Event Details

You are about to take on the Monster...

Make sure you and your team are fully prepared by reading this brief. It's all the detail you need to get the most out of the event. Enjoy!

The Event

The event starts and finishes in Inverness, historic capital of the Highlands. Each team member takes on a run and bike section.

Timings

Friday 10 September

• 1600 - 2130 Event Registration + Bike Drop at Queens Park Stadium, Bught Park, Inverness, IV3 5SS. For a map please visit: Inverness Multimap link.
• 1700 - 2100 Pasta Party at Queens Park Stadium
• 1700 Event Safety Briefing 1 (all participants must attend Event Briefing 1, 2 or 3)
• 1830 Event Safety Briefing 2 (all participants must attend Event Briefing 1, 2 or 3)
• 2030 Event Safety Briefing 3 (all participants must attend Event Briefing 1, 2 or 3)

Saturday 11 September

• 0600 - 0630 All participants arrive at Queens Park Stadium
• 0600 - 0640 Participants running legs 2, 3 and 4 board transport for respective transitions
• 0645 Transport departs
• 0700 Start of the First Monster Challenge

Registration

All participants are required to register, sign a disclaimer and pick up their registration packs, containing the following:

• Running number and safety pins
• Cycle number and cable ties
• Timing System Dibber (one per team)
• Pasta Party tickets (four per team)
• Route map
• Participant passport and lanyard

Safety Briefing

You must attend an event safety briefing during Registration. The briefing is compulsory for the entire team, as there will be a detailed outline of each leg of the route.

Pasta Party

The Pasta Party takes place between 1700 and 2100 on Friday during Registration at Queens Park Stadium. All participants receive a complimentary ticket inviting them to "carbo-load" on a three-course meal of soup & roll, pasta and dessert. A meat and vegetarian option will be available.

Bike Drop

All participants must leave their bikes at the Bike Drop next to Registration on Friday. Bikes must be clearly marked with cycle number attached to the front of the bike with cable ties (provided at Registration). The Bike Drop will be divided into transition zones, which will be clearly marked. Bikes will be transported and unloaded at each transition on Saturday.

• Please note that it is the responsibility of each participant to ensure that their bike is deposited at the correct transition zone, for onward transportation to their cycling leg.
• If teams wish to only bring one bike and share, we recommend a hybrid. If you are bringing more than one bike you should bring a mountain/hybrid bike for the first cycle leg and a road bike for the next three.

Parking

Parking is available at car parks surrounding Queens Park Stadium/ Inverness Sports Centre.  Should your friends and family want to provide encouragement, spectators are advised that public parking is available at Urquhart Castle, Fort Augustus, Dores and at the Start/ Finish.  Marshals will not allow unofficial vehicles to access transition points. 

Participant Transport

Participants will be transported to the start of each leg by FirstGroup buses and by boat. All participants should meet at Queens Park Stadium from where they will be transported to the start of their running leg.
After completing the running leg, participants will be transported to the start of their cycling leg. Participants will then be transported back to the finish at Queens Park Stadium once they have completed the cycling leg.
Participants finishing at Drumnadrochit (leg 3) will be transported by bus to a pier for onward journey by boat across Loch Ness to Foyers for their cycle leg.
To ensure the safety of all competitors, we actively discourage the use of personal transport throughout the course.

Transitions

Each team will be issued with a timing dibber at Registration. The team member completing legs 1 and 5 should take the dibber at the Start.
On arrival at a transition, participants must check in by inserting the timing dibber into a terminal, which will beep and flash once it has registered the time. This will record the collective team time and also the individual time for this leg. Terminals are located at the entrance to the transition. Participants then proceed into the transition and hand over the dibber to the next team member who will set off on the next leg.
Competitors must dismount and walk through the transition– no running or cycling is permitted.
An individual's time starts when the incoming team member checks in at the terminal.
Water, first aid and shelter will be available at each transition.
If a team loses the timing dibber on the route, they should immediately check in with marshals who will contact Event HQ.
Massage is available at transitions 6, 7, 8 and at the Finish.

Bike Collection

Event marshals will unload bikes at "Bike Collection" at each transition. Bikes will be arranged according to cycling number. Bikes will be transported back to the Finish by organisers on completion of legs 5 – 7.

Baggage

The management and coordination of personal kit throughout the event is the responsibility of each team. We have provided the following guidance to assist you in managing your personal clothing/ kit for the running legs of the event. Please note that the planning and coordination of your kit thereafter should be considered by your team.

A baggage tent will be available on race day at the Start/Finish area. Bags can be dropped here and collected after the race.

The table below describes how kit can be passed between participants at Transitions 2-5.

Transition Area / Action

1. Blackfold - Participant 2 hands over Participant 1 and Participant 4 bag. NB Participant 1 to hand-over Participant 4 bag at transition 5
2. Abriachan - Participant 3 hands over Participant 2 Bag
3. Drumnadrochit - Participant 4 hands over Participant 3 Bag
4. Alltsigh - Participant 1 hands over Participant 4 Bag

Remember that each participant will require cycling and running gear, plus something warm and waterproof to wear at transitions between legs.

Running / Cycling Numbers

Your running number should be attached to the front of your running shirt with the safety pins provided. Cycle numbers should be attached to the front of your bike with cable ties prior to depositing bikes at the Bike Drop on Friday.
Numbers must be clearly visible at all times: at the Start and Finish, on the route and at transitions. Please do not deface your numbers – this is contrary to event regulations and will lead to your team's disqualification.
Please ensure that you complete the reverse of your running/race number with all next of kin and medical details as appropriate. This is so the doctor and medical teams are aware of any existing medical condition should you require assistance.

Signage

The route will be signed with high visibility event signage throughout. Marshals will be positioned at selected junctions and points on course.

Highway Code

All participants must abide by the rules of the Highway Code when running and cycling on public roads. All participants must obey all traffic laws.

Outdoor Access Code

The route follows roads, tracks and paths either owned by local authorities or with access that has been agreed with landowners. We ask that all participants respect the Outdoor Access Code and therefore ensure the future co-operation of landowners who have granted access. Everyone has the right to be on most land and water providing they act responsibly. Your access rights and responsibilities are explained fully in the Scottish Outdoor Access Code www.outdooraccess-scotland.com. The key things to keep in mind are:

• Take responsibility for your own actions;
• Respect the interests of other people;
• Care for the environment.

Litter

Please carry all litter to a bin or disposal point located at transitions.

Toilets

Toilets are available at transitions. We ask that all participants be sensitive to the proximity of the route in relation to residents' houses. Anti-Social behaviour will not be tolerated.

Erosion

To avoid causing more erosion than already exists please keep to the waymarked path even if the going is rough or muddy. Using one side or other of the path makes an already difficult situation worse.

The Finish

The Finish is at Queens Park Stadium, Inverness, where showers and changing facilities are available.

Results

All results will be available live to view during the event.

Important - Safety Information

The First Monster is a challenging event, but we want to make sure it is an enjoyable one too. Please take a few minutes to read the following and always abide by the rules of the event.

Participant Passport

All participants must carry the Route Map and Participant Passport (both provided at Registration) at all times during the event. The Passport provides guidance and procedures when dealing with an incident including relevant emergency contact telephone numbers. Failure to produce your Passport when asked will result in immediate disqualification for the entire team.

Equipment & Clothing

Participants are advised to carry water during each leg and a small amount of food e.g. energy gel.
Appropriate running and cycling gear must be worn. The Scottish weather is unpredictable all year round so be prepared for sun, cool, wet weather and winds and plan accordingly. Midge repellent and midge nets are recommended for transitions.
Suitable running shoes for on/off-road and appropriate cycle shoes should be worn.
Cycle helmets of ANSI Z90 4, SNELL B90, EN 1078 or an equivalent national safety standard must be worn on all cycle legs. Failure to do so will result in team disqualification.
All participants must carry a mobile phone.
It is the responsibility of all teams to ensure that they have a change of clothes and necessary clothing / equipment for transition / different legs.
We recommend a hydration pack/small day sack or waist pack to carry the above.

First Aid & Medical Care

The British Red Cross will provide First Aid cover throughout the event. They will be located at each transition and at other key locations along the route.

Retiring

If you wish to retire at any point during the race, please approach one of our medical teams or marshals. Should runners not be allowed to continue for medical reasons or require hospital treatment, Event HQ will be notified.