The Trans Aq’ is organised by “Dunes Organisation”, created under the French Association Law of 1901 of non-lucrative purpose; the head office is in Hourtin.
Clause 2: Definition
The Trans Aq’ is a free-style foot race (run or walk), in 6 stages, alimentary semi self-sufficiency (2 x 3 days) and bivouac comfort. The total distance is approximately 220 km to 230 km.
Clause 3: Dates
The Trans Aq’ will take place from the 29th of May to the 4th June 2011.
Clause 4: Registrations
The basic registration fee is 650 €uros, for registrations paid in one payment and sent before the 1st December 2010.
A price increase of 50 €uros will be applied to registrations sent from the 1st December 2010.
A price increase of 100 €uros will be applied to registrations sent from the 1st February 2011.
A fidelity discount is offered to "ancient" participants (including non-finishers): 40 €uros for one participation, 70 €uros for 2 participations, 100 €uros for 3 participations, 130 €uros for 4 participations, 160 €uros for 5 participations and 190 €uros for 6 participations.
If you prefer to pay by instalments, the price is 700 €uros, you may pay with 3 cheques:
200 €uros deposit at the time of registration.
250 €uros cashed 1st February 2011 (but you must send all 3 cheques).
250 €uros (minus the fidelity discount if applicable) cashed 1st April 2011.
Teams: the same principal applies, multiplied by the number of members.
Registration fees include:
Lunch and Pasta Party served at the bivouac on Sunday the 29th May.
The “gala” meal after the prize-giving ceremony on Saturday the 4th June.
Breakfast on Sunday the 5th June.
Return by bus to Bordeaux (airport, train station) or the start point (your choice).
Boat transfer across the Gulf of Arcachon.
Eventual bus transfers during the race.
Mineral water for the duration of the race.
The two meals served during the race.
Transport of your luggage (not your race backpack!) to the final finish line.
A medal of high quality.
A commemorative T-shirt.
A gift of regional products.
Registration fees do not include:
Shuttle bus service from Bordeaux to the start line bivouac on Saturday the 28th May (12 €uros).
The evening meal on Saturday 28th May and the breakfast on Sunday 29th May if you decide to arrive at the start line bivouac on Saturday (16 €uros).
Clause 5: Rights of Admission
To qualify for entry all participants must be up-to-date with registration payments, justify his/her identity, fulfil control requirements, supply full medical records.
16 or 17 year old participants will only be accepted with parental/legal guardian consent and medical acceptance.
Clause 6: Calendar
Saturday 28th May (from 14h00) and Sunday 29th May: welcome reception of participants, medical, technical and administrative formalities.
Monday 30th to Saturday 4th June: the race.
Saturday 4th June: final finish line, prize giving, gala meal and party.
Sunday 5th June: return to first start point and to Bordeaux.
Clause 7: Program in Full
Saturday 28th May from 14h00 onwards: welcome reception for participants.
Sunday 29th May: 10h00 welcome reception for participants (continued) and the start of backpack controls, time limit for arrival at the bivouac: 15h00.
Collective lunch and dinner. The night bivouac is mandatory; self-sufficiency starts, for all runners, after the evening meal.
Monday 30th May to Saturday 4th June: the race under alimentary self-sufficiency (2 x 3 days) and bivouac self-sufficiency comfort (tents are, of course, supplied).
Saturday 4th June: final finish. Evening meal, prize-giving ceremony and party for those who decide to spend a last night at the bivouac.
Sunday 5th June: morning (9h00) transfer to the car park arrival zone and also to Bordeaux (airport for 11h30, train station for 12h00, first start line town for 12h00).
Clause 8: Controls
Each participant must be present for the different controls/formalities and must submit his/her complete medical records and equipment (backpack) for control by the race administrators.
Clause 9: Running Bibs
The running bibs supplied by the organisation must be totally visible (number and advertising) at all moments during the race under pain of penalties (first a warning, then a 30 minute time penalty per offence).
Clause 10: Control Stations
A number of control stations will be put in place along the entire route of the race. You'll, sometimes be controlled by a member of staff, and sometimes the control points will be manual, here you'll clip your road book yourself. Controls are mandatory and to be passed in the order planned for the itinerary (time penalties of one hour will be imposed for each offence, disqualification after a 3rd offence).
Clause 11: Classification of Results
The general individual classification ratings will be the addition of the time taken by each runner to cover each stage, plus eventual time penalties.
Team classification will be calculated upon the time taken by the arrival of the 3rd team member at each stage (and not the average of the 3 best!) plus eventual time penalties.
A team is made up of a minimum of 3 runners and a maximum of 5 (men or women or mixed).
Categories: all customary age-group categories, men and women.
Clause 12: Alimentary Self-Sufficiency
Drinking water will be supplied by the organisation, but no food, from the morning of the 30th May up to the final finish line, with the exception of the meals planned and explained further on. Each participant must, therefore, plan for his/her own alimentary needs up until the 4th June lunchtime. All foodstuffs received during the race from outside sources will be punished by disqualification. It is not forbidden to drink from taps to be found, eventually, along the race route (un-controllable) but it is forbidden to accept bottles offered by outsiders to the race. A 30 minute time penalty for the first offence and disqualification at the second offence.
A buffet of fresh products will be installed at the final finish line.
2 times 3 days: Each participant may leave during the controls on the 29th May a drop bag weighing no more than 3000g (weight of the bag included). This bag will be returned to the participant at the finish line of the 3rd stage. It’s ideal for splitting food rations into 2 times 3 days and/or to include warm clothing for the crossing of the Gulf of Arcachon.
Light Meals:
Two light meals will be served before and after the long run:
The first will be served towards 18h00 the evening of the second stage (31st May)
It will be composed of bread, a piece of fruit and a yoghourt, and a drink (Coca or beer, your choice).
The second will be served at the end of the night stage. Composed of “noodle” soup and some bread.
Clause 13: Aid Stations
Aid stations are equally mandatory control points. Including the water distribution before the start of each stage; it also serves as the start line control point. There will be an aid station at approximately each 15 km along the race route.
The race is run under complete alimentary self-sufficiency, no food stuffs will be proposed at the aid stations.
Drinking water will be supplied to participants:
each morning before the start of the stage, one bottle of 1.5 litres.
at each aid station, one bottle of 1.5 litres.
at the finish line of each stage, 2 bottles = 3 litres.
Three bottles instead of two at the finish line of each stage where the bivouac is in a wild zone (no taps for drinking water).
Particularities:
One bottle of sparkling mineral water will be given at the finish line of the long stage (as well as the two bottles of still water).
One bottle for the “waiting period”, (2nd June) before the night run.
Clause 14: Bivouacs
Bivouacs will be mostly wild (in the middle of nature) or in camp sites (empty at this time of year) bordering the dunes. Shower facilities and toilets will be available in the campsites, but only toilets (chemical WC’s) will be available at the “wild” bivouacs. Toilet paper is supplied by the organisation.
The organisation will supply numbered tents for the participants who will group themselves according to affinity. The “rooming” teams of nine persons (3 tents of 3 occupants) will be set up around a common gas ring camping stove. This “rooming” once made up will not change during the event and this for convenience, and also to find, each day, ones place. Participants must carry during the race all comforts required for the bivouac.
Clause 15: Medical
The medical team will be present at all times during the race, and are authorised at their discretion to withdraw a bib and eliminate a runner from the race if judged physically unfit to continue.
Clause 16: Medical Self-sufficiency
Access to the medical tent is authorised at the discretion of the medical team.
The medical team are there to treat injuries. No massages or other “comfort treatment” will be administered. The same applies to minor cuts and grazes, blisters, etc.
Important injuries will, of course, be treated.
Treatment of blisters at finish lines will be given if the runner wishes, but will be sanctioned by a penalty (see clause 32). During the race, whilst the stopwatch is running, no penalty will be applied for treatment.
It is mandatory to have with you at all times antiseptics and plasters/bandages for your blisters and minor injuries. See Clause 23: Mandatory Equipment
Vital treatment (perfusions, etc.) will be sanctioned by disqualification at the second treatment and this at the discretion of the medical team and the race director.
The distance for each stage will be revealed one to two months before the start of the race, as will the elevation. But full details of the route will only be revealed each evening, in the form of a road book and a briefing.
The itinerary will be completely marked up (ribbons, signs, paint on roads). However, orienteering is authorised. In practice it will be possible and potentially advantageous only on very rare occasions (once or twice per stage). The road book will show (if you know how to read a map) the itinerary and neighbouring tracks. Sometimes, a non-marked up route (and sometimes longer in distance) after your evaluation may help you gain some time (1 or 2 minutes) and/or some effort. Potential maximum gain for each stage: approximately 3 minutes. And at the risk of getting lost, don't forget this.
It is forbidden to take roads, gravel paths, cycle lanes, roadside verges if they are not an integral part of the ribbonned or marked up race itinerary.
Ordinance survey maps or other maps, are forbidden. Sanction: disqualification.
Clause 18: Markings along the Itinerary
The itinerary for each of the 6 stages will we marked out (ribbons, signs, paint on roads) at each junction along the route, with visual reminders between 2 junctions at a maximum of 300 m (read Clause 17 concerning orienteering).
For the night stage, glow sticks will be used.
Clause 19: The Night Stage
A stage of, between 30km to 40km will be run at night or at dusk, start time between 20h00 and 22h00. A torch (or head lamp) with batteries in full working order is mandatory. Dynamo powered lamps are authorised for the first 3 stages, a head lamp (heavier) can, be placed in the drop bag that you'll retrieve on the 3rd day.
Clause 20: Time Limits
In order to avoid having runners spread-out over too long distances, cut-off times will be imposed and may be modified at the discretion of the race director under exceptional circumstances. These time limits are calculated on an average speed of 5.5 km/h for the stages between 20 to 34 km, 5 km/h for stages between 35 to 45 km and for the night stage, 4.5 km/h for the long stage of approximately 60 km.
For each aid station, a cut-off time will be printed on the road book.
During the “long stage” the organisers reserve the right to start the race in two groups. The first 75 runners in the general ranking will leave 1½ hours after the others, in order to keep the runners together along the itinerary (for safety reasons). Real time time-keeping will of course be used.
Clause 21: Ground Conditions, Climate
The Aquitain coastal region is very sandy, especially for the first three stages. Tracks through the pine trees are sometimes covered with moss and pine needles, but close to clearings, or where heavy forestry vehicles have passed, then soft sand prevails.
Your “readings” of the ground, will enable you to economise your strength! Correctly adapted running shoes will also help. The June climate is not exceedingly wet (40 mm of rain on average). Average temperatures over the last 10 years range from 25°C during the day to 11°C during the night. In 2006 we had 6°C the night before the first stage and 32°C during the race... Humidity levels are high, up to 45%, if it doesn’t rain, or more. Sleeping bags are often damp in the morning… In six years and 36 stages, the Trans Aq’ has only known one very wet stage at the start and 2 others will just a few drops...
Clause 22: Abandon
A participant must announce his/her abandon at the closest control point and relinquish bib numbers and all calories contained in the backpack to a Trans Aq’ official staff member. Search fees are at the cost of the participant if he/she leaves the race without indicating the abandon.
The abandon of a member of a 3 member team will not permit the team to be ranked in the final classification. Remaining members of the team may, however, continue as individual participants.
Once a bib number has been relinquished to the organisation the abandon is definitive.
The runner will be returned as soon as possible (depending on the availability of the organisation) to the first start line, to Bordeaux or to Dax. No amount of the registration fee may be recovered. A runner who abandons the race may also stay within the organisation.
Clause 23: Mandatory Equipment
Each participant must have in their backpack:
A complete list of backpack contents and full details of the food-stuffs planned for the entire race.
Time penalties will be imposed if this requirement is not covered – 30 minutes at each inspection.
A sleeping bag adapted to the damp conditions of the region. Sleeping bags with aluminium linings are forbidden (in order to not disturb the sleep of co-tentmates).
A survival blanket
A torch (head lamp) with batteries in full working order.
A compass (if you’re lost).
A knife (metal blade).
A whistle (in case you get lost in the forest).
A medical kit containing:
Antiseptics/disinfectant and plasters for your minor injuries - blisters, rubbing burns, etc. (see Clause 16).
Here's a list recommended by our medical team, who are accustomed to treating Trans Aq' pathologies:
1 strip of Elastoplast 6 cm wide x 100 cm long (minimum)
1 syringe with 2 ml needle
2 x 2 ml doses of eosin (iodine)
6 plasters (various sizes)
1 band of second skin blister plaster
6 paracetamol tablets
6 anti-diarrhoea tablets (ex. Imodium 2 mg)
6 anti-nausea tablets (ex. Motilium 10mg or Motylio 10mg)
Markings: You must mark in indelible ink your bib number on all “gels” and/or energy bars. See Clause 31.
Clause 24: Backpack Weight
As indicated in Clause 12 “Each participant may leave during the controls on the 29th May a drop bag weighing no more than 3000 g (weight of the bag included). This bag will be returned to the participant at the finish line of the 3rd stage. It’s ideal for splitting food rations into 2 times 3 days and/or to include warm clothing for the crossing of the Gulf of Arcachon.”
Race Backpack Weight:
- At the start of the race, minimum weight: 3 500 kg
maximum weight: 7 000 kg
- At the start of the 4th stage minimum weight: 2 900 kg
maximum weight: 6 000 kg
Clause 25: Medical Controls
You must send us before the 1st May 2011:
A medical certificate established in 2011 by a doctor specifying explicitly that you are in a fit state to participate in a foot race of 6 stages of between 25 to 60 km carrying a backpack.
Our questionnaire completed by your doctor.
All to be sent placed in a sealed envelope that only our race doctor will be authorised to open (medical confidentiality).
Warning: in the case of non-respect of these requirements, no matter which, the participant will not be admitted to the start line.
A sports licence will not be accepted as proof of fitness to participate.
Clause 26: Backpack Controls
At the initial control point you must supply two copies of the complete list of contents of your bag (see Clause 23 & 24) and present these contents for inspection. One list will be conserved by the organisation for comparison in case of dispute; the other copy must remain in your bag.
Backpacks will be controlled each day. Weight and contents: Penalties: a 10 minute time penalty will be applied for each 100 g difference with a theoretic weight...
Clause 27: Cancellations
Cancellations and requests for reimbursement must be made by registered letter.
You will be fully reimbursed for cancellations submitted prior to the 1st January 2011 (postmark will be used as proof of the cancellation date).
An amount of 200 €uros will not be refunded for cancellations submitted prior to the 1st March.
An amount of 250 €uros will not be refunded for cancellations submitted prior to the 1st April.
An amount of 300 €uros will not be refunded for cancellations submitted prior to the 1st May.
An amount of 350 €uros will not be refunded for cancellations submitted after the 1st May.
This same reasoning applies to teams, multiplied by the number of members.
In the case of cancellation of the event or modification of the route by prefectural decision in the case of force majeure (storms, forest fire risks, etc...), participants cannot reclaim inscription costs.
Clause 28: List of Prizes
There is no money to be won at the Trans Aq’...…
As far as possible, we wish to keep the “Spiridon”* spirit alive.
The winners for each age category (men and women) will win a cup or a trophy.
All finishers will receive a high quality medal.
All participants will receive a T-shirt marked “Finisher” for those participants who classify, and no markings for the non-finishers.
Local products will also be included to complete the prize.
* Spiridon who was the “mother” of ultra running during the 1970’s and 80’s, gave birth to off-track racing as well as a number of clubs (some still exist today) and a spirit of non-elitism.
Clause 29 – Photo Coverage
The organisation reserves exclusive rights for all video and photographic coverage of the Trans Aq’.
By participating in the Trans Aq’, the runners accept that the organisation may use their image.
Without written authorisation from the organisation, runners and their entourage may not use pictures taken during the event other than for personal reasons.
Clause 30 – Photographs, Film Recordings of the Race
A photographic service will be in place during the Trans Aq’. A CD of photographs will be proposed at a price of 25 €uros, postage and packaging included.
Clause 31 – Respect of the Environment
All mineral water bottles and their caps will be marked. These objects if abandoned on the race route will engender a time penalty: one hour for the first offence, disqualification for the second. The same applies for your “gel” and energy bar wrappers.
Clause 32 – List of Penalties
1/ Late arrival at the 29th May controls: penalty is equal to the lateness.
2/ No medical certificate (imperatively dated 2011) presented at the medical control: start refused.
3/ No identity card at the administrative control on the 29th May:
penalty of 1 hour. The participant must, however, be able to justify his/her identity before the start of the event, and this at the discretion of the organiser.
4/ No backpack (loss, theft) or equivalent (at any moment during the race): disqualification.
5/ Missing article from the list of backpack contents: penalty of 1 hour for each missing object.
6/ No compass or sleeping bag: penalty of 2 hours.
7/ Discrepancy in the weight of backpack and its contents: penalty of 10 minutes per 100 g difference.
8/ Misuse of medical materials requested from the medical station for treating blisters (at the discretion of the medical team): penalty of 15 minutes for the first offence, 30 minutes for all subsequent offences.
9/ Vital medical assistance (at the discretion of the medical team): 30 minutes for the first treatment, disqualification at the second treatment.
10/ Badly placed bib, absence of bib or bib illegible: penalty of 30 minutes for each offence.
11/ Falsified bib: disqualification.
12/ Outside of the cut-off time during a stage of the race: disqualification.
13/ Outside of the cut-off times at the intermediate control stations or aid stations: disqualification.
14/ Missed control stations: penalty of 1 hour for the first 2 offences, disqualification at the 3rd offence.
15/ Food or water assistance received from an outsider to the race organisation: 3 hours for the first offence, disqualification at the 2nd offence.
16/ Material assistance received from an outsider to the race organisation: disqualification.
17/ Use of a vehicle, doping: disqualification.
18/ Logistical assistance given by the race organisation to a lost participant: penalty of 3 hours.
19/ Non-respect of the environment (littering): penalty of 1 hour for the first offence, disqualification at the 2nd offence.
Clause 33 – Application of the Rules and Regulations
By registering for this event, each participant accepts the application of the rules and regulations. The race directors reserve the right to exclude a participant from the race if his/her behaviour is considered unsporting or is deliberately not fair play.
Clause 34 - Complaints
Complaints will only be considered whilst seated around a good meal, offered by the participant after the race. The reply will be greatly influenced by the quality of the meal... The reply will be given within the following two years. Without fault.
The Participants’ Charter for Nature Racing:
Respect of the environment.
Dumping rubbish will result in disqualification.
Respect of the race rules and regulations.
Forbidden to accept food/water or help from an outsider to the race.
