RACE RULES & POLICIES

Last Updated Aug 8, 2025

SUPER IMPORTANT POLICIES

We have insurance coverage and permits for registered participants only, which is a requirement of our land use access permits. If we mess with these things, it jeopardizes our future access permits (aka the possibility of holding a race). 

This is where we get serious: Breaking any of these SUPER IMPORTANT POLICIES will result in a ban from future races.

  1. REGISTERED PARTICIPANTS ONLY – Only registered athletes may be on the course during the race, and if you are found racing the course without valid registration, you will be banned from future events. People who do this are called Bandit Runners, and we don’t have any tolerance for it. Bandit Runners typically don’t read the rules, so be a good friend and let them know this, please 🙂 This includes adults who decide on race day to run with their children, please find another adult to accompany them and register properly next year. 
  2. BIB SWAPPING – No swapping bibs, giving it to a friend, etc. Your bib is YOUR bib. If you are caught breaking this rule, you will be disqualified and banned from future events. We have zero tolerance for this.

IMPORTANT POLICIES

  1. CHILDREN (AGE 12 AND UNDER) – READ COMPLETELY
    1. Parents are fully responsible for their children’s safety at all times.
    2. Registration Required – Parents/adults MUST also register to be on course (please do not run with them without registering).
    3. Remain With Children – Parents must remain with, or have an assigned adult remain with, children at all times during the race.
    4. 3km Course –  This course is recommended for children of all ages.
    5. 6km Course – Children should be familiar with racing and trail running independently. If this is their first race, we recommend the 3km course.
    6. 12km Course – Children must be familiar with racing and trail running independently. This distance is only suitable for experienced athletes and not recommended for children ages 12 and under.  
  2. YOUTH (AGE 13-18) – READ COMPLETELY
    1. Parents are fully responsible for their youth’s safety at all times.
    2. Registration Required – Parents/adults MUST also register to be on course (please do not run with them without registering).
    3. Remain With Youth – Youth may race independently. Choose a distance appropriate for their abilities and experience. We recommend a parent or an assigned adult remain with the youth at all times during the race, as parents are fully responsible for their safety at all times.
    4. 3km & 6km Courses – These courses are recommended to youth of all abilities.
    5. 12km Course – Youth must be familiar with racing and trail running independently. This distance is only suitable for experienced athletes.
  3. DNF (Do Not Finish / Can’t Complete) – If you cannot complete the course for ANY reason after you started, you MUST notify one of our Course Marshals or Finish Line crew. Our timing system counts every racer starting, so if you don’t cross the finish line after a period of time, we take emergency action. We don’t want to send Search And Rescue out to find you if you have gone home and are having a nap 🙂 Just let us know, please. Thank you!
  4. RUN (NOT HIKE) – The 12k distance is a running race, not a hike/walk. The cut-off times are achievable if you are jogging the flats at almost any pace. The cut-off is about 4.5km +150M elevation from the start with a strict time limit of 50 minutes. If you do not reach the designated cut-off, you will be asked to leave your race bib with the marshalls and directed back. If you don’t feel you can complete the course in less than 2:30, please sign up for a shorter distance.
  5. DOGS/STROLLERS – No dogs or strollers permitted, we have 500+ humans to look after and allowing this on the trails would be silly.
  6. POLES – No poles permitted, if you feel you need them, please sign up for a shorter distance.
  7. MUSIC – You need to hear the people around you for safety. A single earbud is permitted. Conduction technology headphones are all good. Please, spare your fellow racers from your bad taste in music by not dangling a speaker from your backpack.
  8. COURSE MAPS – Courses will be well marked, but you should familiarize yourself with the course in advance for safety and help you crush your race! Any changes to published course routes will be communicated at the pre-race briefing.
  9. FIRST AID – If we had a rule to not get hurt, it wouldn’t get followed despite best efforts. So this is more of an FYI. Broken ankles, concussions, and gravel buried in the skin of someone’s palms from that epic Superman certainly happen at trail races but hopefully not ours this year. So, we ask you to review the course maps to familiarize yourself with first aid and marshall locations so you know where to get help when it’s needed.
  10. BRIDGES – Walk all bridges! They are bouncy, slippery and not designed for hundreds of runners bouncing on them. They must be walked. Don’t worry, they are short and will have little impact on your time!
  11. STAY ON TRAIL – You are a trail runner, be prepared to run through mud and puddles. Please do not take shortcuts and sidestep puddles, as this damages the surrounding foliage. Get wet, get dirty.
  12. WATER/AID STATIONS – This race is self-supported. There are no aid stations or water available on the course. Pack a water bottle, fuel and any medication if needed.

CANCELLATION INSURANCE

There will be an option for you to purchase cancellation insurance during registration. Please read the policy details to ensure it fits your needs. We do not administer or sell the cancellation insurance. 

More info is here: https://raceroster.com/articles/race-rosters-enhanced-refund-protection-program 

REFUNDS/CANCELLATIONS/DEFERRALS

This information is also provided at the time of registration in Race Roster. 

A refund is only issued if you are pregnant – Congratulations! Simply email us with a Doctor’s note and we’ll take care of it. 

REFUNDS/DEFERRALS/CREDITS WILL NOT BE ISSUED for any reason except pregnancy (emails/DM requests will not be responded to). This event is a fundraiser for the Cumberland Community Forest Society. Please consider your entry a non-refundable donation and we are grateful for your generous contribution.

There are no refunds given if the race is cancelled due to fire, floods or other acts of God.

Emails regarding cancellations, refunds, deferrals, etc. will not be responded to – we will be busy organizing the event, thanks for understanding 🙂 

DISTANCE CHANGES

Race distances CANNOT be changed for this event. Please ensure you register for the event that you wish to participate in. If you really feel you must race another distance, you are welcome to register for it if it is not sold out. 

WAITLISTS / sold out

There are no waitlists, and we never open up additional spots. Once all spots are sold out, it’s sold out. You cannot transfer your bib to someone else. 

Consider volunteering, it’s super fun!

VOLUNTEERS

Remember, that this race is run by volunteers. Please be respectful – everyone is doing their best to come together for the common goal of supporting the Cumberland Community Forest. Have fun. High-five each other. Smile!

Volunteer – https://www.perseverancetrailrun.com/volunteer/

Thank you for reading to the end! Have a fantastic race, be safe and have fun!