11 replies to this topic

[wonton]

Hello all!

I am thinking of doing the Blackmores Half Marathon for the first time this year and being a newbie I have a couple of questions about it.

1. I live in Sutherland so it means I'll have to catch a train to Milson's Point. Looking at the train timetables, the earliest I can get there is around 5.40 am. Seeing as though the race starts at 6.20 am (why do they do this to us? ), will that give me sufficient time to go toilet break, warm up slightly and seed myself accordingly?

2. How is bag transportation handled? When is the latest time I can drop my bag off?

Any advice on transportation would be appreciated!

Thanks

[dickyboy]

If you go to 131500.com.au, you could get there a bit earlier, though it would suck starting that early. The 1/2M race start time sucks and is still a bone of contention that the marathon starts later.  

If you do get there at 5.40, it won't be entirely relaxing as by the time you get out of the station, the queues for the toilets can then be monumental. Depends how much of a stresshead you are !! My tip would be to change trains at Town Hall & go to the loo there.

The bag system is improving year-on-year and you can put bags in close to the start time, however it sometimes happens that if you put your bag in too late, it gets caught up with the other races.

[wonton]

dickyboy, on Jul 27 2009, 12:16 AM, said:

If you go to 131500.com.au, you could get there a bit earlier, though it would suck starting that early. The 1/2M race start time sucks and is still a bone of contention that the marathon starts later.  

If you do get there at 5.40, it won't be entirely relaxing as by the time you get out of the station, the queues for the toilets can then be monumental. Depends how much of a stresshead you are !! My tip would be to change trains at Town Hall & go to the loo there.

The bag system is improving year-on-year and you can put bags in close to the start time, however it sometimes happens that if you put your bag in too late, it gets caught up with the other races.

Theoretically, I can get there earlier, but I would only have 2 minutes to change platforms instead of a more comfortable 6 minutes. That would be really pushing my luck if the trains don't run on time.

Thanks for the reply. It's a tough choice. I guess I can always do the bridge run but that's not as fun.

[kcf]

wonton, on Jul 27 2009, 02:24 AM, said:

Theoretically, I can get there earlier, but I would only have 2 minutes to change platforms instead of a more comfortable 6 minutes. That would be really pushing my luck if the trains don't run on time.

Thanks for the reply. It's a tough choice. I guess I can always do the bridge run but that's not as fun.

I sometimes if I have to travel far and it's an early start I sometimes go up the night before it then cuts out all that pressure and stress in getting there.


I know around Milson's Point will be expensive but there must be a very cheap BB in Sydney? or maybe not

K

[Luckylegs]

Each year for this event I stay at the Vibe Hotel North Sydney on Saturday night.  The starting line is right outside the front entrance and, if you can share with someone, it's not that expensive.   The early start, which I like, then becomes slightly less early than when having to travel!  LL

[dancepurple]

I don't know if this information will be of any asisstance as the original question was posted over a month ago.
This year will be my 3rd Blackmores Half Marathon and I found the best way of getting to the start in time was to drive and park my car in the city near Town Hall Station and catching a train over north.  In saying that, I am one of those nervous types before a race and like to have plenty of time to sort myself at the start.  In previous years I've had no problems dropping off my bag at the start, (picking it up at the other end is a differnet story!) and last year the loo's were locked and we had to break them open (what the!!!!)

In saying all that, I really enjoy this event and just love the opportunity to run around thiswonderful city of ours and feel like an olympic athlete (when I am far from it) as I cross the finish line at the Opera House.

Enjoy  


"Born to run, forced to work"

Edited by dancepurple, 21 August 2009 - 04:03 PM.

[wdawson500]

Nice plans wonton. Did you ever make to do this?
numerology name

Edited by wdawson500, 02 May 2011 - 02:51 AM.

[Slunnie]

30min wait in line for the loos last year preceding the 1/2.

[toddstar77]

My personal plan of attack at the start line is to arrive in time to join the back of the pack for the start and not be stressed about being up front or the like. This way it allows me the freedom to take my time to get to the start line, relax and know I'll be on the course with everyone else any way.

[CosmicWizard]

Slunnie, on 29 April 2011 - 06:29 PM, said:

30min wait in line for the loos last year preceding the 1/2.

Why do they never have enough loos at these events???

City2Surf was insane!

[Wayne Larden]

Hi Dancepurple

Good advice on taking public transport from a train station and not driving into the city or start. You get free travel so use it.

I can also assure you that we won't have locked toilets at the start this year, it is already covered in our plans - which by the way was a result of the supplier not leaving us a key, our venue manager ended up breaking every lock by hand.

Can't guarantee that there won't be any wait though unfortunately, when 8,500 people all want to go at the same time it's hard to handle regardless of number. But we have increased them in any case.

Hope you all enjoy your run on Sunday.

Cheers
Wayne

dancepurple, on 21 August 2009 - 04:02 PM, said:

I don't know if this information will be of any asisstance as the original question was posted over a month ago.
This year will be my 3rd Blackmores Half Marathon and I found the best way of getting to the start in time was to drive and park my car in the city near Town Hall Station and catching a train over north.  In saying that, I am one of those nervous types before a race and like to have plenty of time to sort myself at the start.  In previous years I've had no problems dropping off my bag at the start, (picking it up at the other end is a differnet story!) and last year the loo's were locked and we had to break them open (what the!!!!)

In saying all that, I really enjoy this event and just love the opportunity to run around thiswonderful city of ours and feel like an olympic athlete (when I am far from it) as I cross the finish line at the Opera House.

Enjoy  


"Born to run, forced to work"