Start times
There will be at three start times this year - 6am, 7.15am and 8.30am on Saturday 3 May.
When will my start time be allocated?
The start times have been allocated. You should have received an email from us on Friday 19 April with your allocated start time. If you haven't received this email please get in touch.
Please note that you cannot request to change your allocated start time to the earlier slot.
Where possible we have endeavoured to put all joint teams registered for the same distance together in one start time. If you have been allocated different start times within your team and need to start together because you are sharing support, please contact us on 0300 123 1801 – it may mean we will need to move your team en masse to a different start time. Or it may mean waiting for your team mates en route to ensure you all reach the checkpoint together!
How have the start times been allocated?
We allocate your start time based on the distance you’re undertaking and the date that you registered for the event, therefore those people who signed up for Gold will be allocated the earlier start times and within this group those people who signed up first will be given preference for the earliest start.
This was felt to be the fairest and most sensible approach to start time allocation given that the Gold participants have the biggest challenge ahead of them and will be on route for the longest time.
Please bear in mind – even if you registered by December, there may already have been over 300 participants registered for Monster by then, most of which may be Gold participants therefore filling the earliest start time.
Why can’t everyone start together?
The start is located on a canal path at Neptune’s Staircase. This path cannot safely accommodate more than about four cyclists abreast and so to avoid too long a start and also to ensure safety, we need to stagger the starts. It is also to ensure the field is spread out to alleviate crowding both at the start venue itself, out on the route and at all the checkpoints on route.
Why are the starts times 75 minutes apart?
The starts need to be 75 minutes apart to ensure the field is sufficiently spread out during the event – although it does spread out fairly quickly. The first main checkpoint, the Bike/Hike changeover, is a very busy site and the traffic through it needs to be carefully managed. As this first 31.5 miles is cycled, the field overall still remains fairly close together during this section so to see any benefit from staggered starts, they need to be sufficient times apart.