How must the course be marked, and how should the start and finish be set up?

Course marking (ASA Rule 33.3):

• Mark the course clearly, with repeated direction signs wherever runners might be unsure or the course changes direction.
• Place kilometre markers along the route and display the distance in kilometres.
• Runners who go off course get no credit for the extra distance but may be given a lift back to where they left the course.
• Provide a route map and profile before the race where possible.

Start (Rule 33.5):

• Mark the start with a white line at least 5cm wide.
• Have a PA system or loudhailer, and give 5-minute, 3-minute and 1-minute warnings.
• Start with a gun, cannon, air horn or similar, using the commands for races longer than 400m ("On your marks", then the signal).
• ASA recommends seeding faster runners to the front and keeping the first 500m smooth, without potholes, sharp bends, speed bumps or narrowing.

Finish (Rule 33.6):

• Mark the finish line 50mm wide.
• Build a funnel starting immediately after the line, with a tunnel area starting at least 35m after the finish line. Any finish arch should be placed after the line.