TdT TRAIL RUN SWEEP BRIEF
Thanks for volunteering to sweep, it is a super important role for the successful and safe running of the event. You rock.
WHAT YOU NEED TO BRING:
– A large backpack (20L-40L), this needs to be big enough to make sure that you can fit in all the trail markings that you will take down. But still a ‘running’ backpack as you will need to jog some sections.
– Knife or snips/cutters (we can supply you with a knife if needed) to cut cable ties.
– A hardy shopping bag to dump rubbish etc (you can empty at each aid station)
– A mobile phone (and charger) note that depending on which event you are sweeping phone coverage may be limited at times.
– Familiarise yourself with the trail map of the event that you are sweeping; you can download the event handbook on the event website.
– Your usual food and hydration (you can of course refuel / fill water at aid stations).
– Warm clothes and wet weather gear.
– Snake bandage.
SWEEP INSTRUCTIONS
Rear-of-the-course
Firstly, stay behind the last competitors. You are the fail-safe so that we know where all the runners are on course and in the case of emergencies. While you need to de-mark the course, you also need to be mindful to stay no more than 5 minutes or so behind the last participant for reasons of safety.
If you come across a backpack placed on a trail this indicates that a runner has left the course in order to go to the toilet. Please wait for them to return to their backpack before continuing.
Course de-marking
Equally important, know when and where you need to take down course markings.
This will change depending on the event that you are sweeping. The Vollie Director/Race Director will give you a race-specific brief that includes this information.
Courses are marked with red-and-white Tour de Trails signs including directional arrows and “wrong way” signs, and pink reflective ribbons. There are a only a few places on some courses where you will also come across hazard tape either corralling runners or signaling that care must be taken. All of these must be taken down. Please don’t leave anything out on course.
A standard intersection or decision point will have multiple markings, these may include
- Lead-in ribbon(s), placed before the intersection in order to prepare runners for making a decision.
- Directional signs at the decision point, indicating which way the course continues.
- Wrong Way signs, these will be up any other trails or roads that branch off from the race course. There may be more than one and every potential trail/road will be marked “Wrong Way”.
- Lead-out ribbon(s), placed after the intersection confirming that runner has made the correct choice.
When you get to a decision point please look up every potential trail and road for “Wrong Way” signs. These can be some distance up a trail.
Signs can be in trees, on the ground (pegged), and on existing infrastructure like street sings, poles or fences.
Once taken out of the ground, it is best to take signs off any pegs and separate the plastic zip ties into a rubbish bag as you go, making it easier to stow the pegs and signs in your bag. Be careful not to drop any cut zip ties.
Where the course is on singletrack and there are no turn offs, marking will be sparse. There will be the odd confidence marker but that is it. YOU NEED TO JOG THESE SECTIONS IN ORDER TO REMAIN SOMEWHAT CLOSE TO THE LAST PARTICIPANT.
Note on out-and-back courses: be aware that if you are on the “out” section of a course you must leave markings up for the runners to return on the “back” leg.
If we leave markings out on the trails we run the risk of not getting permits to run the event in future years. Please be diligent.
Medical
If you come across an injured runner, your responsibility is not to provide medical treatment but to contact medics/event HQ and wait for medics to arrive.
If you are outside of mobile phone coverage then send some of your party to the closest aid station (this may be either in front of you or behind you depending on where you are on course) to the next aid station where they may make contact with medics/event HQ.
You may be asked to assist in the event of evacuation.
Stay alert
It is easy – especially on the longer courses – to lose concentration as you get tired / get distracted by conversation etc. We ask that you try to keep the ‘sweeping’ top of mind, always keeping your radar on for pink tags, red signs etc. It becomes easy to pass by a small intersection and not double check for wrong way signs to be taken down located a little way up or down the other trail. We have had examples where signs have been missed, and then reported in later days by rather disgruntled land managers.
We are reliant on you, our sweep, to ensure NO course marking gets left on course, as our ability to return in following years is reliant on permits that are put at risk if we accidentally leave marking materials on course. We also risk a fine from land managers, which again puts the event in jeopardy.
That’s not to say don’t have fun! We want you to enjoy the day, too!
We appreciate the sweep is a big and important job and we appreciate you volunteering your time to help run the event safely and sustainably.
FREE EVENT ENTRY
Remember that you will earn one free entry credit, valid for any Tour de Trail event, any distance (note: does not include Oscars 100 Hut 2 Hut as TdT does not own that event). Just tap Chris on the shoulder via email come the time to redeem your credit and he will provide you with a promo code.