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, 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. Vehicles should always attempt to meet runners on the side of the road where they are running. Highway crossings on foot by runners and crew should be minimized.  Note: BIKES ARE NOT ALLOWED AT ANY TIME.

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 the new Murray E. Nelson Government and Cultural Center, 102050 Overseas Highway, Key Largo, at approxmately Mile Marker 102, Bay side. 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 Directors 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 the Team Captain 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 an alternative, 50 mile racers may attend the Friday evening meeting for 100-milers in Key Largo and pick up their race packets there.

B. Race Start: On race morning, all individual runners and Team Captains must check-in at the starter’s table 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.  Runners not properly displaying race numbers will be stopped until the situation is corrected.  First infraction receives warning; second infraction disqualifies runner or team.

(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 purposes. 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:

(1) Each racer in the crewed races will have his or her own personal support crew and vehicle, although shared crews will be allowed. Relay racing teams will generally function as their own support crew. Every crew member and volunteer participating in the KEYS100 MUST have fully completed and signed the race participation form and liability waiver available online or for completion manually.

(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.  BIKES ARE NOT ALLOWED AT ANY TIME.

(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 racers must CHECK-IN at ALL official stations for your event by the cut-off times.

PLEASE REFER TO THE SECTION SPECIFICALLY FOR YOUR EVENT!
CREWED 100 MILE INDIVIDUAL ULTRAMARATHON
UN-CREWED 100 MILE INDIVIDUAL ULTRAMARATHON
CREWED 50 MILE INDIVIDUAL ULTRAMARATHON
UN-CREWED 50 MILE INDIVIDUAL ULTRAMARATHON
SIX RUNNER 100 MILE TEAM RELAY

All Mile Markers ("MM") are approximate:

A. CREWED 100 MILE INDIVIDUAL ULTRAMARATHON
CREWED 100 Mile racers must be checked-in at all FOUR official stations. Limited water supplies will be available at each check-in station.

CREWED 100 Mile Check-in Stations and Cut-off Time Limits

1. 25 mile Check-in at MM75 No later than 2:00 PM on Saturday
2. 50 mile Check-in at MM51 No later than 10:00 PM on Saturday
3. 75 mile Check-in at MM25 No later than 6:00 AM on Sunday
4. Finish Line at Smathers Beach  No later than 2:00 PM on Sunday, within thirty-two (32) hours of Start

Failure to check-in or make any of these cut-offs will be considered “DNF”—“Did Not Finish”.

B. UN-CREWED 100 MILE INDIVIDUAL ULTRAMARATHON
UN-CREWED 100 Mile racers must be checked-in at all TWELVE official stations.  Water will be available at each check-in station.

UN-CREWED 100 Mile Check-in Stations and Cut-off Time Limits

1. 10 mile Check-in at MM90 No later than 9:00 AM on Saturday
2. 20 mile Check-in at MM80 No later than 12:00 noon on Saturday
3. 25 mile Check-in at MM75 No later than 2:00 PM on Saturday
4. 30 mile Check-in at MM70 No later than 4:00 PM on Saturday
5. 40 mile Check-in at MM60 No later than 7:00 PM on Saturday
6. 50 mile Check-in at MM51 No later than 10:00 PM on Saturday
7. 60 mile Check-in at MM40 No later than 1:00 AM on Sunday
8. 70 mile Check-in at MM30 No later than 4:00 AM on Sunday
9. 75 mile Check-in at MM25 No later than 6:00 AM on Sunday
10. 80 mile Check-in at MM20 No later than 8:00 AM on Sunday
11. 90 mile Check-in at MM10 No later than 11:00 AM on Sunday
12. Finish Line at Smathers Beach  No later than 2:00 PM on Sunday, within thirty-two (32) hours of Start

Failure to check-in or make any of these cut-offs will be considered “DNF”—“Did Not Finish”.

C. CREWED 50 MILE INDIVIDUAL ULTRAMARATHON
CREWED 50 Mile racers must be checked-in at BOTH official stations. Limited water supplies will be available at each check-in station.

CREWED 50 Mile Check-in Stations and Cut-off Time Limits

1. 25 mile Check-in at MM25 No later than 6:00 PM on Saturday
2. Finish Line at Smathers Beach  No later than 2:00 AM on Sunday, within sixteen (16) hours of Start

Failure to check-in or make either of these cut-offs will be considered “DNF”—“Did Not Finish”.

D. UN-CREWED 50 MILE INDIVIDUAL ULTRAMARATHON
UN-CREWED 50 Mile racers must be checked-in at all SIX official stations. Water will be available at each check-in station.

UN-CREWED 50 Mile Check-in Stations and Cut-off Time Limits

1. 10 mile Check-in at MM40 No later than 1:00 PM on Saturday
2. 20 mile Check-in at MM30 No later than 4:00 PM on Saturday
3. 25 mile Check-in at MM25 No later than 6:00 PM on Saturday
4. 30 mile Check-in at MM20 No later than 8:00 PM on Saturday
5. 40 mile Check-in at MM10 No later than 11:00 PM on Saturday
6. Finish Line at Smathers Beach No later than 2:00 AM on Sunday, within sixteen (16) hours of Start

Failure to check-in or make any of these cut-offs will be considered “DNF”—“Did Not Finish”.

E. SIX RUNNER 100 MILE TEAM RELAY
Six Runner 100 Mile Team Relay racers must be checked-in at all FOUR official stations. Limited water supplies will be available at each check-in station.

Six Runner 100 Mile Team Relay Check-in Stations and Cut-off Time Limits

1. 25 mile Check-in at MM75 No later than 2:00 PM on Saturday
2. 50 mile Check-in at MM51 No later than 10:00 PM on Saturday
3. 75 mile Check-in at MM25 No later than 6:00 AM on Sunday
4. Finish Line at Smathers Beach  No later than 2:00 PM on Sunday, within thirty-two (32) hours of Start

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 secondary 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 director 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.