The Midnight Sun Marathon
Midnight Sun Marathon 30 June 2011
- The Race
- Destination Tromso, Norway
- The Midnight Sun
- Getting There
- Where to Stay
- What to do.
- Visa Requirements
- Where to get more information
The Race.
Started in 1989, the Midnight Sun Marathon is the worlds most northern marathon certified by AIMS. Held at night, because the sun does not set for 2 months, it is hosted by the town of Tromso in Norway.
The Marathon Runners Diary provides the following information
Midnight Sun Marathon Route
The start and finish lines are in the city centre. Runners head off towards the Tromso Bridge, 2 km in to the race which arcs uphill from 6 to 43 meters above sea level. At the 20km point runners cross back over the bridge, returning to and passing through the city centre. The second half of the course is quite flat and easy. The course loops round and brings runners back to the city centre again, this time to the finish line and cheering crowds.
Midnight Sun Marathon Entry
* Entry Fee : NoK 650 (until 29 Feb), NoK 750 (until 30 Apr), NoK 850 (until 29 June)
* Registration Deadline : 29 June
* Charity Places : Runners are advised to contact their chosen charity
Contact Details
Address : Midnight Sun Marathon, PB 821, N-9258 Tromsø, Norway
Tel. : +47 77 67 33 63
Fax. : +47 77 67 33 64
Email : post@msm.no
Website. : http://www.msm.no
Destination Tromso, Norway,
Practical Information – Courtesy of Lonely Planet
Costs: Norway is expensive. Staying at hotels that include buffet breakfasts, and eating light lunches and an evening meal at a moderately priced restaurant, you can expect to spend at least Nkr750 per person per day
Money: The Norwegian krone is most often represented either as Nkr (preceding the number, as in this book), NOK (preceding the number) or simply kr (following the amount). One Norwegian krone (Nkr1) equals 100 øre. Coins come in 50 øre and Nkr1, Nkr5, Nkr10 and Nkr20 denominations, and notes are worth Nkr50, Nkr100, Nkr200, Nkr500 and Nkr1000.
ATM’s:‘Mini-Banks’ (the Norwegian name for ATMs) are found adjacent to many banks and around busy public places, such as shopping centres. They accept major credit cards as well as Cirrus, Visa Electron and/or Plus bank cards.
Credit Cards: Visa, Eurocard, MasterCard, Diners Club and American Express cards are widely accepted throughout Norway. Although credit or debit cards allow you to avoid the fees charged for changing cash or travellers cheques, such gains can be cancelled out by bank fees and not all places accept debit cards. Credit cards can be used to buy train tickets and are accepted on some but not all, domestic ferries.
Tromso
Tromso is a surprise to first time visitors. Located inside the Arctic Circle, the largest City in the Northern part of Norway, it boasts a respected University, and more pubs per capita than another town in Norway.
Even thou Tromso lies 350 miles in the Arctic Circle it is surprisingly warm because of the Gulf Stream. The main of the town lies on an island attached to the mainland by a bridge. The island is 10 kilometres long and consists of both urban and forest area. The airport is also located on the island.
The Midnight Sun
The Midnight Sun is natural phenomenon that happens during the summer months in the Northern latitudes. During this time, the sun is always above the horizon.
Getting There
There are no direct flights into Norway or anywhere in Scandinavia from South Africa, connections via most major cities in Europe are available. You could fly straight through using the same carrier or even switch to a low cost carrier in Europe. I definitely recommend that you use the services of a travel agent to help you find the most cost effective way to get there. The fee you pay for the service will save you a great deal of frustration trying to work out which is the best combination.
Accommodation
Tromso offers accommodation to suit every budget, You can choose from a home stay to a fisherman’s cottage to a hotel that meets the best international standards
Visit I like Tromso for more information.
What to do
There is much to see and do in Tromso. The town is compact making it ideal for walking, how ever there are bicycles for rent allowing you to explore further. There are Churches and Museums, you can hike, visit a Glacier and even go kayak.
For information on what to do visit I like Tromso
Visa
South African Citizens require a Schengen Visa to visit Norway. You must obtain it in advance and cannot obtain it on arrival. Without the necessary visa stamped in your passport, you will not be allowed to board your flight.
Requirements:
- Completed Schengen Visa application
- Valid Passport
- 2 recent Colour photographs
- Itinerary
- Air ticket
- Proof of funds
- Proof of accommodation
At the time of publication. The cost of a Visa for Norway is R560.00 and takes 15 days to obtain. Remember that should you visit anywhere else outside of the Schegen area, you may need another visa.
When applying for a visa, use a Travel Agency or a specialised Visa Service, it is worth paying their service fee to avoid the frustration of having your visa refused because you filled something in wrong.
Where to get more information
Wikipedia Midnight Sun Marathon
2010 Midnight Sun Marathon on YouTube
Official Tourist Office Norway
Official Tourist Office Tromso
Our Next Destination – Marathon de l’Ile Maurice – Published Jan 28
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The Great Wall Marathon – 19 May 2011
- The Race
- Destination
- The Great Wall
- Getting There
- Where to Stay
- What to do.
- The Essentials – VISA, CURRENCY and INSURANCE
- Where to get more information
The Race.
The Great Wall Marathon was first run in 1999 and is held annually in May. The course is much tougher than the normal marathon with 5,100 stones steps, as well as many steep ascents and descents to add to the difficulty. A Half Marathon as well as a 10 and 5 Kilometre run are also included in the race.
The Race is split into two parts. The first nine kilometres takes runners up and down the Great Wall. Full Marathon runners will come back this part of the course at the end of the race. The other part of the course takes one through picturesque villages, past rice fields and takes palce on good gravel and tar roads.
Drinks are available at regular intervals and medical personal are on stand by.
Destination: Beijing, China,
Facts courtesy of Arrival Guides
| Population | 17 Million |
| Currency | 1 Yuan = 10 Jiao |
| Opening hours | Businesses are generally open from Monday to Friday, 9.00 until 18.00. Many shops are also open on Saturdays and Sundays. |
| Website | www.beijingpage.com www.chinaonline.com www.bjta.gov.cn |
| Newspapers | Beijing This Month City Weekend Beijing Review China Daily |
| Emergency numbers | Ambulance: 120 Fire: 119 Police: 110 |
| Tourist information | Xuanwu Bureau Address: 3 Hufang Road Tel: +86 (0)10 6351 0018 |
The Great Wall.
The Great Wall of China is a series of stone fortifications built to protest the Northern Border. Most of the existing wall was built during the Ming Dynasty.
The Great Wall is not a continuous wall but a series of smaller walls. It extends through desert and grasslands, mountains and plateaus stretching approximately 8500 kilometres
The Wall is a UNESCO World Cultural Site.
Getting There.
SAA is supposed to have started direct flights in September 2011, but seem to have delayed this for the time being. Several other airlines as well as SAA offer flights to Beijing via both the Middle Est and the Far East. These are:
- SAA (via Dubai and Hong Kong)
- Emirates (via Dubai)
- Eithad (via Abu Dhabi)
- Qatar (via Doha)
- Cathay Pacific (via Hong Kong)
- Singapore Air Lines (via Singapore)
- Malaysian Air (via Kuala Lumpur)
In order to find the best flight and airfare combination that suits you, you can check out the various airline sites or you can use the services of your local travel agent. Consult ASATA to find the one closest to you.
The official Travel Agents and organisers of the Marathon are Albatros Travel who have a branch in South Africa and are only too happy to assist you with your travel arrangements.
Where to Stay.
Albatross Travel, the organisers of the Great Wall Marathon and the official Travel Agents offer two packages.
The price includes:
• One-way transfer between airport and hotel on arrival (will share with other runners arrive at around same time, may need to wait for about half an hour), when the arrival is on May 16, 2012
• 5 nights accommodation, including service charge and taxes
• Meals as written, where breakfast is American buffet style when possible. Meals in Jixian/Pinggu
offered according to program
• Sightseeing and excursions as listed (Optional tours must be purchased separately)
• All expenses related to the Great Wall Marathon (Champion Chip excluded)
• Marathon medical team of specialized physicians and nurses. This service is offered on May 19 only.
• Comprehensive information packet with documents
Price excludes:
•International air tickets, air fees and airport taxes
• Passport fee (every participant must have a passport valid past 01 December 2012)
• Visa for China
• Return transfer to the airport (can be booked through your national GWM sales agent).
• Champion timing chip (if you don’t already own a chip, the Great Wall Marathon Souvenir Chip is
available for USD35)
• Optional Tours which must be booked in advance
• Insurance
You can plan to arrive on the first day of the tour and leave on the last day of the tour, but you are going to travel all that way and spend all that money, you should take a few extra days to explore China. Speak to the Travel Agent and see what tours are available,
Remember also that when connecting through a third country like Singapore fo
What to do.
A fair amount is included in the two itineraries from Albatross Travel, but you may also wish to explore yourself in your free time. Go to Arrival Guides and download their 10 page mini guide to Beijing and you can also get more information at Yahoo Travel and Lonely Planet.
The Essentials – VISA, CURRENCY and INSURANCE
Travel is stressful – getting to the Airport on time, queing, filling out forms, crowds, foreign languages – do not add to the stress by overlooking some thing.
Visa: South African Citizens need a Visa to enter the People’s Republic of China. I recommend that you use the services of a Travel Agent or a specialist Visa Service to assist you. Their expertise is worth the additional cost.
Requirements
One completely filled out visa application form; all blanks on the application form should be filled in with genuine information;
One recently taken 2X2 inch photo showing entire face and without a hat on. Please affix the photo to the application form;
Original passport with at least 2 blank visa pages and valid for at least 6 months beyond the date of application.
Plus
a) The latest 3 months bank-statements with adequate money.
b) Hotel reservation in China;
c) Round-trip ticket booking;
Currency: Money, it is said, makes the World Go Round. Beijing is a modern City that is well served by Banks and ATMS. Keep in mind that the Chinese do not like debt and you may have trouble using your credit cards outside of the more upmarket stores and restaurants. Hotels do accept Credit Cards. The most convenient way of taking your funds is on a preloaded VISA card that you can use at any VISA ATM.
Try to obtain some Chinese Currency ahead of time, it always helps to have cash to pay for small things on a arrival, such a cup of coffee. However you will have no problem using and exchanging US Dollars.
When buying foreign exchange get advice from the sales staff, after all they deal with this every day, all day.
Insurance: When travelling half way round the world, you are leaving your comfort zone. Things can go wrong, so travelling without Insurance is not wise. If you pay for air ticket with a credit card, you will most probably receive free Insurance. Something for free, is always welcome – just make sure you read the fine print or you could get a nasty shock. Consider taking a top up insurance.
Your belongings are most probably covered by your house holders Insurance, you need to make sure that you have health cover. You may have to be airlifted to hospital or repatriated. You may need to have a nurse accompany you back home.
Nobody goes on holiday expecting the worst, it is just nice that when something goes wrong you have the tools to sort it out.
Having dealt with TIC myself, I can recommend them, but you are free to talk to your travel agent or broker to see what they recommend.
Where to Get More Information
Please Note:
• It is the responsibility of each participant to have a valid passport and to obtain a valid visa before
traveling into China.
• Every runner must have a Champion timing chip to enter the Great Wall Marathon, Half Marathon,
10K or 5K runs.
• Participation is purely at your own risk. All extra costs incurred, no matter what the cause, will under
no circumstances be the responsibility of the Great Wall Marathon Company.
• Concerning medical risks – all active participants must declare that they are in good health and have
their own insurance that covers their stay in China. The Great Wall Marathon brings its own team of
specialized physicians and nurses to assure that every injured participant receives suitable treatment.
Our Next Destination – The Midnight Marathon – Published Dec 28
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