Watch this space for the race date for Washie 2024

The First Washie – 1977

It is the oldest and most enduring of the super ultras, venturing where even excellent Comrades (90km) runners fear to tread. Comrades is often referred to as a training run for Washie …

From its earliest innovative days the Washie secured national recognition for East London and then, as it became more established, world wide publicity through a website devoted to the more taxing ultra marathons.

It has been the subject of many newspaper and magazine articles and lengthy television and radio programmes, and even a poem.

It has become part of the history of the city, with people throughout the metropolitan region taking pride in the Washie weekend, automatically associating it with a winter
full moon.

There are no monetary prizes, but every finisher gets a special track suit top and a unique hand made wooden trophy. These were made for decades in a different ultra marathon feat by the irrepressible Jack Hugo, a Washie veteran himself.

Today they are made by Craig Nelson, the current Chairman of the Buffalo Road Runners club.

Permanent numbers are granted to runners that finish 5 Washies, and there is a bronzed shoe awarded for completing ten.

The Washie 100 Miler starts on Friday evening, July 28, and the cut-off time is 26 hours later at the Buffs Club in East London.

 The Race Rules

The following outlines the rules of competing in the Washie 100 Miler.

By entering this race, all entrants agree to abide by these rules, and to accept any and all consequences for breaking them.

1. Entries are online only via the official website https://washie100miler.com
2. The race entry fee is R1500  for novice (first time) Washie runners, and R1200 for previous Washie finishers.
3. The race will be held under any Covid-19 protocols applicable at that time.
4. All South African athletes must be licensed with an ASA club. No temporary numbers will be issued.
5. The race is run in strict accordance with the rules of World Athletics, Athletics South Africa and Border Athletics.
6. All foreign athletes must comply with World Athletics rules and have permission from their local federation to compete in this event.
7. Athletes are not required to qualify for the Washie 100 Miler.
8. All participants must be 20 years or older.
9. Registration will be at the start (Cathcart Country Club) from 13h00 to 16h00 on Friday 28th July.
10. All entrants must collect their race packs, wrist bands and trackers at registration between 13h00 and 16h00 on 28th July 2023.
11. All athletes will be required to run with a small satellite tracking device. This device must be carried on their person at all times. The athlete tracking data will be checked prior to publication of the final results.
12. All seconding team members must must collect their car signs, wrist bands and sign the seconding register between 13h00 and 16h00 on 28th July 2023.
13. Only official participants displaying their race numbers, and accompanying registered seconding teams & vehicles displaying their car signs are allowed to interact on the route.
14. The athlete’s race number must be worn on the front at all times and must be clearly visible.
15. Race briefing is compulsory for all runners AND seconds, at 16h00 on Friday 28th July 2023. Any runner not present at the race briefing will NOT BE ALLOWED TO START.
16. The route will be discussed in detail at the race briefing.
17. The race starts at 17h00 on Friday 28th July. NO LATE STARTS will be permitted.
18. The race ends at 19h00 on Saturday 29th July, allowing competitors a maximum of 26 hours to complete the course.
19. There are in-race time cutoffs at 23h00 on Friday at the ¼ way (40km mark), and at 06h00 on Saturday at the ½ way (80km mark). Any athlete not making it these points in the allocated time will be retired from the race.
20. Spot checks will be set at various points during the race at the discretion of the committee and race referee.
21. Seconding teams are limited to a MAXIMUM OF 2 CARS PER ATHLETE, and a maximum of 3 people per vehicle (ie. 6 people in total for the seconding team).
22. Seconding vehicles must display the official seconding signs in their front and back windows at all times. They must also be clearly visible at all times through the use of hazard lights, other flashing lights (amber or white only!), and reflective tape (reflective tape will be available for purchase at registration). Seconding teams must adhere to the South African traffic rules of the road at all times. Any seconding team found violating any of these conditions will result in the immediate disqualification of their athlete.
23. Any interference with another participant by either the athlete or their seconding team will result in immediate disqualification of the athlete.
24. Any athlete and/or seconding team caught cheating in any way will result in the athlete being disqualified immediately. The athlete will also be permanently banned from any future Washie races.
25. SAFETY IS A PRIORITY – runners must be as visible as possible at all times and must run with a reflective vest. Please contact us to see what is acceptable in this regard. Reflective vests will be available for purchase at registration. Any runners found breaching this rule will be disqualified immediately.
    
26. All runners must wear a headlamp during the night time running sessions. 
27. Seconding tables are not provided, personal seconding is a requirement to participate.
28. Entries are not refundable for non-participation for any reason.
29. Should an athlete not be able to participate for any reason, they may defer their entry for a maximum period of 1 year. A deferral administration fee of R250 will apply.
30. There is a 35km loop just out of Cathcart on which there will be NO SECONDING permitted. There will be a water table provided on this stretch by the organisers. 
31. There will be timing checkpoints at the 40km, 80km and 120km marks on the course.
32. If a runner decides to withdraw, their seconding team must notify the organisers immediately via the emergency contact number provided at the race briefing.
33. Race officials will continuously traverse the route while the race is in progress.
34. ONLY registered athletes and their registered seconding teams (ie. those with official wristbands) will be allowed in the finisher chute. NO OTHER supporters will be allowed in the finishing chute.
35. No person may use the Washie 100 Miler logo or branding for any reason without prior consent from the Buffalo Road Runners Club.
36. The organisers and race officials reserve the right to amend these rules at any time.

Objections

Objections against another participant will be regarded in a very serious light, so please report a contravention of any of the rules by another participant or participant’s supporters.

Be sure of the objection and complaint before lodging an objection.

Procedures for lodging an objection

1. If a participant witnesses a contravention to the rules by another participant, record the name and/or number of the participant breaking the rule.
2. Try to solicit a witness and take down the name and number of the witness.
3. Report the incident to the race referree and give a brief description of what occurred, as well as the details of the witness.
4. Complete an objection form at the finish of the race.
5. The fee for this is R500.00.
6. If the objection is valid the fee will be refunded.