Rules and regulations

All registered runners are obeyed to follow these rules and regulations regarding Helsinki City Run half marathon event. The event is organized by the Finnish Athletics (FA), the national athletics federation of Finland, and the event complies with the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) competition rules.

Judges

The judges of HCR are the head judge and the executive committee.

Executive Committee

Race director and race secretary of HCR establish the executive committee.

Complaints / Protests

Any complaints must be done in written within one (1) hour after the official finish time of the race to the competition info-desk.

Rights to photos and videos

The organizer have all rights to use the photos and videos taken during the HCR event.

Address information

Address information of the registered runners can be used in direct marketing regarding Finnish Athletics’ (FA) events unless the participant does not deny it while registering for the event.

Doping

Finnish Athletics (FA) follows the rules of Finnish Antidoping Agency (FINADA) and in cooperation, these parties have the right to perform doping test to the registered runners.

Age groups

Every registered runner must give his or hers date of birth while registering for the event. Age groups for HCR are open women and men, and additional age groups decided by the organizer before the event annually. The runners are divided automatically into the different age groups according to their ages on December 31 the race year(IAAF rule 141, article 1). If the runner wishes to compete in open class, she/he needs to inform the organizer after the registration.

Registration

The registration for HCR is done by submitting the announced entry fee to the event organizer. The registration must be done online by using the provided online registration system. The entry fees are decided annually. The registration for HCR is personal and it cannot be transferred to another person.

Cancelling the registration

Cancelling the participation is not possible after completing the registration. The registrations are non-refundable and non-transferable. In a case of an injury or an illness, the registered runner can postpone his or hers registration for the next year’s event if he or she has chosen an optional cancellation fee while registering. Also a medical certificate regarding the injury/illness must be presented to the organizer before the race day. Postponing the registration is personal and possible only for for the runner him/herself and only for the next year’s event. The postponing is not possible if the participant has collected the race package including the event t-shirt and bib number. The amount of the insurance fee is decided annually.

Bib number

Every participant has a personal bib number. It must be attached to the front of a shirt so that the number is visible and clear. The numbers must not be folded.

Start groups

Participant is obliged to start the race in the start group printed in the personal bib number. The organizer has the right to remove a runner starting in a wrong group. Neither a time nor a result can be guaranteed for a runner starting in a wrong start group. The organizer has the right to define and make changes to the start groups before the race.

Maximum running time

The maximum running time is three (3) hours from start.

Timing

Timing is done by timing system selected by the organizer. Participants must obey the organizer´s guidance to use the system correctly. Runners who does not comply with the instructions, does not promise official time and result.

Discontinuing the race

If a runner must discontinue the race, and wants to use the transfer back to the event area, he or she must go to the nearest refreshment station. The maximum running time is three (3) hours and the runner must follow this schedule during the entire race. There will be check points which the runner must pass within the given schedule. A runner is assumed to be discontinued the race if he or she does not progress within the given schedule. A runner who stays behind the control personnel continues the run at own risk.

Prizes

All the runners finishing the race within maximum running time are given a medal. In addition, the best women and men in open class, and the best of each age group might be awarded. Prizes are determined annually by the organizer.

Results

All the runners started in the correct start group and finishing the race within the maximum running time are guaranteed an official time and a result. The official time is the time from firing of the gun to crossing the finish line. Also so called the net time, time from crossing the starting line to crossing the finish line, will be given for each runner. The both times and results are published on the event website after the race. Neither a time nor a result can be guaranteed for a runner starting in a wrong start group.

Insurance

All runners belonging to Finnish Social Security system (in Finnish KELA) are insured for an acute illness or an injury sustained during the race. The insurance is valid from the moment the runner enters the start area to the moment when she or he leaves the marked finish area. The insurance to be valid, the runner must first go to the official medical staff of the race.

Foreign runners will run at their own risk.

Disqualification

The organizer has the right to disqualify a runner who does not follow these rules and regulations or who does not complete the marked and entire course or who interrupts or disturbs other runners. If an official medical person of the race sees it necessary, she or he has the right to remove a runner from the course for medical reasons (IAAF rule 240, article 7 C). Other Rules and Regulations In addition to these rules and regulations, the organizer can give more instructions and regulations which the participant must comply with.

Force majeure

For reasons of force majeure the organizer could be forced to change or shorten the course or can decide to cancel the event at short notice. A force majeure is considered to be any unpredictable event that the organizer has no control over. In this case no entry fees and addtional orders will be refunded to the participant. The organizer is not liable for any costs incurred by the participant if the event has to be cancelled because of force majeure.

Other Rules and Regulations

In addition to these rules and regulations, the organizer can give more instructions and regulations which the participant must comply with.