Race director Helen Baker

ALL is set for one of Jersey’s biggest community events of the year, the Standard Chartered Jersey Marathon, relay and fun run, taking place tomorrow.

And, if you can’t be there in person, you can track the lead runners on the internet.
The settled weather is expected to continue through the weekend, so runners, marshals and spectators can look forward to dry and sunny conditions, unlike last year’s wet and windy affair.

The three races start from the Weighbridge Square, the marathon at 9 am, the relay at 9.30 am and the 3km fun run at 10 am.

The champion chip device, which gives accurate times, will be used in all three and late entries for the 3km fun run, which is being sponsored by the JEP, will be accepted up to 9.30 am tomorrow.

In view of the forecast, runners and others are being urged to wear some sun protection and marathon runners, in particular, to ensure they drink plenty of water early on.

The organisers are also hoping that everyone will enjoy the event and raise as much money as possible for their chosen charities.

Race director Helen Baker said that the public had responded fantastically to appeals for help and that they now had sufficient volunteers for the day. ‘So, everyone else can just come out and cheer on the runners,’ she said.

Those who cannot be there on the day can still keep in touch by tracking the lead marathon runner or runners on the Links Locator website www.linkslocator.co.uk and clicking on the Jersey marathon live tracker link.

Richard Bird, of Links Locator, said that three Channel Islands companies had collaborated to provide the tracking system for the marathon organisers.

‘The four official vehicles (108, 161, 171 and 176) are being tracked by satellite using the Links Locator tracking system and the information relayed back by the Sure mobile and fixed network to be displayed on the Digimap server and thence to the internet user,’ he said.

• Runners can pick up their race packs from the Standard Chartered Bank in Castle Street up until 4 pm today.

• More information can be obtained at www.standardchartered.com.