well stocked to ensure that you are sufficiently nourished throughout the race.
We will have two qualified medics from KLP Medical, these medics will be providing professional medical support on race day. Your safety is of paramount importance to us and if you’re feeling unwell prior to or on race day we would strongly urge you not to run. If you have to retire from the race due to feeling unwell please ensure that you notify a medic, marshal or one of us so that we can account for you. My RD contact number will be clearly displayed on your race bibs for this reason.
There is an ANPR Camera at Bewl Water so you will need to pay for your car parking either in advance or on race day. You can pay for this using the RingGo app on your mobile phone or on their RingGo website. The location code for Bewl Water is 50900. The car parking spaces at the Bewl Water Visitor Centre at the Egg Box Carpark near the main entrance gate for competitors and spectators. There will be sufficient car parking spaces at the Egg Box carpark for all participants and spectators.
All finishers will get their Bewl Water fish medals for completion of their respective race distances straight after finishing the event. Winners’ awards will be also be awarded to the Male / Female 1, 2, 3 for each race distance staged, and these will be handed out to our podium winners directly after the event staging.
There will be three Check Points – CP1 Start / Finish and CP2 Rosemary Farm and CP3 Burnt Lodge Lane, all these Check Points will all have a selection of food and drinks including High 5 Electrolytes and 500ml water bottles although we would although we strongly suggest that you bring hydration packs or waist packs to carry your own water supplies and / or electrolyte supplies too, as this is a pretty hilly course and if it’s a hot day it can be quite demanding.
If you are feeling unwell and need to retire from the race, please contact me David Ross 0798 4540177. You can also inform a marshal or a first aider and they will pass on the message to us. Please on no account leave the course without informing us of your whereabouts as your safety is our main priority. My contact number will be printed on the front of the race bib if needed and we would urge you to complete your emergency contact information too at the back of your race bibs.
To adhere to TRA / UKA licensing requirements there is a minimum age that runners need to be to participate in race meetings, for the 10km event it’s 16 years old, half marathon it’s 17 years old and for the marathon / ultra it’s 18 years old.
We operate a no refunds policy as initially stated at the point of entry. We do however reserve the right to offer future switches or deferrals if the event cannot take place for reasons out of the control of race management including but not limited to flooding, severe weather or denial of access to the original course. Race management also reserve the right to postpone the event until a later date and all entries will be carried forward to this date and refunds may not be offered under these circumstances. Event cancellation due to reasons such as Coronavirus (COVID 19) or other such pandemic, public health, local authority travel and movement restrictions and bans of any kind etc. are beyond our control and no refund will be given in such circumstances.
We have set permit limits for all our events and extensive upfront fees to stage our races, but I will offer a switch to any other event this year only (within 7 days only) of the event taking place but not after this. The cost of the switching fee will be a standard £10. You will need to email me at info@hermesrunning.com to initiate this.