The Midday to Midnight run is a 12 hour endurance race over a 3 mile looped trail course contained within Stadt Moers Park, Knowsley.

You can run as many or as few laps at any pace you choose.  You are completely in charge so virtually anyone of any standard can take part.

There is no pressure to run any further than you want to and walking is perfectly acceptable and because it is a loop course you will never be at the back!  However, it is expected that most people will end up running further than they ever thought possible.

You can enter as either a solo, as a pair or part of a team of four.  Pairs/Teams can be mixed gender and ability (in fact, we actively encourage this).

The only rules are that that pairs and teams can only have one runner on the course at one time (this is for safety to limit active runners) and from 5pm onwards all runners must be wearing a head/hand torch (preferably both) before entering the course.  Other than that you can run as many or as few laps as you choose and you don’t need to have someone on the course all of the time.

  • As many or as few laps as you choose
  • As fast or slow as you choose
  • You don’t have to have someone on course for the full 12 hours
  • Only one person per pair/team on course at any one time
  • Mixed gender/ability teams encouraged
  • Head/Hand/Chest torches mandatory after 1700
  • Trail shoes advised (Road shoes acceptable, track shoes not allowed)

The course is a 3 mile out and back loop incorporating tarmac, gravel, dirt and grass sections.  There are also two hills (one at each end of the course) along with a wooded section making it a very varied and testing route.

You’ll take the red route past the Dockside Runners Village before turning left at the marshall  point  and heading along the dirt track adjacent to ‘A Heron Pond’ before turning left again onto Thumbs Up Avenue then turn a sharp right at the marshall point and up and over Tushingham and Little Tushingham Hills.  At the bottom, you’ll turn right along Northern S’Miles continuing through Brittles Bendy Bit all the way to High Five Corner where you will join the blue route and heading back onto Thumbs Up Avenue for the second time.

You will follow the blue route to the end before turning left and heading through Shallcross Crossing all the way towards Danno’s Comedy Corner, past the play area and onto Oz Fry’s Downhill Delight.  At the end of the path you will turn right around Francis Fields and into the woods where you will join the dirt track before emerging back onto the approach to Shallcross Crossing.  You will then turn left onto The Mighty Hill Of Haigh for the climb to the top (making sure you wave at everyone in the Dockside Runners Village down below!) before the sharp descent and right hand turn towards the finish line to either hand over to a team mate or to do it all over again!

Details of the race village are still being finalised, however as a minimum this will be home to the bag drop, registration, transition hub and toilets

1000 – Race village opens for race pack collection

1130 – Mandatory safety briefing, course breakdown & last minute administration

1200 – Course opens

2320 – Final lap cut off

Midnight – Medal collection

Timing

This will be a manually timed event and as such it is critical that you cleary display your bib on the front and, if handing over to a team mate,  enter and exit the transition hub at the marked sections.  This will ensure that the correct timings are logged for your lap.

The Transition Hub

Particularly at the start of the event, this will be very chaotic therefore it is important that you are only in the transition hub if you are waiting to hand over from a team mate.  When you see your team mate descending Heartbreak Hill, give a shout out, wave and generally make some noise so they can easily locate you.  Once they have passed the wrist band over make sure you enter the course from the transition hub exit in order for your time to be correctly registered.

Footwear

For your own safety you will not be allowed on the course in track shoes.  We strongly advise you to wear trail shoes however standard road shoes are acceptable but please be aware that the course is multi terrain, uneven, narrow in places and there are tree roots and trip hazards.

Equipment

Dependant on how far you are intending to run it is advised that as a minimum you pack

  • Multiple changes of kit.  From experience a clean dry pair of socks can make a massive difference
  • Warm layers if you are intending being off course for long stretches
  • Head/Hand/Chest torch (Mandatory: You will not be allowed on the course without them
The Course

You should adjust your speed and effort levels according to the weather conditions, number of laps you are running, terrain and amount of natural light available.  Please show patience on the route as some runners will be moving slower than others (particularly later on in the day)  Where possible fast moving runners should announce their intention to overtake and use common sense when choosing a section of the course on which to pass.

The first lap in particular will be crowded, after the first couple of laps it will settle down and the spacing should be around 5 or 6 runners per 100m.  Don’t be tempted to run your first lap at full race pace, the result will be legs full of lactic acid and ultimately you will stiffen up to the point where you cannot run and leave your team mates to fill in for you.

For insurance purposes EVERY competitor must register seperately regardless of whether they are registering solo, pair or as a team

Check out the list below of absolute weapons grade legends who are sponsoring our event

Event Village sponsored by

Event Village Power sponsored by

Event Photography provided by

Race HQ sponsored by

Race Timing sponsored by

Artwork & Design provided by

Medals & Awards sponsored by

Annette Bentley

Event Insurance sponsored by

Ken Mullen
Paul De’Ath

Finish Line Lighting sponsored by

Hayley Barnett
Marianne Manson
Olivia Hayes

Is there something you can offer?  Get in touch here

How much is it to enter?

The entry fee is £20.  This is purely to cover the costs associated with equipment hire, insurance etc.  We also ask that you bring a bag of food as we will be making a donation in the name of Dockside Runners to the local foodbank.  A list of items in a typical food parcel are

  • Cereal
  • Soup
  • Pasta
  • Rice
  • Tinned tomatoes/pasta sauce
  • Lentils, beans and pulses
  • Tinned meat
  • Tinned vegetables
  • Tea/coffee
  • Tinned fruit
  • Biscuits
  • UHT milk
  • Fruit juice

Alongside the standard food parcel, non food items are also required which includes

  • Toiletries – deodorant, toilet paper, shower gel, shaving gel, shampoo, soap, toothbrushes, tooth paste, hand wipes
  • Household items – laundry liquid detergent, laundry powder, washing up liquid
  • Feminine products – sanitary towels and tampons
  • Baby supplies – nappies, baby wipes and baby food

Once you have completed the registration form AND your registration has been matched with a payment (either by yourself or someone on your behalf) you will receive an email confirming you are successfully entered along with the race day information pack which contains everything you will need to know

How far do I have to run?

You can complete any distance you choose.  This is a completely open event so you can run (or walk) as many loops as you choose, at any pace over any time period

I want to enter as a pair/team, how will that work?

The only rule is that you cannot have more than one person on the course at the same time.  You don’t have to complete a set number of loops or be on/off course for a specific period of time.  In fact you don’t even have to have a team member on the course at all.  You are in complete control of how much/little you and your team do

How can I check if I’m registered?

Clicky da Linky: Am I registered?

I want to get involved but can’t commit to running.  How can I help?

There are a number of ways you can support the event.  You can either register here as a volunteer and help on the day for as long as you can or make a donation or sponsor a particular element of the event here or maybe there is a product or service on our supporters list you can provide.  Absolutely everything helps!

How does the handover work?

If you are swapping to a team mate, identify them on approach to the transition area and hand over the wristband.  Only those runners wearing a wristband are classed as active on the course.  It is important the band is passed over.

Once in the transition area your bib number will be ‘called’ along with what is happening.  The calls will be either

  • IN – Bib # has entered the transition area and the lap is complete
  • OUT – Bib # has left the transition area and the lap begins
  • SPLIT – Bib # has bypassed the transition area and continued for another lap
What facilities will be available?

Details of the race village amenities are constantly being updated, however as a minimum there will be toilets available and we also hope to have hot food/drinks available to purchase

I have never done night time running before, will it be safe?

The course is completely contained within the grounds of Stadt Moers Park and there will be ample signage and marshalls however, this is a trail course which presents slip, trip and fall hazards and for this reason from 1700 onwards runners will not be allowed on the course without a head/hand torch (preferably both).  The marshalls will be instructed to strictly adhere to this rule with no exceptions

What time does it finish?

As long as you begin your lap by 2320 you are classed as active, however it is envisaged runners will be finishing at all points throughout the day.  For this reason we ask that if you are leaving the park you ensure that you make someone aware otherwise we will be searching the course looking for you.