I. SAFETY FIRST
A. Safety for runners, race volunteers and the public is fundamental and drives most of the rules that follow. (Stay alert! When running on road shoulders, you will be sharing the road with bicycles, vehicular traffic and other runners.) Respect for the environment and the privacy and property of people who live along the race route round out these rules. Everyone will be expected to take each of them seriously and to display courtesy, good taste and sportsmanship at all times. Leave no footprint behind; carry all trash and recyclables with you and dispose of appropriately. Thanks for your understanding and cooperation.
B. The Vast majority of PALM100 will be run on sidewalks. These may be located on either side of the roadway. The Route Map & Notes will specify which sidewalks are to be used during the race. In those areas of the course where running is on the road shoulder, or in a bike lane, or on the road, itself, racers MUST RUN on the side of the road FACING TRAFFIC. First time infraction of this rule receives warning; 2nd time is AUTOMATIC DISQUALIFICATION. No exceptions.
C. Remember, at all times and in all situations, safety is most important. This applies to racers, volunteers, staff, and the general public. The roads are not closed for this event and are, in fact, quite busy with tourist and local traffic. Always look and listen both ways before crossing the road. Vehicles should meet runners on the side of the road where they are running when possible. Unnecessary road crossings by runners should be minimized.
D. Teams will decide the length of each running “leg”. However, good discretion will be expected for the safety of all involved. For example, there will be no changes of runners on bridges. No changes of runners should occur on stretches of road with no sidewalk and little or no shoulder. Examples are Hillsborough Mile and the .8 mile section of Ocean Ridge just prior to Manalapan. Use the “Route Map & Notes” to help identify these sections, and make adjustments hand-off locations as necessary to insure a safe process.
II. RACER RULES AND REQUIREMENTS:
A. Pre-Race Check-in and Meeting: Each racer or team representative must pick-up his/her race packet, including race number and tee shirt, on Friday, March 26, between the hours of 5:00 PM and 7:00 PM, at a location in Fort Lauderdale to be announced. Immediately following check-in at 7:00 PM, there will be a short, mandatory meeting for all team captains. All relay team members are encouraged, but required, to attend in person. Team representatives will be conveying all rules and notices discussed at the meeting to team members who were not in attendance. Any registered team that is unable to attend the meeting must notify Race Director Bob Becker in advance to make alternate arrangements. No one will be allowed to race who has not participated in this orientation process.
B. Race Start: On race morning, all team captains must check-in at the starter's table at least 30 minutes prior to race start.
At 5-10 minutes before the race begins, the first runner from each team will be marshaled to the starting line. THE RELAY RACE WILL BEGIN PROMPTLY AT 6:00 AM.
C. Race In Progress–Runner:
- The race number must be worn on the front of the body, VISIBLE at all times during the race.
- Runners must progress under their own power without any type of physical assistance. Runners may not use walking sticks, ski poles, or the like.
- So-called "cooling vests" or other types of artificial / technological cooling systems may not be worn or utilized by race entrants.
- After sundown if still on the course, racers must wear reflective material facing in all four directions, as well as blinking LED lights facing front and rear. Racers are encouraged, but not required, to wear reflective material during the day as well. Night-time gear may be bought at most local running stores or online at ZombieRunner.com.
- Cell phones: Racers will be permitted to carry cell phones, but these are to be used for emergency and logistical use only. For safety reasons, no casual cell phone conversations will be permitted on the course. Walkie-talkies also work well to keep racer and crew in touch.
- Headphones, ear-phones, i-Pods and the like: This continues to be a controversial topic among race rule-makers and competitors. These devices can impede the ability to hear the runner's surroundings and are, therefore, a potential safety hazard. For safety reasons, such equipment is strongly discouraged on the course, but will not be prohibited.
D. Race In Progress:
- Teams are self-sufficient and will function as their own support crew.
- After sundown, pacers will be allowed to accompany the active runner, but must adhere to the same rules as racers regarding reflective gear, cell phones and I-pods. Pacers must be running or walking only. Bicycles, skateboards, etc., are not allowed. Team members who hand off supplies to the active runner must be completely off the roadway at all times. No team may hand off supplies to the active runner from a vehicle.
E. Check-in Stations and Cut-off times:
- Active runners must be checked-in at the official stations located at approximately Mile 30, in Delray Beach, at the turn in West Palm Beach, at the station in Delray Beach at approximately mile 80 on the return and at the Finish Line.Limited emergency water supplies will be available at each check-in station.
- The following time limits will apply to reach the check-in stations:
- First check-in at Anchor Park, Delray Beach, at Mile 31.3, no later than 12:00 noon.
- Turn-around at Currie Park in West Palm Beach, no later than 4:30 PM.
- Third check-in at Anchor Park, Delray Beach, at approximately mile 80, no later than 9:00 PM
- Finish-no later than 2:00 AM on Sunday
- Failure to make the respective cut-offs will be considered "DNF"-"Did Not Finish". Teams have 20 hours to complete the race, but must ALSO meet each of these scheduled cut-off times.
III. TEAM VEHICLES:
A. Each team will be allowed one active team vehicle on the course. The team vehicle may be an SUV, minivan or full-size, 15-passenger van (recommended). Motor-homes, RVs limousines and other types of vehicles longer than 22 feet are not allowed.
B. All race vehicles must meet the minimum requirements of property damage and personal injury liability automobile insurance for the state of Florida. All vehicle drivers must be fully licensed.
C. All support vehicles must have their team name visible on both sides of the vehicle at a minimum and team number easily visible on all four sides of the vehicle. Home-made signs, letters made from contrasting-color tape or magnetic, reflective, professionally made signs are all acceptable as long as they are adequately visible. In addition, all race vehicles must have a highly visible sign on the back of the vehicle stating "CAUTION: RUNNERS ON ROAD". One sign per race team will be provided by the race director at pre-race Check-In. Magnetic, reflective, professionally made signs for this purpose may be ordered from your local sign shop instead, if you wish.
D. Vehicles will "leap-frog" the active runner along the race route. Racers may not be "shadowed" (driving a vehicle at the runner's speed) and vehicles must not "caravan" at any speed. Driving must be done at the speed of traffic, never slowing down to encourage, talk to, or lend assistance to any racer while moving. All assistance must be provided on the ground; handing the runner supplies from the vehicle is never allowed. It is recommended that race vehicles stop once during legs exceeding three miles to check on the runner's safety and needs.
E. All support vehicles must have their headlights on whenever the engine is running during the entire race.
F. Vehicles must be parked completely off the road surface whenever they are stopped, and in a manner that does not force other runners to avoid it by stepping into the road, for example. Do not block bike lanes at any time. If there is no room to completely pull off the road, find a side street. DO NOT PARK ON PRIVATE PROPERTY AT ANY TIME. There are frequent places to pull off the road along the race course. Use "Route Map and Notes" to help make "stop" decisions.
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