The Addo Elephant Trail Runs

Rules

Notes

Kirkwood – Start of Addo Elephant 100Mile, 50Mile & 25Mile Trail Runs

Addo Elephant National Park, Main Rest Camp – Finish of Addo Elephant 100Mile & 50Mile Trail Runs

Checkpoints – Food Stations and Time Keepers

Runners’ Drop Bags – Individual participant’s supplies, in a marked bag for the designated Check Points.

Compulsory Items                                                       

1. 4 x safety pins for your number.                                  

2. Whistle        

3. Space blanket

4. Water bottle or bladder                                                          

5. Torch/head lamp & spare batteries for all 100Mile participants and any 50Mile & 25Mile participants if you will be on the route after sunset.

Rules

1. Only official participants displaying their official numbers are allowed on the route.  These numbers must be worn on the front at all times and must be clearly visible.  Other than the participant’s number, personal advertising is permitted on clothing provided that it is not in conflict with any of our official sponsors.  Check with us if in doubt.

2. It is compulsory that participants run with drinking bottles or bladder and carry a minimum of 1litre of water between Check Points.  It is highly recommended to run with a small waist pack or day backpack.  These water bottles will be filled at the Check Points, which are situated 8km - 11km apart.  Water will not be handed out in sachets.

3. Each 100Miler participant must carry a flashlight (plus spare batteries) throughout the night section.  Each 50Miler & 25Miler participant must carry a flashlight (plus spare batteries) if they anticipate being on the route after 18:00.  Any participant found running in the dark without a working torch will be withdrawn from the event.

4. The route will be clearly marked. At any intersection there will be a marker board with an arrow to show the way.  The entire route must be completed.  If for any reason a participant leaves the marked route, he/she must return to the point of departure by foot.  Any participant deliberately running off the route will be disqualified.

5. This event is a foot race and the entire route must be traversed by foot.  Any participant with a disability of any kind that would require a form of mechanical device is to bring this to the attention of the race organisers for approval.  Walking poles may be used.

6. Except in an emergency, no assistance may be accepted by any participant between Check Points. If any emergency assistance is received between Check Points, this must be brought to the attention of the Check Point Captain at the next Check Point. 

7. Each participant must make sure that he/she has been checked in and out of each Check Point. 

8. For the 100Miler, Check Points Nos. 3, 6, 9, 12(2nd time) will have a cut-off time by which the participant must have left the Check Point.  Should the participant return to that Check Point for assistance once he/she has checked out of that Check Point, the participant will still have to leave that Check Point again before the cut-off time.

9. Any form of litter or destruction of the natural habitat will result in disqualification. Nothing at all may be discarded between Check Points i.e. food wrappings, etc.

10. Any interference with another participant will result in disqualification.

11. Access to the route for supporters is only permitted at the allocated Check Points, Nos. 1, between Check Points 9 & 10 and from 11 to the finish.  Please check the Route Map information for the locations of these points and the type of roads that access them. 

12. Family/friends will be allowed to accompany their participant on certain points along the route.  This means that supporters can pace their runner, but may not offer any form of assistance, ie food or beverages between Check Points.  The last three kilometres can only be traversed by foot as there is no vehicle access here.

13. All participants must attend the pre-race Runners’ Registration and Briefing at the Lapa at the Addo Elephant Main Rest Camp at 14:00 on Thursday, 01 May 2008

14. The cut-off time for the 100Miler is 30hrs, ie 12:00 on Sunday, 03 May 2009

15. The cut-off time for the 50Miler & 25Miler is 30hrs, ie 12:00 on Sunday, 03 May 2008

16. Smoking is not permitted for the duration of the event.

Supporters

1. The actions of the participant’s supporters are the responsibility of the participant and in the case of them not complying with any rules, that participant will be disqualified.

2. From Check Point 1 to Check Point 9, no vehicle is permitted along the route.  Spectators are permitted to see a participant at a point on top of the hill just before Check Point 10.  This road is only accessible by bakkie and cars with high ground clearance.  There will be a board up at this point where, as a spectator, you are asked not to proceed to the Check Point down at the farm.  Make sure the farm gates are closed securely behind you.  If it has been raining, you will not be permitted on this road.  Spectator access is allowed from Check Point 11 (Zuurberg Mountain Inn) to the finish.  Check Point 14 is only accessible by bakkies and cars with high ground clearance.

3. Supporters must wait until their participant has been checked in and medically checked where required before attending to them.  Supporters may not wander from the checkpoint.

4. The event is held in a National Park and no pets are allowed.

Check Points

1. Each Check Point will be equipped with water and energy drinks plus a variety of foods like bananas, potatoes, sweets, sliced bread, peanut butter, jam, etc. The later Check Points will also have hot soup and coffee/tea.

2. There are 19 Check Points on the 100Miler and 9 on the 50Miler.

3. If any participant would like any special requirements at a Check Point they can have Drop Bags at Check Point Nos. 3, 6, 8, 11, 13 and the finish.

Drop Bags

1. Drop bags must be strong plastic/cloth bags (no paper bags/boxes), sealed and clearly marked. They must be handed in at registration before 17h00 on Friday, 01 May 2009. No Drop Bags will be accepted after this. 

2. The drop bags must have the following information clearly marked or they will not be accepted:

RUNNER’S NAME AND NUMBER / CHECK POINT NUMBER / EVENT (ie. 100Miler or 50Miler)

If this information is not clear, the check point number is not a drop bag check point or the drop bag is not a sturdy, sealed bag, the drop bag will be discarded. 

3. It is recommended to have warm clothes and additional batteries at the Check Points for the night section. Between Check Point 6 & 8 participants will have to cross through a stream several times which will result in their shoes getting wet.  The participant would be advised to have an extra pair of shoes in their drop bag at Check Point 8 if they prefer dry shoes.   

4. Drop Bags will be returned to the finish for collection after the Check Point has packed up. These may only be collected by the participants on producing their race number.

5. Although every attempt is made to safeguard the participants’ Drop Bags, Race Organisers do not accept any responsibility whatsoever for any Drop Bags contents that might be lost or damaged during the event. Do not put any glass in the Drop Bag.

Search and Rescue

1. Because of the remoteness of the area, it is essential that the Race Organisers know where everyone is at all times.  It is critical that participants ensure that the Time Keepers at each Check Point have recorded their entry and exit time.  If for any reason a participant leaves the visibility of the path, their pack or drinking bottle must be left on the path until their return.  If anything should happen whilst they are off the path, it will be clear to anyone where they left the trail.

2. If a participant retires from the race, make sure that the wristband is handed in to the Time Keeper at that Check Point.  If the participant retires and does not hand in the wristband, they will be regarded as lost and a Search and Rescue team will be dispatched to look for them.  The cost of this Search and Rescue will be billed to the participant at a minimum cost of R1000.00 per hour.

3.  Mountain rescue volunteers will roam the route in vehicles.

Medical

1. Each participant must fill in the medical form which the race doctor will go through.

2. If the participant knows of any precondition that they feel may have an effect on this medical examination, we strongly recommend that they bring this to our attention with their entry, to allow the race doctor to discuss this with them prior to the event.

3. Each 100Miler participant will have to undergo a medical examination at registration.

4. Anyone that the race doctor deems medically unfit on registration will not be allowed to participate in the event.

5. There will be medical staff on the route where the staff may briefly check participants.  If they feel that the participant is endangering themselves by continuing, the participant will be withdrawn from the event.

6. Any self-medication taken during the event must be declared and approved by the race doctor at registration. Any medication taken during the event that has not been approved by the doctor will result in disqualification. 

7.  A medical doctor and qualified medical nursing staff will roam the route.

8.  A 4x4 ambulance with two paramedics will roam the route. 

Objections

1. Objections against another participant will be regarded in a very serious light, so please report a contravention of any of the rules by another participant or participant’s supporters.  Be sure of the objection and complaint before lodging an objection.

Procedures for lodging an objection

1. If a participant witnesses a contravention to the rules by another participant, record the name and/or number of the participant breaking the rule.  Try to solicit a witness and take down the name and number of the witness.

2. Report the incident to the Check Point Captain at the next Check Point and give a brief description of what occurred, as well as the details of the witness.

3. Complete an objection form at the finish of the race before 12:15 on Sunday, 03 May 2009 and lodge the objection.  The fee for this is R50.00.  If the objection is valid the fee will be refunded.

Prize Giving

1. Prize-giving will be held at the Lapa at the Addo Elephant National Park Main Rest Camp at 14:00 on Sunday, 03 May 2008.  There is no prize money awarded for the Addo Elephant 100Mile, 50Mile and 25Mile Trail Run.

2. Trophies will be awarded to 1st, 2nd and 3rd Men’s finisher and 1st, 2nd and 3rd Ladies finisher for both the 100Miler and the 50Miler.

3. All the 100Miler finishers in under 30hrs will be awarded Belt Buckles. Each participant of the 100Miler who completes the event in less than 24hrs will receive a Silver Buckle and Belt, and each participant that finishes between 24hrs and 30hrs will receive a Bronze Buckle and Belt.  All participants in the 100Miler will receive a T-shirt. 

4. All the 50Miler finishers will be awarded hand-blown glass elephants made by Ngwenya Glass. All participants in the 50Miler will receive a T-shirt.