RULES & REGULATIONS

1. RACER RESPONSIBILITIES & CONDITIONS

This section outlines the rules and regulations put forth by the race. Please read through this section carefully. If you do not abide by these rules, you may be immediately disqualified or have a penalty of 1, 3 or 6 hours added to your race time. Participation in future races may also be denied.

2. ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION RULES

The FUJI course is located in a precious natural environment with areas designated as Fuji-Hakone-Izu National Park and areas inhabited by rare plants and animals.

The following rules have been established to ensure that the irreplaceable forest ecosystems are not adversely affected. Please fully understand the main purpose of the event and strictly adhere to the following rule

• The use of trekking poles is prohibited on the entire course. Picking up and using tree branches as trekking poles is also not allowed.
• Sleeping along the course is prohibited. This is because it will have a large impact on the environment and may also mistakenly lead others to think that you require emergency medical assistance.
• You must stay on the trail at all times. Do not step off the trail to shortcut corners. There will also be several “no passing” sections in environmentally restricted areas where you will not be allowed to pass each other.
• Picking up or damaging plants, animals, fungi, and rocks found along the race course as well as within the overall race area are prohibited.
• Never throw garbage along the course.
• Please use the toilets located at each aid station. Also, please carry and use a portable/disposable toilet and use it if you are unable to wait. Do not throw away toilet paper or used portable/disposable toilets along the trails. All toilet paper or used portable/disposable toilets must be carried home with you.
• Please wash the soles of your shoes to clean off any dirt/seeds/vegetation before the start of the race. This is to prevent the spread of invasive species/non-native seeds and to prevent vegetation from urban areas from being carried up into the environmentally sensitive mountain regions. For the same reason, mats for cleaning shoe soles will be placed at several trailheads along the course. Follow the instruction of staff members and remove dirt/seeds/vegetation from the bottom of your shoes using brushes provided there.
• During the race, even there may be no problems in terms of racer safety, if the trails are determined not to be able to withstand the use of many racers at once, a walking section may be established, the course may be changed, or the race may be cancelled.

3. CONSIDERATION FOR OTHERS

• If during the race, you encounter another racer or staff member who is injured or sick and unable to move on their own, please give priority to assisting that person and call race headquarters for emergency assistance. The emergency telephone number will be written on your race bib. Also, when contacting headquarters, please confirm the racer’s number and give it to them whenever possible. If you do not know the racer number, please check the gender and the color of the clothing. This is to facilitate a smooth response by the headquarters.
• If you come across a racer who is lying down or hunched over along the course, please check to see if he/she is alright. If the person requires emergency assistance, please give priority to helping that person by calling race headquarters for assistance.
• The race course is not on private property owned by the race and will not be closed off to the general public. The trails must be shared with the general public such as hikers at all times. There will be “no passing sections” set up along the race course where you will be prohibited from passing other both racers and hikers. In areas where passing is allowed, please do so in a safe place where the trail is wide. Please be considerate and slow down and walk when passing other people. Remember to call out to the person such as saying hello to let your presence be known. Similar principles apply in urban areas. Always use sidewalks on streets with sidewalks.
• Please be careful not to damage property located along the race course.
• Parts of the race course passes through privately-owned lands that are normally prohibited from entry. When you are in these special sections, please make sure you stay within the specified boundaries.
• The course also passes through residential areas. Please do not make loud noises or sounds when passing through these areas. Also put away your bear bells and prevent them from ringing when passing through “no-bear bells” sections.
• Please keep as much physical distance between you and other people as possible to prevent the spread of COVID-19. In areas such as forest paths and roads where you can keep enough physical distance from other racers, we encourage racers to run alongside or even diagonally behind other racers to avoid being exposed to the breath of racers running ahead.
• Please do not spit, cough out phlegm, or blow a nose rocket during the race to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

4. AUTHORITY GIVEN TO EMERGENCY & MEDICAL STAFF

Doctors and rescue staff have the authority to stop a racer from continuing the race if he/she believes the racer is unfit to safely continue the race. If you are told to stop by a race physician or rescuer, you will be required to follow the instruction. In such case, your race bib may be marked to show that you have dropped out of the race.

5. IC CHIPS & TIME MANAGEMENT

• Racers are kept track of using IC chips and sensor mats. The race organizer will be tracking racer times, number of racers out on the course as well as whether or not you’ve entered/left aid stations and checkpoints.
• You must always have an IC chip attached to each of your shoes (both the right foot and left foot).
• Please hand-in your IC chips when you finish racing.
• If you are disqualified or decide to drop out of the race, please return your IC chips at the aid station.

6. CUTOFF TIMES & TIME MEASUREMENT

• There will be two separate cutoff times at each aid station – one at the entrance and one at the exit. This is a measure put in place to ensure the safety of racers coming into the aid station close to the entrance cutoff time. You will not be allowed to continue the race if you don’t make either of these cutoff times (entering and leaving the gate).
• You can re-enter an aid station after leaving as long as it is before the entry cutoff time. Be sure to use a dedicated route when returning an aid station and leaving the aid station. Also, be sure to notify aid station staff that you are returning and leaving. In such case, you will be disqualified if you fail to leave the aid station before the exit cutoff time.
• Cutoff times may be changed depending on weather and course conditions. Changes will be announced on the official bulletin boards at the aid stations and a text message will be sent via SMS etc. to the phone number you’ve provided.

7. RACE COURSE MARKERS AND SIGNS

• Permission has been obtained from the appropriate land owners and property managers to put up temporary signs and marking tapes. The race course will be marked using marking tapes and signs. Marking tapes will be placed approximately every 100 meters along the course and extra markings will be placed in sections where it may be easy to get lost. If you do not see a marking tape after proceeding for over 200 meters, it means you’ve gone off the course. Please turn back and return to the race course.
• The race organizer will be putting forth its best effort to minimize any unforeseen risks along the course. Dangerous areas will be marked with signs and ropes in order to reduce risk. Please follow all instructions provided. Where deemed necessary, staff and security guards will also be positioned along the course to ensure racer safety and direct the flow of traffic.
• There will be staff and security guards standing along the course to help direct the way, however it is your responsibility to follow the course markers and signs to stay on the correct route.
• There will be a “no-passing” section as well as other sections with specific rules and conditions. Please abide by these rules.
• Once the race starts, any information that needs to be communicated to the racers will be posted up on the official bulletin boards at the aid stations and water stations. Important information will also be sent to you via SMS text message to the phone number you’ve provided to the race. It is the racer’s responsibility to check the official bulletin boards at the aid and water stations as well as your SMS messages.

8. DROPPING OUT OF THE RACE

• 1f you feel that you can no longer continue and decide to drop out of the race, you must notify the measurement staff at the aid station.
  *In principle, racers cannot withdraw from the race at F3 Motosuko and F8/K3 Nijumagari.
• Retire on the course
  You may only drop out of the race along the race course ONLY if it is an emergency and/or you are injured or become sick and cannot move on your own.
  In such a case, please contact the emergency headquarters immediately for assistance.
• If it is difficult to move on your own and you are unable to contact the emergency headquarters, please stay on the course, making sure you are clearly visible from the people on the course. As long as you stay on the course, it is likely that sweepers or other racers will find you. It is the last resort to assure your safety

9. GEAR & EQUIPMENT

The weight of your equipment must be a minimum of two kilograms at the start of the race and upon leaving each aid station. Your equipment must weigh a minimum of one kilogram at all times along the race course. Racers may be asked to go through an equipment check during the race. If you do not have your required equipment, you may be disqualified from the race. It is your own responsibility to decide whether your required clothing/gear provides adequate warmth and rain protection during the race. The race organizer will regard clothing/gear selected and registered by racers as the required equipment of the racer. In addition to having the gears, make sure you know how to use them. In addition, due to measures to reduce the risk of spreading COVID-19, blankets will not be provided in the nap areas and first-aid stations in the ULTRA-TRAIL Mt.FUJI2023. Please take this into consideration when preparing for cold weather.

10. WEARING THE NUMBER CARDS (BIBS)

If you put your bib on incorrectly, you could be disqualified.

• Incorrectly worn number cards may result in disqualification.
• Each number card (bib) should be attached to the front and one to the back of the upper body, using a safety pin or bib belt, so that it is clearly visible and not hidden by clothing.
• Do not attach the number cards (bibs) on the lower body such as on trunks, tights, pants, etc.
• Do not fold the corners of the number cards (bibs) to make them smaller.

11. DROP BAGS

*For FUJI only

• At the F5 Fujikyu Highland in the middle of the race, racers can pick up luggage (Drop Bag) they checked in before the start.
• You can also leave items you no will longer need in your Drop Bag there.
• Drop Bags are placed at F5 Fujikyu Highland, regardless of whether you will use it or not. Please collect your Drop Bag by yourself after the race.

12. PROHIBITED ACTIONS

• All racers must comply with the ULTRA-TRAIL Mt.FUJI2023 Operation Policy on the Prevention of COVID-19.
• The only type of earphones, earbuds, and headphones allowed during the race is the open-ear type.
• You are not allowed to engage in prohibited actions such as using transportation means other than by foot, using a substitute racer, and other actions that violate laws or ordinances.

13. RACE ORGANIZER’S RESPONSIBILITIES AND DUTIES

The race organizer is responsible for any non-deliberate damage by race participants to property along the race course (e.g. plants and animals, objects. trails, etc.)

14. DISCLAIMER

The race organizer does not hold any responsibility for the COVID-19 infection to any person involved in this race.

15. AID STATIONS AND SUPPORTER RULES

*The contents are subject to change to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

• Be sure to sanitize your hands before entering the aid station.
• Spectators and supporters are quired wear a mask all the time except when eating or drinking.
• Please keep as much physical distance between you and other people as possible.
• The use of personal support and the nap area is not allowed for the KAI racers.
• No blanket will be provided at the nap area and rescue/first aid stations to prevent the spread of COVID-19. Also, please wear a mask when resting in the nap rooms.
• The nap rooms are in outdoor tents except for F4 Fuji Kawaguchiko Shojiko, and the nap time is limited to one hour per racer. The number of people in the nap rooms may be temporarily limited to prevent overcrowding. Please follow instruction of the staff.
• ULTRA-TRAIL Mt.FUJI racers can only receive personal support at F2 Fumoto, F4 Fuji Kawaguchiko Shojiko, F5 Fujikyu Highland, and F7 Yamanakako. For detailed rules, please check Rules for Supporters.
• Food and drinks will be provided at the aid stations. (Some aids only provide beverages.)
• Aid station staff members are not allowed to touch the racers, their gears, or their trash in order to reduce the risk of spreading COVID-19. Racers must pick up food and beverages provided at the aid station on their own. Aid station staff will not hand them out to racers. To reduce the risk of spreading COVID-19, racers must follow instructions of the aid station staff in regards to the handling of food and beverages.
• All trash generated at the aid station and water station must be discarded only in designated trash bins.
• Racers must put a trash such as tissue papers that contain a runny nose of saliva in a plastic bag, tie it up, and take it home or dispose of it in a designated trash bin.
• Do not dispose of leftover drink or food outside of the designated trash bins (e.g. on the course).
• Some of the aid stations prohibit the use of camping stoves/fire.
• Spectators must not shout or make loud noises when cheering on racers when close to towns and residential areas as this may cause discomfort to the local residents.
• Racers can use the vending machines and stores located along the race course. However, racers must not go off the race course deliberately.

16. HEALTH POLICY

The ULTRA-TRAIL Mt.FUJI declares to accept and follow all the rules of the World Anti-Doping Code published by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA).

Each participants are assumed to agree to the following:

Each racer accepts all the rules of the World Anti-Doping Code published by WADA and more specifically those relating to athletes.
World Anti-Doping Code – International Standard (Japan Anti-Doping Agency)
https://www.playtruejapan.org/code/

1. For videos, photos, articles, records, etc. of the race

• The racer organizer may publish videos, photos, articles, and records of the racers, supporters, and spectators on television shows, newspapers, magazines, and the Internet.
• Videos, photos, articles, and records of the race are protected by copyright laws, etc., and may not be used (including broadcast, publication, and Internet distribution) without the organizer’s permission.
  However, personal use of videos and photos taken by racers and supporters themselves is permitted.
• The ULTRA-TRAIL Mt.FUJI2022 is scheduled to apply for the International Trail Running Race Association (ITRA). Official results of the ULTRA-TRAIL Mt.FUJI will be submitted and shared with ITRA respectively.

2. Environmental Protection Rules

In order to reduce energy consumption and lower carbon dioxide emissions, we highly recommend that you use public transportation or carpool when coming to the race area.

3. CONSIDERATION FOR OTHERS

Remember to thank the people, locals, and volunteers who support the race.

4. AUTHORITY GIVEN TO EMERGENCY & MEDICAL STAFF

• In case a rescue is needed on the course, rescue staff are on standby to arrive on site within three hours from receiving the call. However, if there are multiple rescue requests, if the rescue requests are coming from far away from the course, or if the rescue location cannot be identified, it may take more than six hours for the rescue staff to arrive at the site.
• Many of the past calls to the emergency headquarters were not urgent or rescue calls. For example, a racer called the emergency headquarters to request a pick up by a car because he would not be able to make a cutoff time (this of course would result in disqualification). We declined all of them, but such calls will take up the time of the rescue staff, and keep the phone line busy, meaning that it will delay the rescue actions for someone who really needs rescuing. When calling the emergency headquarters, please think twice before doing so to determine if you really need rescue.
• When calling the emergency headquarters, have a map handy so that you can correctly describe where you are at.
• The point numbers (e.g. B05) shown on the detailed map are also shown on signs on the course. Please use this number to describe your location when requesting rescue, so our staff can respond smoothly.
• If the organizer deems it necessary, a rescue team outside of the race organization may be called. In this case, the cost incurred will be borne by the rescued person.
• If the physician or staff deems it necessary, a racer may be transported to a hospital. Medical expenses in such cases are to be borne by the racer. Racers are responsible for their own transportation from the hospital to the finish line or home. The cost of this will also be borne by the racers.
• Racers who are picked up by a vehicle on the course and do not require hospital transport will be taken to a nearby aid station at the discretion of the organizer. Please return the IC chip to the measurement staff there as it will be considered as a drop out or disqualification.
• The organizer has liability and athlete accident insurance and tournament cancellation insurance, but we recommend that all athletes have insurance.

The organizer’s accident insurance coverage is as follows:

• – Death, disability: 5 million yen
• – Hospitalization (daily rate): 3,000 yen
• – Outpatient care (daily): 2,000 yen

5. RACE COURSE MARKERS AND SIGNS

• Course guide tapes and signs will be installed just before the race and removed immediately after the race.
• Please use Detailed Course Map, which is a required gear, so that you can quickly return to the course if you run off course.
• Please read Detailed Course Map carefully and fully understand the course beforehand.

6. COURSE CANCELLATION, DISCONTINUATION, OR THE RACE COURSE CHANGE

The organizer may cancel or suspend the race if it is deemed difficult to hold or continue the race for any of the following reasons: There will be no postponement of the race such as to the following week.

• When requested by the national or municipal government to suspend the race due to the impact of the spread of COVID-19;
• When a weather warning is issued;
• When a landslide or rock fall occurs on the course and makes it impossible to ensure the safety of racers and staff members;
• When a natural disaster occurs; E.g. When Explanatory Information on Tokai Earthquake Warning/Warning Declaration or Tokai Earthquake Watch is issued
• When there is a possibility of damaging the natural environment due to the passage of racers under stormy weather; and
• When the organizer decides that the race should be canceled for any other reasons.
• The decision to cancel or suspend the race will be announced on the official website or dedicated websites (PC or mobile phones) on or before the day of the race. If the announcement of cancellation is to be made on the start date, it will also be sent by SMS to each racer’s registered mobile phone number.

7. Survey on the impact of the race on nature

There will be course maintenance and cleanup events before and after the race. Although it is not mandatory for racers to participate, we hope that many will, given the meaning of the race.

The information on our environmental activities can be viewed at the following address
NPO Fuji Trail Runners Club – Environmental activity report
https://fuji-trailrunnersclub.com/environmental/

In accordance with the Ministry of the Environment’s guidelines, etc., we will continue to survey the impact of the ULTRA-TRAIL Mt.FUJI on nature, and publish the results on the official website.

8. Survey on the impact of the race on nature

• Please be aware that there are no entry fee refunds (full or partial) for whatever the reason once you’ve registered for the race. There are no entry fee refunds (full or partial).
• Your registration will become invalid and canceled if we receive your payment after the payment deadline. In this case, your payment will be returned to you minus the designated processing fee.
• The transfer of the right to participate in the race to another person is NOT allowed.

9. After the race

• Changing rooms will be available at the finish area, but please refrain from taking a nap there so that many people can use the changing rooms.
• Please be sure to reserve an accommodation for the entire race period so that you do not have to worry about where to stay after finishing, dropping out, or being disqualified.
• In the event of race cancellation (disqualification or drop-out), racers may return to the finish line from the spot using the pick-up buses or support vehicles. If you use a cab or bus, you will be responsible for the expense.
• Drop Bags will be carried to Fuji-Q Highland for racers to pick up after the race. Drop Bags will be returned after the aid gate closes, and you will need to show your number card to pick up your Drop Bag. Please do not throw away your number card until then.