Trail Running

MEMBERSHIP of Trail WP.  Clubs and individuals are invited to sign up as members of the Trail Running Association of Western Province. There is no cost involved and the main purpose of membership is to facilitate correspondence between people interested in trail running. Please complete the membership form and email it to Trailwp@hotmail.co.za
A full calendar of trail events can be found on the website www.trailrunning.co.za

Most trail events are currently managed by private organizations, but there is increasing cooperation with WP Athletics in terms of calendar, rules and standards. WPA supports all initiatives to promote responsible behaviour, safety and organisational standards.

The following guidelines have been prepared by the Trail Running Association, working closely with WPA.

TRAIL RUNNING DEFINITION

Trail Running is:

1. Run on varied terrain, like hiking trails, jeep tracks and minor (gravel) roads. It may include beaches, dunes and mountains with no distinct path.
• 1a. Tar or hardpack road, if any, should be less than 10% of the route's total distance.
• 1b. Trail (hiking or single track) should be more than 10% of the event route.
2. Trail Running routes should be measured, but distances are unique to each event.
3. Trail Running routes may not necessarily be marked (kilometers or directional) and navigation may be required.
4. Trail Running events may have sections of steep incline and decline, including minor rock scrambling, using all fours to move up or down a section.
5. Trail Runners are ideally required to be self sufficient. Water tables and marshal support is not to be expected and not to be relied upon.

Rules and Guideline for All Trail Running Events

(In no particular order. Note: these are common to all events. Each event will have its own additional rules)

1. Recommended Compulsory Equipment

Runners that ignore the basics will inevitably rely on others, putting them at risk too. This requirement is for when things go wrong on the trail.

The bare minimum is seen as:

1. Water container, min 750ml litre capacity
2. Cellphone (waterproofed, charged with relevant numbers loaded)
3. ind proof or Waterproof jacket (not black bag)
4. First Aid and Personal medication as needed (asthma, painkillers)
5. Space Blanket
6. Whistle
7. Nutrition per organisers rules

2. Be Green / Eco Friendly

Employ Zero Tolerance attitude
By leaving no litter (including organisers marking, bunting etc)
No water containers (cups, sachets)
Organisers arrange a sweep for safety and trail clean up purposes.

3. Stay on the trail – it is the participants' responsibility to stay on the course and navigate the intended route. No short cuts or erosion creating moves

4. Restricted sections or obstacles should not create a significant bottleneck and thus hinder fair competition

5. Route info such as distance and elevation should be available to entrants.

6. All participants to sign an event indemnity form

7. No removal of race memorabilia, e.g. flora, fauna, rocks.

8. No Pets – specifically dogs on the route

9. Toilet – do calls of nature off the trail and do not leave bogroll flapping in the wind, it should be removed, i.e. placed in a ziplok bag (avoid burying).
Officially – defecating must be 50m off the trail, not near waterways and buried.

10. Withdrawal – it is the runners' responsibility to inform the race organisers of withdrawing.

11. Trail Runners Etiquette – be polite, no barging, keep to the left, pass right – the journey is more important than your racing time. Public hikers have right of way. Look after each other; you may need one another's help later.

12.Entrants should be suitably trained to take part in the event. Midway cut off times on the longer events should be enforced. The event organiser retains the right, at his / her discretion to remove any competitor from the course for health and safety reasons, at any point.

13. All events should have a medic (basic life support level) on standby for the duration of the event. Long events should have a mobile medic and a finish line medic.

14. Competitors, marshals and spectators are not permitted to smoke or light fires on the route.

15. Rules must be applied to all competitors fairly – e.g. lead runners to carry the same as rest of the field

16. Trail events may offer prize money and this places an onus on the organiser to ensure fair competition and possibly using an independent referee.

17. Events must adhere to landowner and local authority regulations – we would like to be allowed back again next year.

18. Runners should be identifiable with a numbering or other system, that is linked to their personal information