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EVENT RULES & INFORMATION

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Age Limits

 
All runners must be 18 years or older to enter the EX23km and 20 years or older to enter the TM35, PT55, UT100 or UTCT 100 miler. 

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Support

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RMB Ultra-trail Cape Town® is fundamentally a race true to the spirit of semi-self sufficiency. We value the camaraderie that comes from seconding crews who support the runners through their extraordinary feats of endurance. However, it is our position that no runner shall benefit over another because they have a seconding crew in place to expedite the runners' passage over the race route. Therefore in the spirit of fairness and to ensure an equal playing field for all starting the race, we will penalise or disqualify runners for any transgression of the following:

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• Accepting any form of mobile support along the route, e.g. pacing or muling.

• Not carrying the complete set of Compulsory Gear at all times, including a 300ml reserve of water at all times.

• Switching of running packs by seconding teams is NOT allowed. Start with one pack and carry it for the entire duration of your race. Your timing chip is attached to your running pack; it CAN'T be removed and must be visible to the RMB Ultra-trail Cape Town® crew at all times. 

• Runners are not allowed to accept any support from their crew outside the designated Aid Station areas. 

• Runners may take as much food and beverage as needed from each Aid Station provided by the organiser. Race participants will not be allowed to take any bottles, cans or cups from these areas and should plan on carrying and refilling their own hydration systems at the Aid Stations.

• Runners may run, walk or crawl, but may not make use of any motorised or wheeled vehicles during the race. If a runner goes off the marked course for any reason, they must make their way back onto the course on foot. 

• Runners must make forward progress exclusively under their own power. Carrying, pulling or pushing by other racers or members of the public is prohibited.

• Runners who choose to use poles must carry these on them at all times, from start to finish. Poles cannot be discarded, stashed or given to crew for keeping. Please be conscious of those around you when using poles.

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​​Environment

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The mountain trails have been preserved by many people ahead of our Event, so please take care of the trails and surrounds nd leave them pristine for those who come afterwards. 

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• Any littering on the course is strictly prohibited. Runners are responsible for ensuring that anything they discard goes into a bin. Strictly adhere to the “leave no trace and take no souvenirs” policy.

• Never scare animals – give extra room and announce your presence appropriately to prevent possible dangerous situations (horses, baboons etc.). Follow directions from horse riders and don’t use loud and startling noises. If any animal is purposely scared or disturbed, it will be grounds for disqualification.

• Yield on the trail by respecting other trail users (i.e. recreational users and residents) when passing – be aware of blind spots and slow down when you need to.

• Follow the marked course. Shortcuts, including avoiding switchbacks, are not permitted.

• No overtaking by going off the trail. Wait until there is adequate space to pass another runner. 

• If you deliberately ignore customary rules of conduct of the trail, road and checkpoints – especially concerning safety, waste, erosion and hygiene – you will at best incur a time penalty; at worst it will be grounds for disqualification.

• No pets allowed.​

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Food & Drink

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• Participants may take as much food and beverage as needed from each aid station provided by the organizer. You will not be allowed to take any bottles, cans or cups from these areas and should plan on carrying and refilling your hydration systems at the aid stations.

• We are a cupless race and carrying your own cup is compulsory. 

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Cut-off times

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• RMB Ultra-trail Cape Town® has several intermediate and race finish cut-off times that will be strictly enforced. Cut-offs are in place to ensure that the Medical/Search and Rescue teams can deploy to various parts of the route and ensure that the organisation meets the permit conditions of the Event.

• To be allowed to continue with your race, you must depart the checkpoint before the time barrier, regardless of the time of arrival at the checkpoint.

• You must obey the marshals if you miss any time cut-offs. You can find the cut-off times under our Route Info section.​​​

 

 

GENERAL

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• DNF (Did Not Finish): Should you need to drop out of the race, you will need to continue to the nearest Aid Station along the marked course and inform the station captain. NOTE: If you are not sure who that is, please ask around until you find them - this is your responsibility. If you are unable to continue the medical team will communicate this to Race HQ.

• Receiving an IV drip from the Event Medical Crew will automatically disqualify you and you will not be allowed to continue in the race. 

• Runners are to have their Compulsory Gear with them at all times during the race. Random gear checks will be performed during the event. Penalties ranging from time penalties to disqualification will be applied based on the severity of the breach.

• Runners must follow the marked course the entire way and register at each Aid Station/Timing Point.

• Runners may not participate using a race bib belonging to another runner. Both runners will be disqualified from the race and will be banned from all future Summit Event races if they are caught.

• Your race number must be visible at all times on the outside of your clothing and on the front of your body. Do not cover your race number with any article of clothing. We recommend using a race belt.

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Timing & Recording

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You will be electronically recorded at points along the route. You may not skip these points and will have to present yourself at each Timing Point for recording. Your progress will be available on our live tracking system via the website on race day.

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Bag Service

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We will provide a supervised bag storage service to all participants for free. Please drop your bag off at the designated Bag Service area on your specific race day. The organisers cannot be held liable for any losses. 

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Drop Bags (100 miler and 100km only)​

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• You will be issued your own Event Drop Bag and ID tag at Registration. Please check it in at the main marquee tent for transport to the HOUT BAY(100km) & SIMONSTOWN (100 miler) Aid Station on the morning of the race. 

• You can place extra nutrition and a change of clothes/shoes/etc. in this Drop Bag. No valuables are to be placed in your Drop Bag. 

• Your Drop Bag will be brought back to the finish for collection. Times to be confirmed closer to Race Week.

• Any bags not collected during Race Week will be donated to charity. No bag will be shipped back to participants.

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Lost and Found

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Any personal items left after the race will be donated to a charity or to other local runners in need. We will not ship items to you.

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Results

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Preliminary results will be available immediately on the website. Final results (with any corrections) will be posted on this website within a few days of the race.
 

• Runners wishing to make a protest must notify the race command centre within 60 minutes of finishing the race.

• Protests will be considered by a three-person committee consisting of the race director and two independent third parties.

• Decisions of the committee are final.

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Volunteers

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Volunteers are the backbone of the race week. As participants, please show your appreciation for their efforts to help you finish the race by thanking and giving a smile to our volunteers. We are always looking for volunteers. Do you have friends or family that may want to volunteer? Learn more by visiting our Volunteer page on the website.
 

Insurance

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The organiser Summit Events Pty Ltd has public liability insurance cover. This does not include personal accident insurance for competitors. We recommend that you arrange your own personal accident insurance, ambulance cover and income protection insurance before participating in the Event to cover any unforeseen personal costs you may incur due to ambulance trips, medical expenses or time off work due to injuries sustained whilst participating in the Event. International participants should take out travel insurance that provides cover for ultra-trail running events.

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Safety Considerations

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As an RMB Ultra-trail Cape Town® participant, you are responsible for yourself and should know the rules and regulations of the race. You need to be able to clearly evaluate your mental and physical abilities. You need to be sufficiently trained and keep all the necessary equipment with you. Runners should be able to complete the race in a semi-autonomous manner in terms of food, drink, clothing and safety. This requires an ability to adapt and face expected or unexpected problems (darkness, bad weather, physical ailments, injury, etc.). 
 
The Event takes place on extremely rugged, single-track hiking trails. Running on such trails comes with inherent risks that runners accept upon entering the event. Runners will be in remote areas where help is not always nearby for extended periods and need to be prepared accordingly in cases of emergency. 
 
In addition to trail conditions, other potential dangers include but are not limited to wet/slippery trail conditions (mud, roots and rocks), wet/slippery boardwalks and bridges, bees/bee stings, road crossings and steep drop-offs/cliffs. Caution must be taken with regard to personal safety and incidents of crime. While highly unlikely that such incidents will occur, we recommend partnering up along the route.

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EMERGENCIES​

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If you leave the race route and fail to notify race officials, you will be banned from participating in the future (unless assisted from the course by First Aid crews). We will provide a shuttle service back to the start/finish but cannot guarantee the frequency of the service. We recommend you put somebody on standby or call for a taxi.

 

If you become immobile and need to consult with a medic, you will need to take the following steps:
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STEP 1: Initially, use your first aid kit, stay warm, dry and be visible, and remain on the marked course.
​STEP 2: Trigger the emergency help button via the MYSOS app (pre-installed on your Phone), which will trigger your location to Search and Rescue.
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Phone the emergency number located on your race number; you will be asked your race number, name and location​. Help will be sent on its way.
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IF THERE IS NO CELL RECEPTION
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STEP 1: Initially, use your first aid kit, stay warm, dry and be visible, and remain on the marked course.
​STEP 2: Attempt to trigger the emergency help button via the MYSOS app regardless (pre-installed on your Phone). A delayed signal may be found which will trigger your location to Search and Rescue Teams. 
​​STEP 3: Wait for an assisting participant who will find and alert the nearest marshal or staff member who will make contact with Race HQ.
​​STEP 4: A medical and rescue team will be dispatched to your location.
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You will either be treated and allowed to continue or be evacuated off the route to the nearest medical asset by ambulance or, in life-threatening situations, by helicopter.

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