Rules and Regulations - The North Face

Registration Requirement

100km, 50km and 16 km participants

Registration for all race distances will be by way of balloting or charity bibs. Entry to the 100 km race requires previous proof of completing an 100 km race in under 27 hours within the previous 3 years (pre-Covid era results will also be considered if the racer does not have more recent results to submit). There are no eligibility requirements for the 50 km or 16 km races. Virtual race times will be accepted for proof of eligibility. All entrants must be at least 18 years old as of the respective race start dates.

Pre-registration application

On-line Registration starts from 4 PM on 22 August 2023 with online balloting. Balloting will continue for 8 days until 11:59 PM on 29 August 2023. Successful balloters will then be notified and given 8 days to complete registration formalities. Non-successful balloters will be put on a waiting list.
Race entry fees: 100 km – $1,500 early bird/$1,700 after 1 October 2023. 50 km – $750 early bird/$950 after 1 October 2023. 16 km – $380 early bird/$480 after 1 October 2023.
Race entry quotas: 100 km – 800 participants; 50 km – 800 participants; 16 km – 400 participants.
Each applicant can apply once only, and they will be identified by their Hong Kong Identity Card or passport number. Submission of more than one form by the same individual(s) is prohibited. If this occurs, all relevant applications will be rendered void.
Successful applicants will need to complete the registration fee payment in order to confirm registration. If registration is not confirmed within this said period, the application will be considered forfeited.
A limited number of charity bibs will be offered concurrently beginning at 4 PM on 22 August 2023. The charity bib confers guaranteed entry (subject to meeting qualifying standards for the 100 km race only) to the chosen race distance with no balloting required. The cost of the charity bib is the race entry fee plus HK$4,000 charitable contribution. The charitable contribution will be given to a selected charity deemed worthy by the race organiser.

General Rules

Participants must be at least 18 years old on the date their respective race starts.
Race participants may run walk or crawl, but may not make use of any motorized or wheeled vehicles during the race. Doing so would be grounds for disqualification.
Race participants must make forward progress exclusively under their own power. Carrying, pulling or pushing by other racers or members of the public is prohibited and is grounds for disqualification.
Racers must follow the marked course route the entire way and register at each aid station and timing checkpoint. Taking short cuts, is grounds for disqualification.
Racers wishing to make a protest must notify the race command centre within 60 minutes of finishing the race. Protests will be consider by a three person committee consisting of the race director, a representative from The North Face and a representative of the race timing system service provider.
Any littering on the course is strictly prohibited. Race participants are responsible for making sure that anything they throw out goes into a trash barrel. Littering on the course is grounds for disqualification.
The race number must be visible at all times on the outside of the racer’s clothing and on the front of the body. The racer should not cover over your race number with any backpack strap or article of clothing.
If you withdraw from the event, you must notify the closest checkpoint (unless assisted from the course by First Aid crews).
You must carry the Mandatory Gear at all times during the event. Random gear checks will be performed during the event. Any participant without the mandatory gear will not be able to proceed until they arrange for the missing item to be replaced. For the sake of fairness to other runners, the penalty for a missing item is disqualification.
You must obey directions of marshals if you miss any time cut-offs.
Use of trekking poles is permitted 30 minutes after the race start only. During the first thirty minutes of the race, those wishing to use poles must carry them in a backpack or waist pack with the points facing down. This is a safety measure to prevent runners from tripping over each other’s poles before the starting crowd has had the chance to thin out.

Support/Outside Support

Race participants may not receive outside support from the general public anywhere along the course other than at check points/aid stations.
Race participants may use their own money that they carry themselves to purchase food and supplies from shops anywhere along the course, such as at the 7-11 in Taipo.
Race participants may take as much food and beverage as needed from each aid station provided by the organizer. A full list of what will be provided at each aid station will be made available on the organizer’s website prior to the race. Race participants will not be allowed to take any bottles, cans or cups from the site and should plan on carrying and refilling their own hydration systems and cups at the aid stations.
The participant is responsible for the actions of their support crew. Support crews must comply with all instructions from event staff and officials. The participant may be penalised or disqualified for actions or breaches of the rules by their support crew.
Support crews must not eat the provided food at checkpoints. The food is for the competitors only.
Outside assistance is only permitted at the checkpoints. {See number 1 above.}
Support crews are not permitted to run with nor pace runners.
The event organizers are not responsible for the safety or whereabouts of support crew.

Mandatory Equipment

Water resistant jacket with hood (not disposable)
Mobile phone (with HK reception)
2 Lights (one can be a light on a phone, but the other must be a standalone torch or head lamp)
Whistle
Race Bib (with race emergency numbers)
Bottle or water bladder with minimum capacity of 0.5 litres
Personal cup or tumbler
2 flashing lights (such as those attached to bicycles for night riding): one each must be attached to the front and back of the runner and always be visible between the hours of 1700 at night and 0630 the following morning while participating in the race. There is no requirement to wear flashing lights during daylight hours.
(Update on 2023/12/6)
For participants in the 50KM and 100KM races, a headlight/flashlight is a mandatory tool to ensure safety when racing at night.
However, flashers, which are flashing light devices, are strongly recommended but not mandatory for nighttime racing.
Not having them will not result in disqualification.

Recommended Equipment

Warm cap or hat
Extra clothing/shoes
Extra pair of socks
Sunglasses
Sun block or Sunscreen
Trekking poles (only 30 minutes after the race has begun)
Adhesive elastic band for making a bandage or a strapping
Replacement Headlamps / torches batteries
Some cash/ Octopus Card
Emergency blanket or equivalent
At least 0.5 litres of water or sports drink (water bladder or water bottles) at start point
At least 300 calories worth of energy bars / food portions at start point

* These rules have priority over any other document but can be amended via official email racer announcements leading up to the start of the race to reflect up-to-the-minute conditions.

Award

The North Face 100 Ultra Trail Challenge Hong Kong 2023 introduces cash prizes and awards for the first time for participants in both men’s and women’s categories. Among runners who complete the 100KM race, the top 3 finishers in each of men’s and women’s categories will receive cash prizes of HK$15,000 (Champion), HK$10,000 (1^st Runner-up), and HK$5,000 (2^nd Runner-up). Additionally, the first 500 runners to complete the 100KM race will receive a limited edition TNF100 hoodie.

All top 10 finishers in their respective categories of the 16KM, 50KM, and 100KM races will each receive The North Face gift voucher. The gift vouchers awarded are worth HK$8,000 (Champion), HK$5,000 (1^st Runner-up), HK$3,000 (2^nd Runner-up), and HK$1,200 (4^th to 10^th place). These prizes commend the dedicated runners and encourage them on their running journey with The North Face.

The North Face 100 Hong Kong Trail Race 2023 Award Details

100KM Race (for both men’s and women’s categories)
Champion: HK$15,000 cash prize and HK$8,000 The North Face Gift Voucher
1^st Runner-up: HK$10,000 cash prize and HK$5,000 The North Face Gift Voucher
2^nd Runner-up: HK$5,000 cash prize and HK$3,000 The North Face Gift Voucher
4^th to 10^th place: HK$1,200 The North Face Gift Voucher

50KM and 16KM Races (for both men’s and women’s categories)
Champion: HK$8,000 The North Face Gift Voucher
1^st Runner-up: HK$5,000 The North Face Gift Voucher
2^nd Runner-up: HK$3,000 The North Face Gift Voucher
4^th to 10^th place: HK$1,200 The North Face Gift Voucher