Final Instructions

With just days to go until the 29th Spar Omagh Half Marathon the hard working Omagh Half Marathon Committee are putting the final touches on their preparations. Those who have been running the footpaths and roads for the last few months, training hard in all weathers are now tapering in the build-up to their big run. With the Half Marathon entry now closed at capacity and a huge number already entered for the 5K we are heading for one of the biggest turnout of runners in the history of the run. Remember also the schools’ 5K championships is still open for entry and with schools off for Easter holidays make sure to organise your school teams in good time.

Below are some important details regarding the race:

RACE PACK COLLECTION
Omagh Leisure Complex at the following times:
Thursday 5th April 5pm – 8pm
Friday 6th April 5pm – 8pm
Saturday 7th April 8am – 10am
We would advise local people to collect their race packs before race day if at all possible to avoid congestion in the Leisure Complex.

ARRIVE EARLY
Allow yourself enough time to prepare properly for your race so arrive early for getting parked and organising yourself for your run. Toilets (limited), changing facilities and showers are all available within the Leisure Complex and there will also be plenty of portaloos outside the complex.

START TIMES
Half Marathon Walk 10am.
Half Marathon Run 11am.
5K Fun Run 11:10am.
Wheel chair race goes off just before the half marathon.
Remember these races must go off promptly at these times and cannot be held back for anyone.

CAR PARKING
Free car parking
Grange Car Park, St Pats Car Park, Mountjoy Road Car Park, (old Naturelle site). Gibson Primary School, Campsie Primary School, parking behind old Police Station on the Gortin Rd, and Arvalee School on Strathroy Road.
No parking available on the Old Mountfield Road or within the grounds of Omagh Leisure Complex on race day.

ON THE COURSE
Please respect fellow road users and runners, listen to any instruction given from the PSNI or marshals. They are there for both your safety and to help keep traffic flowing around the town with minimum inconvenience during the event. Your Race number MUST be worn on front of vest / t-shirt, no race number, no medal at the finish line. Your number is non-transferable. As the race is run on open roads, head phones or earphones are not permitted. The course will be marked with appropriate mile/km markers. We would ask runners to pay particular attention to Knocknamoe Road where the 5k and Half Marathon races briefly come together. This is a narrow stretch of road where the race car will also be coming through ahead of the Half Marathon.

PACERS
Once again we will have our popular pacers on the course to help you achieve your race day target time. There will be pacers for 1hr.30min,1hr.45min, 2hrs, 2hrs.15min and 2hrs.30min.
Run for Enda are also providing pacers for the 5K this year for 20mins, 25mins and 30mins.

WATER STATIONS
There will be four water stations on the Half Marathon course one of which will service the 5K run also Beragh Road rear of T&F at 3 miles. Riverview Road 5½ miles. Killyclogher Hall 8 miles (5K passes also pass here). Cappagh Church 10½ miles.

TRAFFIC
The race is obviously going to cause some congestion around the town though we do our best to keep disruption to a minimum. We would appeal to everyone to be patient and to follow instructions given by the PSNI and the race marshals. The peak times and areas for congestion are expected to be:
11am – 11:15am Town Centre Market St/High St.
11am – 12:30pm Swinging Bars Roundabout.
11:20 – 1pm Killyclogher area.
11:50 – 1:30 pm Gortin Road area to Omagh Leisure Complex.

Remember runners to keep moving at finish line after receiving your well earned medal, drinks and snacks to avoid congestion with other runners coming behind. There will be great hospitality in the hall after the race and all runners are very welcome, you can also get those tired limbs massaged. There will be plenty of tea, coffee, sandwiches, buns and biscuits available to replace all those calories burnt out on the course. Race results will be available as soon as possible in the hall and will be updated regularly with prizegiving starting approximately 1.30pm. We hope we have covered all aspects of the build up to the race and all you need to know for race day but if not, there is plenty more current information through facebook.

So whether you are looking for a personal best, you are running your first half marathon or trying to raise money for a good cause, we wish you all well on the day and hope everyone achieves whatever target they have set themselves…. and remember to keep smiling, there will be plenty of photographers about. We encourage family and friends who are not running to come out in numbers to support those who are and help make the 29th Omagh Half Marathon our biggest and best event yet.