The race SFAKIA VERTICAL RUN 2023 will take place on Sunday 29 October 2023.
Athletes will gather on Sunday, October 29, 2023, in the port of Chora Sfakia. Athletes must be at the port at 08:30 in the morning, and will have until 10:00am to sign in with the race secretariat and receive their bib number and race packet.
Participants, upon receipt of their number, will be able to leave a drop bag which will be available to them at the finish line in Anopolis.
At 10:00am the race secretariat will close and there will be a race briefing for all participants after which, at 10:20am all athletes will board the ship as indicated to go to Loutro, Sfakia. The race will start at10:50with the opening of the ship’s doors.
1. Participation
The participation limit is set at 250 athletes. Registration will open on Monday 3 July 2023 and will end on Tuesday 24 October 2023 at 23:59.
Athletes, men and women, aged 18 and over, are admitted, while underage athletes can participate with a signed declaration from their parents.
All interested parties are invited to complete the electronic registration form which will be available through the race website on 10th August 2023.
2. Facilities
The organization of the race will provide athletes with:
- Race number.
- Electronic timing.
- Medical Support.
- Free transfer of athletes by ferry from Chora Sfakia to Loutro.
- Pre-start race snack.
- Two water supply stations.
- Lunch after the race.
- Return from Anopolis to Chora Sfakia by means of transport arranged by the event, after the end of the race.
- Athlete bag with souvenirs and other gifts. (Note: Athletes who choose to register on the day of the race at the secretariat should be aware that they may not receive an athlete’s bag with full gifts).
3. Categories
A prerequisite for the award of a category is the participation of 6 or more athletes , otherwise it rolls into the next one. The categories will be:
Men’s and Women’s General
Men 18 to 39, 40-49, 50-59, 60+.
Women 18 to 39, 40-49, 50-59, 60+.
Youth- Youth 18- (an award).
4. Compliance
Registration to participate in the race requires full acceptance of the regulations. Athletes are required to submit the declaration of responsibility to be distributed to the race secretariat.
Athletes who compete should understand that they are moving in mountainous, stone and rough terrain, and they will be exposed to the weather conditions prevailing on the specific day of the race.
Athletes are obliged to fully respect the regulations described below. They are also obliged to obey the instructions of the judges of the race. Failure to comply with the regulations or recommendations shall always be subject to the penalty of exclusion.
The judges of the race, when they perceive violations of the regulations, record them and inform the offenders. Any other authorized person from the event may also record any infringement which is coming to his attention and submit it for consideration to the race committee.
5. MOVEMENT ON TRAIL
Athletes are obliged to move on the path without forming teams that extend in width, thus preventing athletes who would like to overtake. When an athlete is notified that he or she has to step aside to overtake, he or she must remain on the uphill (inner) side of the slope. The presence of dogs that may accompany some athletes is prohibited
5. a) ROUTE MARKING
The marking of the route is defined by markers showing the correct course of the athlete as well as arrows in orange color. The purpose of the event is not to have any doubt of the competitor as to whether he is moving within the route drawn.
6. Payment
- The registration is considered complete only when payment is made.
IMPORTANT INFORMATION
- After the bank deposit and from 1 0 October 2023, it will not be possible to get a refund for any reason.
- Each participation is unique for each athlete and there fore cannot be transferred to another.
7. OBLIGATIONAL EQUIPMENT
There is no mandatory equipment for athletes. The use of poles is recommended due to the steep climbs of the route, as well as the use of a hat.
8. SUMMARY OF TRADE
The shortcutting (cut – short) of the route is prohibited and punished by exclusion. Each competitor is responsible and is obliged to carefully monitor the warning signs on specific sections of the path, which indicate a prohibited cut/path.
9. CONTROL POINTS
The only checkpoint is located at the bell in the chapel of Agia Ekaterini.
10. EXCLUSION TIME LIMITS
For the safety and smooth flow of the event, there will be a time limit of exclusion at the refueling point and set at 1 hour from the start time. The athletes will stay there and board a 4×4 for the square of Anopolis.
11. LITTER
It is strictly forbidden to dispose of any kind of objects along the route, such as plastic bottles or any other solid or liquid food packaging material consumed by athletes during the race. A special plastic garbage bag is available at each power station. All athletes are required to throw trash into the bag. Disposal of packaging materials or other non-organic waste at any point along the route beyond the prescribed shall be a penalty of exclusion.
12. MODIFICATION OF ROUTE / REVIEW
If necessary (extremely dangerous weather conditions), the Organizers reserve the right to modify the route or even postpone the start for a short time in order not to endanger the physical integrity of the athletes.
13. RESPONSIBILITY
The Commission is not responsible for the death, injury or any damage to the health of the contestants, who, by submitting the application to participate, declare that they are aware of the risks in the mountain environment and confirm that their state of health is good and allow them to compete, and have recently been examined by a doctor for this matter. However, no athlete will be required to provide a medical certificate. Athletes themselves are required to carry out regular medical preventive checks in order to check their state of health. The Commission disclaims all responsibility for the physical integrity of athletes, who should behave responsibly at points along the way where the risk of falling with unpleasant or fatal results is increased.
14. Insurance
The Event does not insure participating athletes. Insurance Companies do not undertake group insurance for outdoor activities with a high degree of risk for obvious reasons. It is at the discretion of each athlete to carry out at another time an individual life insurance contract, covering – if possible – the case of an accident under the conditions of a mountain endurance race.
If there is an issue on the day that is not covered by the rules, the race committee will decide on the day
