SAFE AND SECURE IN 2021
The latest news regarding COVID-19
LAST UPDATED: 15/06/2021
Yesterday’s announcement from the UK government confirms all Threshold Trail Series events can go ahead in 2021, with additional measures to ensure these events are COVID secure. Over the past few months we’ve been working on the basis that additional COVID measures will be required on all events throughout the summer. We can now confirm that the measures listed below will be included on both HEINEKEN Race to the Castle and Dixons Carphone Race to the Stones, in addition to Race to the King.
Social distancing
We know that creating space is key to delivering a covid secure event and we’ve been sourcing and designing event venues to allow for social distancing wherever possible. This includes our Start and Finish lines, Basecamps, pit stops and in our broom wagons. You can expect to see larger sites with smaller crowds, defined participant flow, and designated places to queue at service areas such as Info Desks, Tent Allocation, refreshment concessions etc.
COVID-19 Health Declaration
This form will be emailed to you and will become active 48 hours prior to the event. When you have completed it and if you are cleared to take part in the event, you will receive an email confirmation that you must show on arrival. This can be in electronic format, you don’t have to print it out.
Face coverings
We will be respectfully requesting that participants wear a face-covering where social distancing is challenging. These areas will be denoted by signage and may include much of the free flow space at venues and pit stops, when not otherwise sitting down. Naturally, we’ll also be following the government advice on valid exemptions and respecting those that cannot wear one for age, health, or disability reasons.
Spectators
With social distancing in place, the capacity of our venues is reduced. Spectators will only be allowed at the Start, Basecamp and Finish locations. They will not be allowed at pit stop locations or in the dining marquee. Security will be in place to prevent access. They will also need to complete the COVID-19 Health Declaration and have their temperatures taken if they wish to enter the site.
Temperature checks
This will be done across all site entrances.
THE START
Access to the Start
Please arrive no more than 45 mins prior to your start wave. You will only be able access the Start site a maximum of 45 mins prior to your wave.
The start line process
We have revisited the traditional Trail Series mass starts to allow for social distancing at the start line and along the route. Instead of releasing 250 participants every 20 minutes, we will be pulsing runners out from the start line over a longer window in small groups or as individuals a few seconds apart.
Route safety briefing
This will not be done at the start line but will be emailed out before the event.
Chip time winners
Due to the re-vamped start waves, all winning prizes will be awarded based on chip time rather than gun time.
Dining area and furnishings
Our dining tents will be laid out in line with guidance at the time. If the weather permits, half of the marquee sides will be removed and it will be classed as ‘outside’ space. If we have to put the sides on, then the space will be classed as ‘inside’ space and different regulations will apply.
All the furniture around the sites needs to be easy to clean so there will be no soft furnishings or camping chairs.
Food
There will be no chopped fruit such as pineapple and melon at the pit stops. All food will be wrapped so menus may differ slightly from previous years. There will also be no buffet – all food at the Basecamp and Finish will be served, including hot drinks.
Massage
Due to space and other restrictions this year, we are unfortunately unable to offer massages at Basecamp. There will be a designated stretching area with foam rollers and yoga mats that participants will be able to use.
Race to the Tower
Postponement Announcement
Following a detailed assessment of the impact of the latest Government guidelines we are very sad to announce that we have made the difficult decision to postpone Race to the Tower 2021 to 2022.
In a normal year, Race to the Tower costs more to deliver per head than any other Trail Series event. This has historically been something we can manage. However, the additional costs for COVID safety measures, combined with a marked drop in sign up as people opt for races after the 21st June, means it isn’t viable to deliver the event to the standard we pride ourselves on.
However, we remain confident and fully focussed on delivering the other events in the Trail Series that are less susceptible to the challenges above due to their scale, dates, infrastructure and partner structures.
Options available to you
We know many of you will have been putting in miles and miles of training, raising funds for charity and were enormously excited about crossing your first finish line in months. Therefore, we are offering the following options to try and ensure that effort doesn’t go to waste:
Transfer to another Threshold Trail Series event in 2021, free of charge – a limited number of places are available for our other iconic events. Due to the expected high demand places will be allocated on a first come, first serve basis.
Defer your place to 2022 – Free deferral to June 2022 (date to be finalised).
If you are unable to take up any of those options, we are also offering a 100% refund (minus booking fee). You’ll have until 4th July to confirm which option you’d prefer and you can click here to find out more about the steps you’ll need to take to complete your choice.
The last 12 months have been an extremely challenging time for Threshold. Thank you again for all your support and patience as we have looked to navigate the unknown with as much clarity and decency as possible.
We hope as many of you can join us on a different start-line in 2021. It will be a wonderful moment when we are out there once again.
Nick Tuppen, Threshold Sports, CEO
COVID-19 FAQS
WHAT MEASURES ARE YOU PUTTING IN PLACE TO MITIGATE COVID-19?
We take your safety on event very seriously and we will ensure that we adhere to all Government and WHO guidelines at the time of the event.
We are working closely with industry and COVID-19 Health and Safety experts to maximise the chances of the events continuing as planned. We are giving focus to a range of measures whilst also working hard to ensure that none of the traditional Threshold magic and hospitality is lost.
What if the event can't go ahead again due to COVID-19
For 2021, if the event can’t go ahead again due to COVID-19, we are able to commit to giving a full refund on your entry fee paid to date (less the Booking Fees), and any additional extras purchased and not received.
Please read the Rules and Regulations relating to the event for further information.
What happens if the event is changed due to COVID-19?
If due to COVID-19, we need to change the time, date and/or format of the event, we are able to commit to giving a full refund on your entry fee paid to date (less the Booking Fees), and any additional extras purchased and not received.
Please read the Rules and Regulations relating to the event for further information.
What if I can't attend due to needing to self-isolate or being in a government imposed local/international lockdown?
If due to COVID-19, you need to self-isolate, are subject to a local lockdown or international quarantine restrictions, we will waive the Administration Fee to Defer to the following year or Transfer to another event later in the year (Trail Series only).
The participant must notify Threshold via email by the time that registration commences on the live event and provide evidence of the situation.
Please read the Rules and Regulations relating to the event for further information.
What if I have already paid my deferral fee and the event can’t go ahead due to COVID-19?
If you have already paid your deferral fee and the event can’t go ahead due to COVID-19 and is rolled to a new date that you can do / to the following year, we will refund this fee.
If I don’t purchase registration insurance during registration, will I still be entitled to a refund if the event is cancelled/changed date due to COVID-19?
Yes, all participants, regardless of whether you have purchased registration insurance or not, are entitled to a 100% refund of their Entry Fee if the event is cancelled due to COVID-19.
