All rules are at the final discretion of the race management team. No challenges will be permitted.
Mandatory Gear: Runners must carry the following mandatory equipment at all times. A time penalty of one hour will be imposed for any item found to be missing at any point on course. Please refer to this page for explanations on the inclusion of the below items.
There are many options regards kit for fulfilling these requirements and those of other events. We stock what we believe to be the best options at our online store available by clicking here under the Mandatory Gear Section. Please ask us if you have any questions.
- Fully Charged Mobile Phone including the numbers for the Race Medic and Race Director (on the number you have given at registration)
- Water Bottles/Bladder capable of carrying a minimum of 1 litre.
- Survival Blanket: 1.4m x 2m minimum
- Waterproof Jacket: Gore-tex or similar, minimum 10000mm+ & must have sealed seams and a hood.
- Whistle
- Headtorch or Primary Light Source Minimum 100 lumens
- Back Up Light Source Minimum 100 Lumens
- Warm Hat (Buff or Beanie Hat)
- Gloves
- Long Sleeved Base Layer or Fleece Top - This must be carreid separately in a dry or waterproof bag from the start and kept dry, for use in an emergency only. Starting in two layers is not a substitute.
- Cup
| # | Rule | Runner Action | Penalty |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | There will be no unofficial runners. | Unofficial Runners/ Running without a registration or Running under another name | Lifetime Ban at RD Discretion |
| 2 | Each runners bib number must be worn on the front of the body and must be easily visible at all times. | Bib number not visible on front | One Hour Penalty |
| 3 | Runners must follow the course at all times - per the course markings and GPX supplied in the pre-race notes. | Cutting the Course | Time Penalty or DQ at RD Discretion |
| 4 | Each runner must complete the entire course under their own power. | Receiving powered assistance ie. vehicular, bike etc | DQ |
| 5 | Runners may not store supplies of any kind along the trail. | Storing Supplies along the trail | Two Hour Penalty |
| 6 | Leaving a CP after a cut off. | Refusing to hand in bib and tracker & leaving aid station after cut off | DQ & Lifetime Ban at RD Discretion |
| 7 | Injection of PEDs or Fluids/ IVs by non-official race medical personnel | Injection of PEDs or Fluids/ IVs by non-official race medical personnel | DQ and Lifetime Ban |
| 8 | Littering of any kind. | Littering by competitor, pacer or crew | DQ & Lifetime Ban at RD Discretion |
| 9 | Any runner who is unable to finish the race must drop out at a check point. If a runner cannot make a check point and stops with crew, that runner must call race HQ to notify of dropping out immediately. That runner must then bring tracker and bib number to a location specified by Race HQ. This serves as official notice of a runner’s withdrawal from the race. Runners who leave the course without turning in their bib and number will be classified as “lost,” initiating search and rescue. | Not informing organisers of withdrawal from event/ Not returning a tracker in line with Race HQ instructions | DQ and Lifetime Ban at race directors discretion |
| 10 | Being Crewed outside of a Crew location. Please refer to the crew page for rules on what constitutes as crewing. | Being crewed at a location not specified on the Crew Locations list. | One Hour Penalty, DQ or Lifetime Ban at RD Discretion |
| 11 | Minimum age on race day is 20 | Providing false information relating to age on registration form | Lifetime Ban |
| 12 | Being paced for any section or in any fashion not specified in the crewing details. | Pacers accompanying before first official allowed meeting point/ not on foot/ more than one pacer | One Hour Penalty, DQ or Lifetime Ban at RD Discretion |
| 13 | Runners must carry with them AT ALL TIMES the mandatory equipment required. | Missing Item of Mandatory Kit | Minimum of One Hour penalty per missing item |
| 14 | There will be mandatory gear checks at the start, on route, or at the finish. Failure to comply with the gear checks will result in disqualification. | Refusal to have obligatory equipment checked | DQ & Lifetime Ban at RD Discretion |
| 15 | Runners are not to be accompanied by dogs at any time whilst on course. | Accompanied by dog | DQ |
| 16 | Any athlete who is serving a ban - through IAAF, the World Anti-Doping Agency, UK Anti Doping or any other National Sports Federation is ineligible for entry. We reserve the right to conduct pre and post-competition testing for any and all performance-enhancing drugs (PEDs) listed on the current WADA Prohibited List. Any athlete who refuses to submit to anti-doping controls, if selected for testing, shall be disqualified and subject to a lifetime ban from our events. | Running whilst serving a ban or refusal to comply with testing if selected. | DQ and Lifetime Ban |
| 17 | Runners must at all times comply with any instruction given by race management, staff and volunteers. | Refusal to comply with an order from the race directors, race staff, doctors or rescue personnel. | DQ & Lifetime Ban at RD Discretion |
RULE VIOLATION PROCEDURE
Any protests to a ruling or of a runner to runner violation must be submitted by a registered entrant and must be lodged using the following procedure:
1. Report the alleged violation to the runner, his/her crew or pacer as the incident occurs. Enlist a fellow witness to the alleged violation if possible.
2. Report the alleged violation with the runner’s name and number to the next available aid station staff.
3. Report the alleged violation in writing at the finish line to the race director. All protests must be submitted by 6pm on Monday following the race. Written protest must include the name of the person who lodged the complaint.
4. Decision on all violations and rules is at the final discretion of the Race Management ONLY. There will be no challenges after that decision.
The Thames Path trail is used by, but not limited to, horse riders, walkers and mountain bikers. Please be aware of other people whilst you are running and be as polite and courteous as possible to them, making way when necessary, particularly to horses. You do not have priority over any other users out on the course, most will be totally unaware of the event taking place. All gates must be properly closed after you have gone through.
