Ring of Fire

Friday 22 March 2019

11.00am - Official Event Welcome Powhiri & morning tea at Otukou Marae, Otukou Road off SH 47. Directions to Otukou Marae click here Otukou Marae Directions.

1:00pm to 8:00pm - Event registration & compulsory gear check in Tongariro Room, Chateau Tongariro, Whakapapa Village, State Highway 48, Mt Ruapehu 3951.

At the registration, we will check all of your entry details, check that you have the compulsory gear required and issue you with a race number and transponder for timing purposes. Note: all individual 72k, 50k, 24km ultra runners need to register and show their compulsory gear and ID in person. Relay teams have the option of registering with one team member showing the compulsory gear & ID for each team member.

There will be TWO compulsory to attend race briefings the day before the event in the Chateau Ballroom. The times for these are 4pm and 8pm. Choose ONE to attend. The briefing will go for approximately 30-40mins maximum. Only one team member from relay teams needs to attend briefing. You must label your dropbags (we provide individualised stickers at registration) and leave your dropbags with us at registration by 8pm on Friday.

Saturday 23 March 2019

4:00am to 4:10am - 72km Ultra and relay start from the Chateau (in self seeded waves)

4:05am - 50km Ultra Bus leaves Chateau for 50km Ultra Start, stopping at National Park and Ohakune to pick up entrants.

6:00am - 50km Ultra start from the Turoa Ski field.

7:30am - 24km Solo bus departs from Chateau to Tukino Road.

10:00am - 24km Solo starts from Tukino Road.

11:00am - Cut off time for 72km Ultra and Relay starting leg 2 at Ohakune Road.

3:00pm - Cut off time for 50km Ultra starting leg 3 at Tukino.

6:00pm - Cut off time for 72km Ultra and Relay starting leg 3 at Tukino.

Midnight - Cut off to finish the event.

Sunday 24 March 2019

8:00am to 10:45am Brunch at the Chateau. (user pays)

9:30am to 10:15am Adventurist Recovery Yoga (Free of Charge) Front lawn or Tongariro Room if wet.

11:00am to 11:45am Awards ceremony in Chateau Ballroom

COMPULSORY EQUIPMENT FOR ALL PARTICIPANTS

The compulsory equipment that all participants must wear or carry are;

Running or walking shoes – specific trail shoes are essential and highly recommended. You will need maximum traction!

Jacket that is waterproof, windproof, breathable, seam sealed with a hood that will keep you warm and dry for prolonged periods in an alpine environment. (Recommendation is that the jacket is rated to at least 5,000mm)

Thermal base layer long sleeve top these can be polypropylene (polypro), merino or a combination of these

Thermal mid layer long sleeve top

Thermal base layer long legs bottom

Thermal beanie

Thermal gloves

Survival bag – not a survival blanket. The requirements of the bag are that you can fit inside it, it is waterproof and windproof. THese should be a high quality bag that will retail for about $25-$40, – see image below.

First Aid including 1-2 metres of bandage, strapping tape and plasters.

Mobile Phone – charged in a waterproof container

Headlamp – fully charged and a second back up light that is not your mobile phone.

Whistle

This compulsory equipment will be checked;

the day prior to the event at registration

on race day at the various start lines. (If the entrant does not have the correct safety gear, then they will not be permitted to start the race).

at random checkpoints around the course.

There are only 3 access points on the course for you to see you runner – the start, end of leg one (Ohakune Mountain Road) and end of leg two (Tukino Road). Please note that to access Tukino Road, you will need to get a 4WD shuttle from State Highway One – Desert Road/Tukino Road intersection and a small fee will apply – see Transport notes below.

SAFETY

RISKS ASSOCIATED WITH THE RING OF FIRE

Taking part in the Ring of Fire includes taking on risks. With preparation and care these risks can be minimised so that you have a fun and safe event experience.

Key Hazards

HAZARD: Trips and falls on rough terrain causing injury.

COMMENT: There are some technical sections of the course including the Cascade waterfall climb, the Wahianoa Gorge, dropping off the Tukino Road into the valley. Much of leg one and two have a very uneven running surface.

MANAGEMENT: Take care with where you place your feet and the pace at which you run. If it is technical, slow down to pick your path.

HAZARD: Hypothermia from the cold.

COMMENT: Symptoms include shivering, cold fingers and toes and skin colour change.

MANAGEMENT: You need to take enough gear to star warm while running or walking and enough gear to keep you warm if you stop and can not continue. Take all of the compulsory gear and put it on BEFORE you are cold or wet or both!!!

HAZARD: Traffic collision.

COMMENT: The event uses short sections of public road. Although we do have a Traffic Management Plan in place, none of the roads are closed. Please note: there are NO competitor or supporter vehicles allowed up the Tukino Access Road from the entry point of the Desert Road.

MANAGEMENT: Treat all roads as public road. Take care, run on the shoulder, heads up and watch out for traffic. Event transport on the Tukino Access Road MUST be used by all competitors who present their race bib to get on bus and supporters must purchase a $10 return bus ticket through the shop or at registration.

PARTICIPATION RULES

The following rules apply to this event and will be strictly enforced.

I have read and understand the information regarding this event and understand that I participate in this event at my own risk.

I acknowledge and accept that trail running carries an inherent risk of injury, illness and in extreme cases, death.

I hereby attest and verify that I am physically fit and have trained sufficiently for this event.

I will be drug and alcohol free for this event.

I acknowledge that although the Ring of Fire has medical personnel and resources at various points along the course, the inaccessibility of much of the trail will make it difficult or impossible for medical assistance to reach me immediately and extractions may take a period of time.

I agree to allow event medical staff to treat me as they see fit.

I hereby allow the use of my name and image to be used in the media and for marketing purposes.

I will stay on the marked course at all times, unless instructed be event staff.

I will obey all course marking.

I will wear or take the compulsory safety equipment required by the event – refer separate list – compulsory equipment for participants.

My support crew and I will obey the instructions given by event staff.

I accept that I may be pulled from the course at any time with the discretion of event staff, primarily for, but not limited to, safety reasons.

I will complete the entire course under my own power.

I will not light any fires.

I will be respectful of other National Park users such as recreational walkers.

I will not litter.

Smoking is not permitted at any of the checkpoints or along the trail by participants, staff, spectators or supporters.

Any participant who is unable to finish the event must inform the nearest event staff of their decision to withdraw and make sure their race number is recorded, or text the Event Safety phone numbers (see race number for phone numbers).

Participants who leave the course/event without informing staff of their race number will be classified as “missing”. The participant will be contacted on their mobile phone and their emergency contact will be called. If there is no response from either party or the emergency contact does not know the status of the runner, a search will be activated. Any search related costs will be charged to the participant.

Anti-Doping Policy and Statement: Race management reserves the right to drug test any participant competing in this event – from the time of registration to after the completion of the event. Agreement to submit to drug testing is a condition of entry.

Do not take any form of NSAID drugs such as Ibuprofen as part of this event.