Preparations are underway to get Margate Main Sands ready for the Red Bull Quicksand event on Saturday (September 1).
Competitors will push through the sand to complete their mile target in a knockout format, with heats, semi-finals and finals.
Runners expend 1.6 times more energy on sand than running on a road surface and the course will be full of sandy climbs, testing competitors endurance, acceleration and speed.
Runners must complete their mile within 20 minutes or they will be cut off from the heat. A participant’s time on the course starts when their timing chip passes the electronic mat at the start and stops when the timing chip passes the electronic mat at the Finish.
There will be flags in the sand at the finish line. Competitors will need to claim a flag to progress through the competition.
The event is free to watch and there will be designated viewing areas for spectators.
Estimated timetable
08:30 Registration Opens
09:15 Open Warm Up
09:30 Men’s Heat 1
10:00 Men’s Heat 2
10:30 Men’s Heat 3
11:00 Women’s Heat 1
11:30 Women’s Heat 2
12:00 Men’s Last Chance Qualifier 1
12:30 Men’s Last Chance Qualifier 2
13:00 Women’s Last Chance Qualifier
13:20 Men’s Semi Final 1
13:40 Men’s Semi Final 2
14:00 Women’s Semi-Final 1
14:20 Women’s Semi-Final 2
14:40 Men’s Final
15:00 Women’s Final
15:20 Prize Giving
Photos by John Cripps