31.03.2024

Rules & equipment

WAIVER OF RESPONSIBILITY: By registering, the participant acknowledges that the competition requirements, legal order and rules of procedure are binding. These regulations serve the uniform and equal engagement in the sport and are non-appealable in a court of law. Their recognition and upholding are a prerequisite for participating in the event. Each entrant is responsible for the technical safety of his/her gear and must ensure that it is in conformity with the rules. The organizer assumes no liability for accidents, personal injury or material damage, theft or other damages!
Rules & regulation are a follow up of ITRA's ethical chapter that serves to make the race safe, fair and equal for all participants. Vodno-Matka Trails is an internationally evaluated trail race that is organized by ITRA's criteria and safety standards.
RULES & REGULATIONS

Mandatory equipment

One of the main requirements to participate at Vodno-Matka is possesing the mandatory equipment. Each runner during the race - without exception - must have on him/her a start bib number, mobile phone, thermal blanket (or windproof jacket) and a cup for liquds!

Warning! The organizer has the right of last minute additions to the mandatory equipment list due to changing weather conditions.

MOBILE PHONE, fully charged

The phone has to be turned on from the race start, with active roaming, sound at maximal volume, fully charged battery and perfect working condition to withstand the entire race.
Why is it mandatory?
The mobile phone allows the participant to receive and make emergency calls to the Organizer (the telephone number will be noted on the race bib). In addition, it may be useful to send geo-localization information.
Therefore, the phone must be active during the entire race. It is essential to keep the battery as charged as possible, and to avoid making calls or sending data unless it is needed. Functions requesting high battery consumption such as bluetooth or wifi should be inactive.
The reason why the roaming services must be active is that, given the proximity with Kosovo, some points of the course may be better served by Kosovo mobile network than by Macedonian network.

THERMAL BLANKET or WINDPROOF JACKET

Thermal blankets (also known as space blanket or first aid blanket) are made of heat-reflective thin plastic, silver colored on one side and golden on the other. Their design reduces heat loss or increases it depending on how it is placed to cover the person in need.
The minimal surface must be 1.4 m x 2.0 m.
Why is it mandatory?
Thermal blankets are mainly used to cover an injured person while waiting for help, but it can also be used to signal the position to the aerial rescue team or simply as a protection against wind and rain.
The way it should be used to cover the injured person depends on the situation:
To retain heat: place the silver side in contact with the body and the golden side facing outwards. It is useful in case of hypothermia, injury, having to wait in the cold...
To reduce the temperature: place the golden side in contact with the body and the silver side facing outwards. It is useful in case of fever, heat stroke, having to wait in the heat...

FOLDING CUP or CONTAINER 

It can be any container, foldable or not, which may be used as a cup for drinking without wasting the liquid contained.
Hands or any object that may lose liquid are not accepted.
Why is it mandatory?
For environmental protection reasons, no cups/glasses will be provided at aid stations. Let us follow "leave no trace" maxima!

Recommended equipment

Water container (bidon/bottle/hydrobladder) with min. volume of 0.5 liters.
First aid kit (hansaplast, adhesive tape)
Hiking poles.
Whole-lotta smiles and festive mood!
Energy bars, cereal bars, gels and similar high-caloric foods.
Cap, bandanna, gloves, sunglasses.

Nature preservation by responsible behaviour

People have always been running in the mountains, to advance faster, to bring news, for personal enjoyment, for emergencies… In fact, there are probably as many motivations as potential runners.
However, is only since few years ago that running has become a competitive activity involving lots of people and affecting most of the mountain areas, some of which are protected natural spaces (national parks, natural reserves, natural areas of national interest).
Obviously, any outdoors activity involves some kind of impact or perturbation to the natural environment. Therefore, everyone enjoying it must consider actions to make it sustainable and to minimize its impact. In this regard, the organizer TREX requests all runners to always take into consideration the following points at any time:
> Always stay on the track or path when running or walking. This helps keeping them open, as well as minimizes the erosion problems usually linked to making shortcuts.
> Ensure that any food or drink wrapping remains inside your pockets or in the backpack after using it. Not littering will keep the paths free of papers, plastics or other trash, preventing the animals to eat them with the consequent intestinal problems.
> Try to leave the mountain cleaner than when you found it. Pick the rubbish that you may find in your way (or part of it), and put it in the dustbin.
> It is quite usual to find domestic animals on or near the path (cows, horses, sheep), observing with certain mistrust, particularly when young ones are present. Avoid altering them, slow your pace, take some distance from the animals and do not touch them.
> Sometimes dogs accompany the flock, protecting the animals from bear, wolf or wild dog attacks. In this case you must circle around the flock (never cross it), avoid touching the animals, allow the dog to sniff at you and confirm you are not a threat, and continue walking at slow pace until getting enough distance.
> Wild animals usually avoid human presence. If by chance you come across a wild boar, a deer or any other animal, you should stop and leave space for the animal to escape from you. To prevent a defensive action from the animal, it is not recommended to walk towards it.
> Mountains have always been a convivial place. Greeting the people you come across helps maintaining a good atmosphere. Commenting any incidences we may have found along the way may be helpful to other users.
> Moving our body also moves our intestines, which may bring the need to empty them. Please dig a small hole with your heel and defecate inside, then cover your excrement and any paper used with soil, leaves and rocks.
> Raise your eyes from the track from time to time to look around you and fully enjoy the beautiful landscape surrounding you. Knowing and enjoying nature is the first step to loving and respecting it.
> Friends and family coming as public or to provide support to runners should also be aware of this exceptional natural environment, which needs to be respected and protected. Please behave respectfully, for example by parking only in appropriate areas (never in non-designated fields), not littering, not being too loud, not trespassing on private properties, respecting the high grass fields, etc…

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