Dark Moors Neon Edition

Dark Moors Neon Edition Race Instructions

Are you ready to light up the night and take on our first race of 2025? 💡 We are beyond thrilled to be the new host of the beloved Dark Moors event at Moors Valley. 🌲🌙

In true Keep Running Rural fashion, we're keeping the tradition alive and offering the classic 5 Mile (1 Lap) and 10 Mile (2 Laps) options for all you die-hard distance runners. 🏅

But hold on, because that's not all we have in store. This year, we're turning this race into a neon extravaganza! That's right, we want you to light up the streets with your brightest colours and shine like the stars you are!

But remember, safety always comes first. So while we encourage you to go all out with your neon outfits and accessories, we do have a strict no flashing lights rule. Safety first, folks! And to make things even more exciting, we'll be giving out prizes for the best neon outfits!

Picture this: a sea of glowing runners, surrounded by the serene beauty of Moors Valley, pushing themselves to the limit. 🌌 It's going to be a night to remember, and we want YOU to be a part of it. 💫

So lace up those running shoes and mark your calendars for the most electrifying race of 2025. ⚡️ Spread the word and let's make this our biggest and brightest Dark Moors event yet!

Entry includes

• Medal Option

• Finishers Gift Bag

• Prizes for top 3 male and female finishers

• Free Glow Sticks

• Chip Timing & Live Results

• Water stations

• Fully marked route

• Course marshals at key locations

• On-site First Aid

• Free event parking (After 3:30)

• 5% of ticket sales go to charity

  
  

Facilities at venue

• Toilets

• Hot and Cold Drinks

• Refreshments & Cakes

Participants must be:

• 14 years of age or older for a 5 Miles

• 16 years of age or older for a 10 mile

Timetable of events

3.30pm – Registration

4.45pm – 5 Mile Race Briefing

5pm – 5 Mile Race Start (1 Lap)

6.15pm – 10 Mile Race Briefing

6.30pm – 10 Mile Race Start (2 Laps)

9pm – Close down

Getting there and event advice

Moors Valley is situated 10 miles north of Bournemouth. It’s signposted from the Ashely Heath roundabout at the junction of the A31 and A338, between Ringwood and St Leonards. Horton Road, Ashley Heath, Ringwood, BH24 2ET

Please note: Be aware that due to the rural nature of our location, some satellite navigation systems

and route planners may not be accurate when using the postcode.

Please car share for the event; 95% of runners are from the BH/DT postcodes and live within a small radius.

Do not park on the local roads surrounding Moors Valley; the park has good relations with local residents, and we would like to respect this request.

Free parking is included in your race entry, so you can arrive on site any time to take advantage of this offer. When you leave the country park you will not need to put your number plate into the pay machines, as the barriers will automatically open upon your exit.

Medals & Goodies

All runners who purchased the medal option will receive a quality race medal. All entries will receive a goodie bag when crossing the line.

Prizes: We give out prizes for 1st, 2nd and 3rd men and women in both distances for this race; these prizes are awarded on the line

Refreshments 

Provider to be confirmed. 

Race instructions

Please dress up in your most fabulous bright colours! We love seeing your colourful outfits for these night races.

You must have a working head or chest torch to take part; we reserve the right to disqualify you if you do not have a working head or chest torch.

You can also wear other lights to make yourselves glow in the dark. Please no flashing lights, and when you get to the aid stations and the finish line, please switch off your head torch to help marshals see you.

Race numbers can be collected from Admin in the lower car park from 3.30pm. Please complete the information on the back of your number.

Results: This event is being timed by Emit UK  who will be on site all evening, and results will be available from their website.

Chip instructions: Built into the number is your timing chip; put it on and go. Don’t go near the finish line again once you’ve crossed at the finish, or you will get a false reading and this will make us unhappy. Please make sure you wear your race number correctly so it can be picked up.

In a bid to be more environmentally conscious, we do not supply safety pins for attaching your race number. Please remember to bring your own or wear a belt or use some event clips.

If the weather is inclement, you will need to unzip your jacket while crossing the finish line so the mats can read your timing chip.

Safety

On the back of your number write an ICE number and any medical details. This will help us and you. We recommend that you carry a fully charged mobile phone for emergency use with race HQ emergency number stored. This will be emailed out closer to the race. Marshals will be positioned on the course to provide help if required, along with some roaming bike marshals. If you need to drop out of the race at any time we will try and get you as quickly as possible. The good. We would also recommend you download a free app called what3words which can help pinpoint your exact location.

Race Rules

• If you would like to withdraw from the race, you must report this to a Marshall who will assist

• Dogs or buggies are not permitted on the course with competitors due to Insurance and Permit limitations

• Minimum age for this race is 16 years on the day

  
  

Spectator Info

Supporters are more than welcome to come along and cheer on the runners. Please note however that there are a limited number of suitable vantage points unless you walk a few miles from the start line. If supporters have a dog with them, then please ensure they remain on a lead at all times.

Baggage

Please leave your belongings in your car. If you wish to leave your keys with us, attach a tag to your keys with your race number on and leave them on the key stand in the finish area.

Toilets

There are toilet blocks around the rear of the café at Moors Valley Country Park.

Routes

You will be running mainly on gravel and sandy tracks within the forest, which are well maintained and take in some great woodland trails. There will be tree stumps, roots, ditches and puddles on some of the tracks, so please watch your footing. The course will be well marked with signs and arrows and glow in the dark elements and marshals will be at key points to direct you.

The race brief and start of the races will take place in the lower car park, where the race starts and finishes. It could be muddy in places, so trail shoes are recommended – something with some grip to get you round.

Cut-offs

The cut-off is 1.5 hours for the 5-mile race. The 10-mile race has a cut off of 2.5 hours. Both races will have sweepers in them to look after the back of the pack and make sure you all finish safely.

Waterstations/Aid stations

These will be evenly placed along the routes and have plenty of water. Our races are CUPLESS and we require you to carry your own cup or water supply, then you will be able to fill them up at aid stations.

Litter: We do not tolerate littering. Please, please don’t throw your litter on the ground. If you have something, pop it in a pocket or hang on to it and deposit at an aid station. Anyone caught littering will be disqualified.

Weather: The race is in a forest mid January, so please take into consideration the previous day’s weather when considering what to wear – wear appropriate clothing for the conditions.

Photos: Night races are difficult to photograph as most come out a blurs, so we don’t have our photographers at these events but love seeing your pictures of the event in our Facebook Group. Make sure you post yours for others to see!