PYLLON EXPOSURE DARK - 3 / 6 / 9 HOUR Races
Surrender is your only option
Frequently Asked Questions / Guidelines
FIND OUT ABOUT PYLLON COACHING
Can I choose when to do the event?
No, the race will start and finish at a set time, just like a normal event, so you’ll be going up against others in a ‘live’ environment. The race will take place on Saturday 29th January. The starting time for each of the 3/6/9 hour events is 8am.
How will I know what distance to cover during the event?
We will communicate this to you via SMS at the start of each hour, so it’ll be important that we have your mobile number.
You will receive your first message at 07:45 for the 08:00 start of your first Exposure. This could be anything from 1 mile to 6 miles. If it is 6 miles it is likely to take you a good proportion of the hour to complete the distance, if it is 1 mile you get to build in some rest and recovery time. Winning!
Then just before 9am you will receive the second SMS message telling you the distance you need to run before 10am. You will continue to receive a message just before the start of each hour until the end of your event.
What should I do if I cannot continue?
You should let us know using the button on the results upload page, and / or by sending us an email to let us know (support@pyllonultra.com). You may still receive the SMS messages, so you can mute your phone if you need to.
I am very competitive; how will the winner be decided?
The winner of each event, and each category, will be decided based on the shortest cumulative time taken to complete the distances you are exposed to over the full event.
You will record the time taken to cover the distance you are exposed to each hour; this will be uploaded to the leaderboard. Those covering the distance in the quickest time will sit at the top of the leaderboard. So, if you are in it to win it, you will need to run fast when the distance is revealed at the start of each hour. We do love a bit of competition!
The time you upload should be the time taken from when you first start your Exposure (and your device) to the end of the required distance. If you walk or stop then the clock doesn’t stop - your time is your elapsed time not your running time (as is often seen on Strava etc).
When will results be confirmed?
It is your responsibility to check your time entries and contact us within the hour of finishing if anything is incorrect. We are not responsible for checking the inputted times of all competitors. We may post some provisional results before that based on the times that have been input by each athlete, and the calculations carried out by our online tracker. As provisional results, they may be changed if any issues are identified by competitors. Final results will be confirmed after this by the organising team, and our decisions are final. Any published results are subject to change. Remember this is an honour-based event, and on the most-part will have to accept people’s word on adherence to the guidelines.
What happens if something doesn’t look right or I enter the wrong time?
If you enter the wring time, you should go in and correct it. If we think something may have been entered incorrectly we may contact you at any point during the race to ask you to check it or to send us a copy of the gps track.
Should I also take note of my times manually?
Yes. That would be a good idea. We created a handy printable form you to do that.
What is the code I have to upload, and how will I get it?
Your code will be sent to you on Friday before the race by SMS. The code you receive should be the code you use when you upload each Exposure time. If you do not have it on Saturday, please get in touch and we will send it to you by email.
I just want to take part for fun, is that OK?
Yes, of course! Our primary objective of this event is to bring our amazing community together. Please do take part for fun, that is what we want! This is a tough time for everyone so if this event can make life a little lighter for you, we will have achieved our goal. We run for fun, right?
Do I need to start on the hour every time?
We suggest you do. It’s the safest way to ensure you stay in the race. You could end up being timed out if the next Exposure takes you longer to complete than expected. Remember that you only have the 60 mins between each hour of the day to complete your running Exposure distance.
Can I choose where to run?
Yes, you can run anywhere. Outside on road, trail, on the treadmill, round your garden, anywhere you like. It could be a good idea to plan a route close to home so that you can start and finish each hour at your house if this is possible. That way you will be able to rest, get some food and make sure you have access to good Wi-Fi or phone signal before heading back out again. Oh, and be near a toilet! A toilet is always good for runners!
We advise that you chose a route in advance and carry out your own risk assessment of that route. It would also be sensible to let someone know where you plan to run and get them to check in with you during the event. You should carry an ICE (in case of emergency) card with you if you have one. Make sure you also have someone you can contact to help you if you do suffer an injury during the event.
Can I run with someone else?
Yes! Please do run with your running buddies, we know how much a difference this can make.
What happens if I don’t receive my SMS message advising me of the distance to run?
If for some reason you don’t receive your message, the distance will also be shown on the leaderboard at the start of each hour. This is why it could be a good idea to pick a route from home so that you have access to Wi-Fi. If for some reason you can't access the leader board, we will be on hand to support you. Please follow @pyllon and @pyllonultra on social media too as we will also be posting details there.
If I am tired, can I choose to walk the shorter distances?
Yes, this is your event, you pick your strategy! This event is open to runners of all abilities.
Can I run with my dog?
Yes, if you normally run with your dog and have a suitable route where they can join you safely, then dogs are welcome to join in too! Just make sure you reward them with some doggy treats.
Can I take my kids with me, either running or on their bikes?
Yes, if you normally run with your kids and have a suitable route where they can join you safely, then kids are welcome to join in too! We'd love to see some pictures of your family joining you. Kids can also be very encouraging "do you really run that slow mum/dad?". If they say this, don’t reward them with kiddy treats!
Can I take part on my bike?
C'mon, really? That’s a definite no! This is a running event.
Can I mix things up and run some outside and some on the treadmill?
Yeah sure, do whatever suits you.
I don’t have a watch that can record distance, can I still take part?
Yes, we are operating an honour based system. The only thing we would ask is that you run for a time that equals the distance that has been exposed. So, for example if you normally run at an average pace of 9 minute miles and we expose a 5 mile distance, you should go and run for 45 minutes if you’re confident you can maintain that average speed to give you the distance you need.
How do I submit my results?
The link to submit results will be made available before 8am on Saturday 29th January. Your time must be uploaded as soon as you finish each Exposure. You should do this straight away, to ensure you can stay in the race. If we do not receive it within 30 mins past the end of each exposure, then your race will be over! So, for example, the first Exposure will start at 08:00 and close at 09:00. You’ll have up to 09:30 to upload your first entry. This is where you could get your friends or family to help you. They could upload your results for you so that you can head back out on your run. It is VERY IMPORTANT that you upload the time taken to complete each exposure (i.e. the distance announced each hour) and not just the total time taken to complete the full event. You can download the instructions.
Do I need to submit proof of my time?
This is an honour based system so we will not be asking for proof unless you are eligible for a prize (winner at each category). There will however be an option to enter links to strava or similar if you want to. If you are a prize winner, we may ask you to provide these links.
How often does the leaderboard update?
The leader board will be updated hourly so you can keep track of your progress and decide on your race strategy. It may take until the half hour after the last exposure for the table to be updated. The ability to race against others fills us with huge amounts of excitement!
Can I switch events?
Once the event starts you cannot drop down to a shorter event.
How will I get my race number?
Your race number will be available via the entrants' page. You can download your race bib at any time in April before the event. We'd love you to share your race number on social media using the hashtag #PyllonExposureDark
Get the kids involved and decorate your race bib, there may be a prize for this, just saying!
When is the last day to enter?
Entries will be open until midnight on Wednesday 26th January 2022.
I am still unsure about something, can I ask?
Yes, please do, you can contact us at events@pyllonultra.com