EVENT DETAILS

All team leaders will be sent an email with a full brief of the event details around a month before the Monster takes place. However – just to help you with your training and planning, here are a few details of the First Monster Challenge to whet your appetite:

  • The First Monster Challenge is a 120km duathlon relay for teams of four.
  • The course consists of eight stages - four running and four cycling.
  • The event starts in Inverness and follows the Great Glen Way along the north side of Loch Ness.
  • The first four stages are running off-road.
  • The final four stages are cycling.
  • Each competitor has to complete one of the running stages and one of the cycling stages.
  • The first cycling stage follows the Great Glen Way, and is along a trail path.
  • The next three cycling stages are on-road and follow the Loch along the south side to Inverness.
  • 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 stage and a road bike for the next three.
  • At the end of each stage there will be a checkpoint where teams handover to the next competitor.
  • At each check-point there will be first aid, water and shelter.
  • FirstGroup buses will transport competitors to their next stage.

STAGES

  • Competitor 1 will complete stages 1 and 5.
  • Competitor 2 will complete stages 2 and 6.
  • Competitor 3 will complete stages 3 and 7.
  • Competitor 4 will complete stages 4 and 8.
  • The stages are of varying difficulty – and teams should allocate the stages according to their own strengths and weaknesses. For example, competitor 2 should be your best cyclist as stage 6 is the most challenging cycle leg. For details of each leg, and to help you plan who is doing what, refer to route map and stage info.

START

  • The event will start at 0700 on Saturday 12 September from Queens Park Stadium, Bught Park, Inverness, IV3 5SS. For a map please visit Inverness Multimap.
  • Competitors who are running stages 2, 3 and 4 will be transported to their stage checkpoints from the Sports Centre, next to Queens Park Stadium.
  • There will be changing facilities at the start and a secure baggage area.

FINISH

  • The First Monster Start and Finish are in the same location.

CHANGEOVER

At each changeover there will be:

  • Marquee
  • Marshals
  • First Aid
  • Water
  • Radio comms
  • Rolling transport ferrying competitors
 
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