TRAIL rules.

1. Competitors must attend or read the compulsory race briefing for your race. Briefings will be posted on the website and sent out by email prior to race day. There will also be a race day briefing immediately prior to the start that will include current weather and trail conditions.

2. Athletes must follow the directions of event staff, medical team and course marshals at all times.

3. Competitors must adhere to the volunteer’s and marshal’s instructions at all times. 

4. All Race starts are self-seeding. Faster athletes are to place themselves towards the front in the start chute and those looking to take their time to place themselves further back.

5. Athletes must not permit someone else to compete under their name, or compete under someone else’s name. Violation of this rule will result in the suspension of both parties from competing in the Race in future years.

6. Competitors must keep to the marked course and not leave the trail. Short cuts are prohibited (including on any switchbacks). If the athlete becomes lost, the athlete should return to the last course marking seen.

7. Competitors should keep to the left of the course if being passed by another competitor. 

8. Competitors are in charge of knowing their own race course.

9. Athletes must follow all information signage, such as track closures, etc. Athletes should also observe all informational signage if training in the area prior to Race day. Certain parts of the course require special permission to gain access, all training must remain on publicly accessible areas and public land unless special permission has been granted prior.

10. The Race Director reserves the right to withdraw any competitor they feel is in distress and would not be capable of completing the event at any stage. 

11. If competitors do not reach certain check points by the designated cut off times they will be removed from the course and unable to finish the race. 

12. Athletes who withdraw from the Race (including those athletes required to withdraw under Rule 6) must do so at an aid station, unless assisted from the course by the Race medical team. To withdraw at an aid station, an athlete must notify event staff at the aid station and complete and sign the aid station withdrawal form.

13. Athletes requiring First Aid help on the course must use the phone numbers in their Participant Emergency Instructions (on the back of each athlete’s bib) to contact the event safety team who will arrange retrieval. Unauthorised persons (including Support Crews and/or Spectators) are not allowed to enter the course to collect athletes.

14. Athletes must not:

    - litter on course, at any Race venue or in any surrounding areas;
    - leave human faeces on the course or any track. Athletes who need to relieve themselves should either use a toilet, a wag bag or get well off the track and follow the ‘leave no trace’ principles;
    - smoke or light any fire on course or at any Race venue; and
    - take dogs on any part of the course (and, where the Race requires athletes to attend a National Park, anywhere in that National Park). Exceptions may apply for registered assistance/service dogs, please contact the Race organiser for details.

15. Athletes must leave gates as they are found. If closed, an athlete may open a gate to pass through but it is each athlete’s responsibility to close the gate behind them.

16. Athletes must respect the rights, dignity and worth of every individual at the Race including other athletes, staff, marshals, volunteers and spectators. Athletes must at all times act responsibly and maintain high standards of behaviour and language and must not discriminate against or harass any person on any grounds but in particular based on sex, sexual orientation, ethnicity, religion, ability or performance.

17. Only athletes registered in The Spectacle are able to officially take part in The Spectacle. 

18. Competitors should be kind and respectful to other competitors.

19. Please respect any private or public property adjacent to the race course both before and during the event (No sneaky toilet breaks on public or private land). Competitors must not, approach, or interfere with any stock. 

20. Competitors must remove all of their rubbish. If seen littering you will be disqualified. If you carry it in, you must carry it out or discard it at designated areas at aid stations.

21. Staff and medical vehicles will be moving through the course during the race. Please be respectful of this and move out of the way as quickly as possible. Normal road rules apply throughout, please move to the left and let faster traffic pass on the right. Be courteous to all participants. 

For the purposes of these Race Rules:

• Spectators are those athlete supporters who attend the Race to provide encouragement to their athlete and view the Race from areas that are publicly accessible. Spectators are not permitted to provide outside assistance in any distance of the Race. Spectators are permitted for all Race distances.

• Support Crew are those athlete supporters whose designated role on Race day is to provide outside assistance to their athlete at designated aid stations. Support Crew numbers are limited to the number of passengers in an athlete’s allocated Support Crew vehicle.

Support Crew are only permitted for the 50km, 100km and 100 mile Race distances. 

1. Spectators and Support Crew are not permitted to pace participating athletes unless they are one of two designated pacers allowed for the 100km and 100 mile (see Section 3 below for further detail on Pacers).

2. Spectators and Support Crew are not permitted to run on course with their athlete at any time, with the sole exceptions of:
   
   a. for the 50km, 100km and 100mile distances only, running the final section of the course (from where Trafalgar Street South meets the Christ Church Cathedral grounds to the base of the Christ Church Cathedral Steps) with their athlete or
   b. 100km and 100 mile distances only, running down the finish chute with their athlete.

Any Spectator or Support Crew member(s) intending to do so must:

a. corral themselves at the designated location where Trafalgar Street South meets the Christ Church Cathedral grounds or start of the finish chute (as relevant), shortly in advance of their athlete’s arrival;

b. when entering the course (incl the finish chute), follow all instructions of event staff and course marshals;

c. conduct themselves in a safe manner; and

d. do so at their own risk.

3. 10km and 21km only: Outside assistance is not permitted. This includes at aid stations, water points or any other location during the Race. Assistance from event staff is permitted.

4. 50km, 100km and 100 mile: Outside assistance from Support Crew is permitted, subject to the following rules:
   
   a. Support Crew assistance is only permitted at, or within 200m of, the aid stations specified on the Race website. Athletes must not receive outside assistance at any other points on the course. Assistance from event staff is permitted. Adaptive athletes who may require additional assistance can get in touch with the race organisers to arrange additional assistance in accordance with their specific needs.
   
   b. Each Athlete is responsible for the actions of their Support Crew.
   
   c. Support Crew must comply with all instructions from event staff and course marshals. Athletes may be penalised or disqualified for breaches of these Rules by their Support Crew.
   
   d. Support Crews must obey all road rules and drive within the speed limits. Please ensure that Support Crew get sufficient rest and are not tired when driving.
   
   e. Support Crews must follow the instructions of all event staff, course marshals and road traffic control.
   
   f. Support Crews must not eat the food provided at aid stations. Supplied food at aid stations is for athletes only.
   
   g. Where specified on the Race website, the number of Support Crew vehicles per athlete may be limited at particular aid stations (where parking or vehicular access is limited).
   
   h. Race organisers are not responsible for the safety or whereabouts of Support Crew.

   i. Support Crew must always conduct themselves in a safe manner, and do so at their own risk.

1. Pacers are not permitted for the 10km, 21km, and 50km.

2. 100km and 100 mile only: Athletes are permitted to use pacers, subject to the following rules:
   
   a. Pacers must register online, and must complete and sign the entry waiver.
   
   b. Pacers must wear a compulsory race bib number and must attend Athlete Check In to collect their bib. Pacer numbers will be clearly marked and correspond to the athlete they are pacing.
   
   c. Pacers must be aged 18 or over.
   
   d. Pacers must carry their own set of Pacer Mandatory Gear (as specified on the Race website).
   
   e. Pacers must only join their athletes on the course at the designated aid stations set out on the Race website. Pacers cannot meet their athlete at other locations or at intermediate points. Doing so will result in disqualification.
   
   f. Athletes may use up to two (2) pacers during the Race, but only one (1) pacer may be on the course with their athlete at a time. Pacers must change over at specified aid stations, at which time the outgoing pacer must hand over their pacer number to the next pacer.
   
   g. Pacers are responsible for their own transport.
   
   h. Pacers may not carry or provide their athlete any extra water, food or equipment unless prior permission has been granted by the race organiser in the case of adaptive athletes.
   
   i. With the exception of an emergency or medical situation, pacers cannot provide any material or physical assistance to their athletes.

Competitors are required to carry the gear listed in the mandatory gear lists for their event. This contains the minimum gear recommended to keep our athletes safe during The Spectacle. Mandatory gear will be randomly spot checked at the start line and throughout the course. See below for mandatory gear lists.

1. Trekking poles are permitted for the 10km, 21km, 50km, 100km, and 100 mile races, subject to the following rules:
   
   a. Trekking poles must be fully collapsible so they can either fit inside a running pack or be strapped to the outside of a running pack (and not protrude) when not in use. 
   
   b. Trekking poles must always be used in a safe manner so as not to affect the safety of others.

2. Athletes must ensure their bib number is visible at all times on the outside of their clothing and on the front of their body over the abdomen or chest. It must not be worn on pants or legs. Athletes must not cover their bib number with any backpack strap or article of clothing (such as thermal top, waterproof jacket (including see-through jackets) or, if mandatory, a high visibility safety vest. Athletes must not fold, cut or change their bib number in any way. It must be worn as is, unfolded.

3. Timing chips must be worn on your shoes at all times. If changing shoes during the event, it is up to the athlete to transfer the timing chip to the new shoes.

4. Headphones are not recommended, but are permitted for all trail races subject to the following rules:
   
   a. Athletes must ensure that using headphones will not impact their mobile phone battery to the extent that the mobile phone will not be able to be of use throughout the entire duration of the race.
   
   b. Athletes must switch off headphones, or lower the volume and use headphones in one ear only, when running on single track so that they can hear communication from other athletes attempting to pass and on any public roads so that they can hear approaching traffic.
   
   c. Athletes must switch off headphones at all aid stations so that instructions from event staff can be heard and followed.
   
   d. Athletes who choose to use headphones must do so in a safe and sensible manner and at a volume which still allows the athlete to remain aware of their surroundings.

5. Athletes must carry all Mandatory Gear specified for their Race Distance on the Race website (and must do so at all times during the Race).

6. Random gear checks will be performed during the Race. If the athlete is found not to be carrying a mandatory item/s, this could result in disqualification or time penalties.  
   
   Refusal to participate in a Mandatory Gear check will also result in disqualification. For on-course gear checks, any time penalty will be served at the location of the gear check so athletes will not be able to proceed on course until the time penalty is served. During this time, the athlete must arrange for the missing item(s) to be replaced or they will not be allowed to continue on course even after the time penalty has been served. Where an athlete is found to be missing any Mandatory Gear items in a subsequent gear check, the athlete may be disqualified. Where it is not feasible to serve a time penalty on course, the time penalty will be added to the athlete’s overall Race time. The time penalty will also be listed within the Race results spreadsheet.

7. Athletes should pay particular attention to any communications received from the Organiser in Race week indicating which weather dependent Mandatory Gear items are required to ensure they are aware of changes to any gear requirements.

The mandatory gear list contains the minimum gear recommended to keep our athletes safe during The Spectacle and in Nelson’s unpredictable weather systems, especially while summiting various peaks within the Richmond Ranges. If you would normally take additional gear on a run of this duration and over this terrain, please take it.

The course passes through remote sections of trail, where protection from the elements and medical/support services could be some time/distance from athletes needing assistance. It is therefore imperative that the mandatory gear is carried at all times.

Mandatory gear will be spot-checked before the race and those without the required gear will be unable to compete. Please thoroughly read the mandatory gear list for your race.

MANDATORY GEAR LIST:

• Mobile phone with race directors mobile number saved to contacts

• Map (The course is subject to slight variation. The accurate GPX files will be uploaded and sent to each participant in advance of the race for you to download onto your watch or phone. GPX file here)

• Two long sleeve thermal top e.g merino or polypropylene

• Full length thermal tights e.g merino or polypropylene (or alternatively a pair of waterproof over-trousers)

• Seam-sealed waterproof jacket with hood

• Thermal beanie & gloves e.g merino, fleece or polypropylene (a thermal Buff tubular is accepted, if you know how to tie it as a beanie)

• A survival bag - a bag not blanket - you must be able to get inside the bag

• Whistle

• Head torch (and spare batteries if you expect you will need them based on your race and pace)

• Backpack or running vest capable of carrying all of the mandatory gear

• A minimum carrying capacity of 1L of water - this can be bottles, soft flasks or a hydration pack

• First aid kit (minimum; bandage, strapping tape, pain killers, antihistamine)

These must be worn or carried for the duration of the race unless advised otherwise prior to the race.

WEATHER

Competitors will be advised whether all of the mandatory gear listed must be carried on the day. Based on the expected weather and track conditions, you may not need it all, however we encourage you to plan to need to carry it all and practice this in your training.