Race Rules
• No crews, pacers, spectators, or any support of any kind is allowed at any aid station or along any part of the course. No one is allowed to drop or store supplies along the race route and runners are not allowed outside aid between checkpoints unless it is an emergency.
• No unofficial or unregistered runners are permitted.
• Every runner’s bib must be clearly visible on the front of the body at all times.
• Runners must follow the marked course at all times.
• Mandatory kit must be carried by all participants at all times to include an emergency blanket, hat or buff, and windproof jacket (weather depending). A headlamp or similar lighting equipment and spare batteries shall be available at the appropriate time.
• No pets on the course.
• Littering of any kind is strictly prohibited.
• Race staff will be tracking runner’s progress around the course. It is the responsibility of the runner to make sure the race bib is visible to communication teams and to check IN and OUT of each aid station, even if you are just passing through without stopping. The communications team at the aid station will record your arrival and relay your progress to race headquarters.
• Aid station captains will strictly enforce the cut-off times that are posted for designated aid stations. Runners must check OUT of the aid station before the cut-off time. Runners who return to an aid station after the cut-off time will be pulled from the race.
• If any runner can’t complete the race, they must notify an aid station captain and surrender their race bib, which will officially withdraw them from the race. If a runner leaves the race and doesn’t show up at the next aid station within a reasonable time, we’ll assume they’re lost and will notify authorities. Unnecessary usage of resources could threaten the race’s future permits. Leaving a race without informing an aid station captain may mean disqualification and restriction from entry in future races.
• It is ultimately the runner’s responsibility to follow the correct course. You will need to carry the course using your built-in navigation on a smart watch or phone’s built-in GPS to see your location on the course at all times even while in airplane mode and without cell coverage. Cell coverage is poor or nonexistent in most areas along the course.
• Any runner who crosses the finish line after the 19 hour limit will not be an official finisher.
Crew/Pacer/Spectator Rules
The Black Forest Ultra is a no crew, no pacer, no spectator ultramarathon designed to challenge the true wilderness trail runner. NO crews, pacers, spectators, or any outside support of any kind is allowed at any aid station or along any part of the course. If you’re scared to be alone at night in the deep dark woods or have always preferred to bring your blankie on your runs, this race isn’t for you! If you need a little extra pampering but still want to be challenged, best look at our Worlds End 100k.
We are especially sensitive to our participants following the no spectator rule for several reasons, and we will enforce it and penalize participants rigorously. The race directors did not invent this rule just to make the race more difficult, rather the race has certain stipulations that must be met in our permits with the Department of Conservation and Nature Resources (DCNR).
Each aid station has a very limited amount of parking and they must be utilized by the race staff. The different forestry roads the course crosses cannot accommodate spectators and will block race staff from getting to different parts of the course along with the general public who may by utilizing the trails.
We cannot stress enough the importance of participants adhering to this rule so we can continue to hold this race. If there is any question that someone is there to spectate or crew for a participant, the participant can be disqualified and pulled immediately from the race. This may result in a ban from participating in future races.
While this race is a solo endeavor with no pacers or crews allowed, your friends and family are encouraged to participate as aid station volunteers, sweepers, help with on course logistics, or serving food at the finish line. This benefits the race by helping us staff the event while also giving runners a chance to get much-needed psychological boosts by seeing familiar faces.
