I. SAFETY FIRST
A. Safety for runners, crew members and supporters, race volunteers and the public is fundamental and drives most of the rules that follow. (Stay alert! Traffic is heavy and moves fast. Highway #1 is the only road connecting all the Keys.) 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. Except for sidewalks and service roads as directed on the Route Map, racers when on the road shoulders MUST run on the Ocean side of the highway FACING TRAFFIC. First time infraction 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, crew, volunteers, staff, and the general public. The roads are very busy and are not closed for this event. Always look both ways and listen before crossing the highway. Whenever possible, vehicles should always meet runners on the side of the road where they are running. Highway crossings on foot by runners and crew should be minimized.
II. RACER RULES AND REQUIREMENTS:
A. Pre-race check-in and meeting: Each racer must pick-up his/her race packet, including race number and tee shirt, as follows:
(1) 100-mile races—on Friday, May 14, between the hours of 5:00 PM and 7:00 PM, at a location in Key Largo to be announced. Immediately following check-in at 7:00 PM, there will be a, mandatory meeting for all 100-mile individual and relay racers. Any registered individual racer who 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 process. Crew members are invited and encouraged to attend. All relay team members are urged to attend in person, but one or more team members may represent the team and pick up all team member race packets.
(2) 50-mile race—on race morning, Saturday, May 15, between 8:30 AM and 9:30 AM, packet pick-up will be near the race start at Leigh Ann's Coffee Shop at 75th Street in Marathon. A mandatory meeting for all 50-mile racers will be held at that location at 9:30 AM, prior to the 10:00 start. As a courtesy, 50 mile racers are invited to the Friday evening check-in and meeting and may pick-up their race packets at that time.
B. Race Start: On race morning, all individual runners and a representative of each team must check-in with a race official at least 30 minutes prior to race start.
At 10 minutes before each race begins, all runners will be marshaled to the starting line. THE 100-MILE INDIVIDUAL AND RELAY RACES WILL BEGIN PROMPTLY AT 6:00 AM. THE 50-MILE RACE WILL BEGIN PROMPTLY AT 10:00 AM.
C. Race in progress--Runner:
(1) The race number must be worn on the front of the body, visible at all times during the race.
(2) Runners must progress under their own power without any type of physical assistance. Runners may not use walking sticks, ski poles, or the like.
(3) So-called "cooling vests" or other types of artificial / technological cooling systems may not be worn or utilized by race entrants.
(4) Between Sundown and Sunrise, racers and pacers must wear reflective material facing in all four directions, as well as blinking LED lights facing front and rear. Night-time gear may be bought at most local running stores or online at ZombieRunner.com.
(5) 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.
(6) 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 discouraged on the course, but will not be prohibited.
D. Race in progress--individual Support Crew, and the Uncrewed option:
(1) Each racer is encouraged to have his or her own personal support crew and vehicle; shared crews are allowed. Relay racing teams will function as their own support crew. Every crew member and volunteer participating in the KEYS100 MUST have fully completed and signed the race registration form and liability waiver available online or for completion manually.
In 2010 for the first time, individual runners will have the option to run without a support crew. When considering this option, runners are reminded of the extreme heat in the Keys in May. For the safety and health of competitors, proper hydration and controlling body temperature are vital. Choosing to race uncrewed must include a realistic plan to adequately meet these basic needs. At a minimum, that means carrying sufficient water or sports drink to cover ten-mile stretches between check points where water (and runner drop bags, if the runner so chooses,) will be available.
(2) Crew members may not carry an umbrella or shade cover for a runner.
(3) For the 100 mile race, pacers are allowed after the first 10 miles. Runners in the individual events may not be accompanied by more than one pacer at any given time except for the last 1/4 mile before the finish line. Crew members who are handing off supplies to the runner and/or pacer must be completely off the roadway at all times.
(4) Crews must comply with all race rules. Race management reserves the right to take action for racer or crew violations ranging from a warning to disqualification of the runner or team.
E. Check-in Stations and Cut-off times; all locations--i.e., Mile Markers ("MM")--are approximate:
(1) One hundred (100) mile racers must be checked-in at the official stations located at approximately Mile Marker 75 and Mile Marker 51 (where the 50-mile race begins). ALL runners must be checked-in at the Mile 25 Station and at the Finish Line. Limited water supplies will be available at each check-in station. In addition, individual uncrewed runners MUST be checked-in at each 10-mile checkpoint along the route AND meet each checkpoint cut-off time, as listed below.
The following time limits will apply for 100-mile individual runners and relay teams to reach the check-in stations:
Uncrewed 100-mile individuals only: check-in at MM90 no later than 9:00 AM on Saturday
Uncrewed 100-mile individuals only: check-in at MM80 no later than 12:00 noon on Saturday
All 100-mile runners and teams: After first 25 miles, check-in at MM75 no later than 2:00 PM on Saturday
Uncrewed 100-mile individuals only: check-in at MM70 no later than 4:00 PM on Saturday
Uncrewed 100-mile individuals only: check-in at MM60 no later than 7:00 PM on Saturday
All 100-mile runners and teams: After 50 miles, check-in at MM51 no later than 10:00 PM on Saturday
Uncrewed 100-mile individuals only: check-in at MM40 no later than 1:00 AM on Sunday
Uncrewed 100-mile individuals only: check-in at MM30 no later than 4:00 AM on Sunday
All 100-mile runners and teams: After 75 miles, check-in at MM25, no later than 6:00 AM on Sunday
Uncrewed 100-mile individuals only: check-in at MM20 no later than 8:00 AM on Sunday
Uncrewed 100-mile individuals only: check-in at MM10 no later than 11:00 AM on Sunday
All 100-mile runners and teams: Finish line at Smathers Beach—no later than 2:00 PM on Sunday, a total of thirty two (32) hours
Failure to make any of these cut-offs will be considered “DNF”—“Did Not Finish”.
(2) Fifty (50) mile racers must be checked-in at MM25 no later than 6:00 PM on Saturday, and must complete the race within sixteen (16) hours—i.e., before 2:00 AM on Sunday morning. Otherwise, the runner will be considered “DNF”—“Did Not Finish”. In addition, individual uncrewed 50-mile runners MUST be checked-in at each 10-mile checkpoint along the route AND meet each checkpoint cut-off time, as listed below. Limited water supplies will be available at each check-in station.
The following time limits will apply for 50-mile individual runners to reach the check-in stations:
Uncrewed 50-mile individuals only: check-in at MM40 no later than 1:00 PM on Saturday
Uncrewed 50-mile individuals only: check-in at MM30 no later than 4:00 PM on Saturday
All 50-mile runners and teams: After first 25 miles, check-in at MM25, no later than 6:00 PM on Saturday
Uncrewed 50-mile individuals only: check-in at MM20 no later than 8:00 PM on Saturday
Uncrewed 50-mile individuals only: check-in at MM10 no later than 11:00 PM on Saturday
All 50-mile runners: Finish line at Smathers Beach—no later than 2:00 AM on Sunday, a total of sixteen (16) hours
Failure to make any of these cut-offs will be considered “DNF”—“Did Not Finish”.
III. CREW/TEAM VEHICLES:
A. The support vehicle may be a car, SUV, minivan or full-size (15-passenger) van. Motor-homes, RVs or other types of oversize vehicles are not allowed to be used as primary support vehicles. Only one active support vehicle may be on the course at a time. Shuttle or other excess vehicles are only allowed on the course for short-term crew changes.
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 racer's name and race number, or Team name, 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 individual racer and race team will be provided by the race directors at Runner 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 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 by crew members on the ground; handing the runner supplies from the vehicle is never allowed. It is recommended that race vehicles stop no less frequenty than every couple of miles to check on the runner's safety and needs.
E. All support vehicles must have their headlights on whenever the engine is running, 24 hours a day.
F. Vehicles must be parked completely off the road surface whenever they are stopped. There are frequent places to pull off the road on public rights-of-way throughout the race course. No stopping is allowed on any of the bridges. Use the Route Map to help make "stop" decisions.
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