Race rules

The atmosphere is always great, the crowd get behind everyone, which is really motivational.
Helen, 2011

Rheolau’r ras

The Cardiff Half Marathon operates under the rules of UK Athletics.

Terms and Conditions

Participation

1. Participants must be 17 years of age or older on the day of the event.
2. Each participant must sign the disclaimer before participating in the event.
3. By participating in the Cardiff Half Marathon you acknowledge and agree that personal information (including medical information entered against your race number or collected by event medical staff during or after the Event) can be stored and used by Barnardo’s in connection with the organisation, promotion and administration of the Event and for the compilation of statistical information.
4. By taking part, all participants confirm that their names and television and/or video footage or photographs taken during their participation may be used to publicise the Cardiff Half Marathon or Barnardo’s events.
5. Participant race numbers are specific personal identifiers and may not be exchanged with or transferred/sold to any other person. Sale and/or transfer of race numbers is strictly prohibited and will result in the disqualification and/or banning of any individuals involved from future events.
6. All entry fees are non-refundable, and may not be deferred toward a future event.
7. Registrations close when the course cap of 15,000 is reached, or if this is not reached, after 12 noon on Wednesday 12 September 2012
8. Participants must not be under the influence of drugs or alcohol.

Event day

1. Participants must follow instructions as given from all event officials including race staff, volunteers, medical personnel, security officers and city officials before, during and after the event.
2. All participants are expected to conduct themselves in a professional and courteous manner during their participation in the event. This means, for example, that urinating or defecating anywhere on or near the course shall be strictly prohibited except in toilet facilities. Anyone violating this rule of conduct shall be disqualified from the event and will be asked to leave the course.
3. Every participant shall be provided with a race number, which MUST be worn on the front of shirts and be visible at all times during the event. The race number is to be worn as issued. No participant shall be permitted to participate in the event without the appropriate number.
4. All participants must write their name and details of any health problems or medication on the reverse of the race number, which must be worn on the front of shirts during the race. Participants should also inform the race organisers of any special medical conditions.
5. Baby joggers, baby strollers, skateboards, Nordic sticks, rollerblades, unauthorised bicycles or any other wheeled device will not be permitted on the course, except for hand propelled wheelchairs in the wheelchair race.
6. Participants must begin the event during the official recognised starting times.
7. Roads closed for the race will reopen 3 hours after the race starts. A Sweep vehicle will follow the back markers. Anyone who is deemed to be unable to complete the course in time will be approached by a race steward and told that they must use the pavement if they decide to continue as the roads will be opening up and their safety cannot be guaranteed. In the event of you being so far behind we strongly advise you against continuing and you should ask the steward to radio through for a pick up vehicle to come and take you back to the finish line. If you do continue we will be unable to guarantee that road closures, marshals and drinks stations will be in place. Before starting the race please give careful consideration to your ability to complete the course in the allotted time.

The start

1. Participants will be assigned to “timing pens” in accordance with the runners’ predicted time.
2. Participants shall assemble for the race in their assigned timing pen no less than 15 minutes prior to the race start. Any athlete attempting to enter the wrong timing pen shall be required to start after all other participants have crossed the start line.
3. All participants shall enter the timing pen from the rear unless otherwise directed by an event official. Any person who climbs the fence/barrier or otherwise enters improperly shall be disqualified from the event.
4. All participants must be positioned behind the starting line when starting and must run over the start mat to activate their timing chip, failure to do so will result in a finishing time not being available for them.

Course monitoring

1. Any participant who refuses to obey the directions of the event official, city official or course marshal, or who conducts himself/herself in an unsportsmanlike manner, or who uses offensive actions or language to officials, volunteers, participants or spectators may be disqualified from the event and future participation at the discretion of race officials.
2. Any participant who has been found by a course marshal, event official or surveillance equipment to have gained an unfair advantage by intentionally shortening the route of the race ("cutting the course") shall be immediately disqualified from the event.
3. Any person who participates in the event either a) without a current official race number and timing device or b) with a chip or race number not officially assigned to him/her is subject to removal and disqualification from future events.  
4. No persons are authorised to be on the course unless they are registered participants. Therefore, no person shall be allowed to accompany a participant if he/she is not registered in the event, nor shall any participant be allowed, without the permission of the event management, to receive assistance from anyone during the progress of the event. Any person not properly displaying an authorised and issued race number shall be directed to leave the course.
5. A hands-on medical examination during the progress of an event by officially designated medical personnel shall not be considered assistance and will not result in disqualification if participant is deemed medically fit. If a participant becomes ill during or after the Event and/or receives medical attention or treatment either from event medical staff, St John Ambulance or any doctor or hospital, they authorise such persons to provide details (including details of medical treatment) to the Medical Director of the Cardiff Half Marathon or others authorised by them.

Participant safety

1. The use of wheeled devices by participants or any other person authorised to be on the course shall be strictly limited to (a) authorised and registered competitive wheelchair participants and (b) authorised course marshals on bicycles. Baby joggers, baby strollers, skateboards, rollerblades, unauthorised bicycles or any other wheeled device will not be permitted.
2. Participants are responsible for their recognition and understanding of event signage, symbols and colour relating to participant maps, facilities and direction.
3. Medical personnel authorized by the event to do so may examine any participant who appears to be in distress. If in the sole opinion of authorised medical personnel it is in the best interest of the participant's health and welfare, medical personnel may remove the participant from the event.
4. Participants must retire at once from race if ordered to do so by a member of the event’s official staff, official medical staff, or any person in authority, including fire and police officers.
5. Participants are responsible and assume liability for any and all medical expenses incurred as a result of training for and/or participation in the event, including but not limited to ambulance transport, hospital stays, physician and pharmaceutical goods and services.
6. In the interest of safety, the Race Director and event officials, in consultation with the Police and Emergency Services, reserve the right to delay, cancel, or suspend the race due to extreme inclement weather or a major incident on or near the event route. In these circumstances no refunds will be issued.
7. In the event of any major occurrences along the route, the Race Director and the Emergency Services reserve the right to alter/shorten the route, but still provide a race if possible.In these circumstances no refunds will be issued.
8. The Race Director and the Emergency Services reserve the right to stop the race at any time, if deemed necessary.  These would be in circumstances beyond our control and no refunds would be given.

Result timing

1. All participants are assigned a chip timing device prior to the event in their Race Pack.
2. Gun time is the official time used for all prize results. Official times are calculated from the start of the race by the starting claxon to the point where the participant crosses the finish line. Times shall be rounded to the next highest second.
3. Participants must wear their assigned timing device continuously attached to their runner number from start line to finish line, to receive an accurate finish time.
4. Participants found to be wearing two or more timing devices during the race will be disqualified and their results will not be recorded.
5. Participants must begin the event during the official recognised starting time in order to register an official course completion time.

Exception

Any individual requesting a waiver of any of these rules from the event shall submit a written request no less than 30 days prior to the event date specifying the nature of and reasons for the request.

Amendments/Reservations/Acknowledgements

Event officials reserve the right to modify, supplement or waive all or part of the event rules without notice. It is participants’ responsibility to check the Event website for any changes.

Participants shall be bound by any modification or supplement of the event rules published prior to the event.

Failure to follow these event rules, as may be amended, will result in immediate disqualification, loss of prize money and removal from official results.