After a lot of thought, we have decided to keep the format the same as for previous years. This will mean meeting at the Argyll St entrance to Oxford Circus tube station at 12p.m. before the race starts. (Had we gone for the finishing station idea, we would have met by Big Ben to synchronise watches, but that's for another time!) Then and only then will we draw the starting station, where all attempts must start at. We are hoping to have a celebrity starting station drawer, however I want to get a measure of how many people will be attending before announcing publically, as I want to make sure there will be a good crowd for her - she's a busy & prominent London figure. (Guess away.....)
People can take part as individuals or teams, and amusing team names are encouraged. If you're new to this, or even if you're not, I'm sure we'll be able to find someone to link you up with on the day if you'd rather go around with someone else.
If you want to take part but know you can't make it for 12, we can text/phone you with the starting station once it is drawn if you give us your number.
We'll then head to the mysterious starting station, and will begin at roughly 1 p.m. 60-something stations later, stop your watch as you get out at your last station, and head to the post-event venue, The Angel in the Fields pub, W1U 2QY which is where we went last year. There are details of the pub here including a map. It is near Marylebone, Bond St stations etc.
The first person to the pub may not be the winner however, as times will depend on the time you set off and get to your last station; the tubeguru himself will be working out who the winners are. There will be some apres-tube entertainment run in the venue, being co-ordinated by David Scard.
In terms of rules, my ideal set would be:
1)Start at the starting station with everyone else.
2)Visit all Z1 stations and stop your watch when you get to the last one.
3) Use common sense.
However I appreciate that some people want something more formal, so.....
1)Use common sense. Still a key rule.
2)All Z1 stations will be possible start stations, save St James Park, Sloane Square, and Vauxhall as they have been used before.
3)You must depart on the first train after 1pm on the named line you want in the direction you want from the starting station. (e.g. if it's Cannon St, you can choose between the first district/circle in the right direction as you wish, if it's Earl's Court + you want to leave on the district you can choose first train to High St Ken or first train to South Ken - but you can't hold out for an Edgware Rd train if the first is for High St Ken only.)
4)The timer starts when the doors close on your first train.
5)You must visit all stations in Zone 1, or on the boundary of Zones 1 and 2. You must pass through Regents Park on a Bakerloo line train. The pedantic definition of 'visiting' a station is: either arriving or departing a station by a tube train, where the doors open. There is no need to get out at each station, as long as your train stops there you have been there.
6) You may run/walk between stations as you see fit, and as you feel fit. You may also use public transport such as buses or trains. No private transport such as bicycles, taxis, cars, or TARDISes may be used however.
7)The clock stops when you set foot on the platform of your final station. Make your way to the pub and tell tubeguru your time. While everyone will talk about how they did, please don't give away your final time until the results are announced.
Should ******** turn up, he will be babysat for the entire event.(He will also receive a punch up the bracket from me - Tubeguru)
9)It's a fun competition, so enjoy it!
As we've put a deposit down for the venue, and as I said above because of wanting to ensure there is a good crowd to make it worth the starter's while, I'd be grateful if you would sign up for the event by emailing Kevin Brown (Going Underground) on kevin.brown@uk.tntfreight.com ensuring that he has an email address and mobile number should we need to get in touch with any last-minute changes. Or send him a private message on this forum. By all means post on here that you are coming but please let him know directly.
Finally, you are especially welcome if this is your first attempt at a Z1 challenge; it was my first attempt back in 2005, and I had a great day meeting people on the forum, and running the wrong way out of stations and getting stuck behind a mass of people getting down a narrow corridor is all part of the fun for the first couple of attempts. I hope you have a great day - although not too great - my record might well be in jeopardy.
Hope to see you on the 18th....the days are counting down!
All the best,
Ric
Three times Zone 1 Challenge winner 
