RULES
RACE FORMAT 比賽形式
THE 9 DRAGONS ULTRA consists of two long distance events. The first event, the 50 Miler, (89.4km approximately) crosses Kowloon and the New Territories in Hong Kong from west to east. The route uses a variety of trail including the Maclehose and Wilson Trails. The race starts in Yuen Long at Po Leung Kuk Jockey Club Tai Tong Holiday Camp, and finishes in Tai Po. The race has an accumulative vertical of 5,070m.
The second event, The 50Km, (54.1km) runs through the New Territories and finishes in Kowloon. It runs from North to South. The route uses a variety of trail including some of the Wilson and Maclehose Trail. The race has an accumulative vertical of 3,730m.
THE 9 DRAGONS ULTRA will take place on the weekend of the 14th to the 16th of February 2024. The 50 mile event will begin at 23:59 on Friday 16th of February and the cutoff is at 21:00pm on Saturday 15th February. The 50 kilometer event will begin at 07:30am on Sunday 16th February and the cutoff will be at 20:00pm on the same day.
The opening date of registration for the THE 9 DRAGONS ULTRA will be social media platforms. There is a limit in the number of racing participants. In total, on the trail at any one time, there will be 500 runners. These will be split over the three events: 50/50, 50 Miles, 50 Kilometres.
ESSENTIAL RULES
Absolutely no littering anywhere on course or leaving aid stations. Littering is grounds for disqualification and will be strictly enforced. Hold your trash until you find an appropriate receptacle. If you find trash from others on course, please pick it up and throw it away.
You must follow the trail as it is marked. STAY ON TRAIL!
No vehicle pacing. No bicycle pacing. No human pacing. No dog pacing. NO PACERS.
No aid is allowed from moving vehicles or from runners on the course. Crews are only allowed at aid stations. Any runner using a crew out side of the aid station will be disqualified and this will be strictly enforced.
You may not stash supplies along the course in advance.
No vehicle shall follow a runner assisting with headlights.
Any runner dropping out of the race must immediately notify aid station personnel as the next available opportunity AND call the Race Director or Race Manager! (numbers are on the back of your bib and in the runner’s pack).
Any runner accepting a ride for any reason is deemed out of the race and may not reenter.
Cutoff times are non-negotiable.
All runners will abide by the directions of the medical personnel.
Where required to run on roads, please run facing oncoming traffic.
DO NOT play music via bluetooth or phone speakers for the rest of the world to hear. If you want to listen to music, use headphones, at a level that you can hear people asking to pass you on trail.
Don’t short cut. Seriously, just don’t. Don’t even think about it. We will know, we will name and shame and we will not invite you back.
Violation of any rule will be grounds for disqualification. Race management reserve the right to bar any runner from competing in this and any future RaceBase events.
The race management’s decision on any disqualification is final.
MANDATORY EQUIPMENT
50 Miles and 50 Kilometres
Hydration pack or water bottles with a capacity for at least a litre of liquid.
Race bib number visible during the entire duration of the race.
Emergency blanket.
Whistle.
Cell phone (switched on!).
Waterproof anorak with hood.
Appropriate clothing pending the weather.
Hat or bandana.
Headlamp with spare batteries.
Back up light.
Cup, or water bottle (there are no glasses at the refreshment points).
Appropriate footwear.
SUPPORT
THE 9 DRAGONS ULTRA is fundamentally a race true to the spirit of semi-self sufficiency. 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 course. Therefore in the spirit of fairness and to ensure an equal playing field to all starting the race, the organisers will penalise or disqualify runners for any transgression of the following:
Accepting any form of mobile support along the route, eg: pacing or muling.
Not carrying on your person at all times the full set of mandatory gear.
You are not allowed to accept any support outside of the designated Aid Station areas from crew. Race participants 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.
Race participants may run, walk or crawl, but may not make use of any motorized or wheeled vehicles during the race.
You must make forward progress exclusively under your own power. Carrying, pulling or pushing by members of the public is prohibited.
SAFETY
If you become immobile and need to consult with a medic you will need to take the following steps:
Initially use your first aid kit, stay warm, dry and be visible.
Phone the emergency number located on your race bib, you will be asked your race number, name and location and help will be sent.
If there is no cell reception:
Wait for an assisting participant who will find the nearest marshal or staff member to make contact with race HQ.
A medical and/or rescue team may be dispatched to your location depending on the severity of the injury.
You will either be treated and allowed to continue, or be treated and evacuated off the route to the nearest medical asset by ambulance - or, in case of high priority helicopter evacuation may be used.
DNF (Did Not Finish) : Should you need to drop out of the race, you will need to continue to the nearest CP along the marked route and inform the station captain. NOTE: If you are not sure who that is 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. If you leave the course and fail to notify race officials, you will be banned from participating in the future (unless assisted from the course by First Aid crews). It is your responsibility to get back to the start/finish area if you need to collect a drop bag. If you are injured and cannot, we will arrange for your bag to be delivered to you. DNF (Did Not Finish)
Runners are to have their mandatory equipment 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.
Racers must follow the marked course route the entire way and register at each aid station/timing checkpoint.
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.
THE 9 DRAGONS ULTRA has several intermediate and race finish cut-off times that will be strictly enforced. You must obey directions of marshals if you miss any time cut-offs.
ENVIRONMENT
ANY littering on the course is strictly prohibited. Race participants are responsible for making sure that anything they discard of goes into a bin. Strictly adhere to the “Leave no trace and take no souvenirs” policy. Anyone reported to have been littering by other teams or volunteers along the course will be disqualified and banned from any future RaceBase events.
Yield 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.
Do not take shortcuts, including cutting down any switchbacks. Stay on trail.
No overtaking by going off trail. Wait until there is adequate and safe space to do so.
If you deliberately ignore customary rules of conduct on the trail, road or checkpoints, especially concerning safety, waste, erosion and hygiene – you will at best incur a time penalty, and at worst it will be grounds for disqualification and even a lifetime ban from future events.
EVENT CONSIDERATIONS
As a 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 with you all the necessary equipment. Runners should be able to complete the race in a semi-autonomous manner in terms of: food and drink, clothing and safety. This requires an ability to adapt and face expected or unexpected problems (bad weather, physical ailments, injury, etc.)
THE 9 DRAGONS ULTRA takes place on some very rugged, single-track hiking trails. Running on such trails comes with inherit 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.
RESULTS
Preliminary results will be available immediately on the timing website. Final results (with any corrections) will be posted on this website within a few days of the race.
Racers 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.
VOLUNTEERS
Volunteers are the backbone to any race. 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? Please get in touch.
INSURANCE
The organiser, RaceBase Asia 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.