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General information on the Trans Australia Race

The race director is Bernie Farmer of Canberra, assisted by Jesse Riley of Key West, Florida, U.S.A. Both are experienced ultra runners and race organisers. We are pleased to announce that extensive support from the sponsors allows us to guarantee minimum prize money of AU $65,000 (US$40,000) and charitable donations of AU$15,000 (US$10,000). Entry is by invitation only, since we may not be able to accept all qualified applicants.

General qualifications are:

• 100km in 9:00:00 or less ; or
• 161km or more in 24 hours ; or
• 483km or more in six days

Please indicate which race you achieved these marks so we may verify them. All runners mush sign a detailed agreement with the organisers binding both parties to the conditions discussed here. A deposit of AU$2,000 is required to hold your place. This deposit, less any fines for misconduct, will be returned at the conclusion of the event in Canberra, provided the runner remains qualified in the race until Kalgoorlie (600km from the start).

Our philosophy as organisers is that this event is a team effort not only between runners and organisers, but also involving the media, charities, support crews, government agencies, volunteers, sponsors, and so on. Good sportsmanship and professional conduct are expected and required, both during the run and at the goal each day.

The race is a staged event similar to the Tour de France over a distance of approximately 4500km. The longest stage will be approximately 85km. There will be a prize each day as well as prize money for the top ten overall runners (lowest cumulative time) at Canberra. The stage prize may be contested over only a portion of the days distance, especially in urban areas where traffic creates problems.

Runners must achieve a minimum speed of 5.6 km/hr for each stage regardless of distance, and runners who are disqualified before Kalgoorlie are ineligible for stage prizes. Stages will be shorter before Kalgoorlie and longer in the Nullarbor. The shorter stages are to help acclimatise the runners (especially Northern Hemisphere runners who may have difficulty in the summer heat), the longer stages occur in the most remote area of the course.

Each runner mush have an automobile and driver to care for all of his/her needs. Runners are responsible for their crews, but the organisers may also supervise and organise crewpeople for the good order and safety of the event. We will provide a list of suggested hear at a later date.

Since it is in the organisers interest to keep as many runners qualified as possible, they may offer additional assistance to slower runners during the latter part of the stage.

Runners will be issued uniforms to be worn during the run and race-related activities. The race organisers, will ende3avour to assist the runners personal sponsors, wherever possible. However, the guidelines are as follows:

• If a race sponsor and a runners sponsor are in direct business competition, the race sponsor takes precedence.
• Personal sponsors logo's are allowed on clothing and vehicles at the discretion of the race organisers (Bernie Farmer and Jesse Riley)
• Personal sponsors logo's will be permitted on clothing at a size no larger than 10cm x 7cm and are not to be positioned to conflict with race sponsors logo's.
• Some personal sponsors shirts will be permitted to be worn during certain stages of the race, at the discretion of the race organisers.
• Larger size logos will only be permitted during certain stages of the race at the race organisers discretion.

If any doubt exists regarding these rules, please contact the race organisers prior to the start of the race.

We wish to emphasize that, as in other professional sports, the athletes responsibilities include availability to media and attendance at promotional events when reasonably requested by the organisers.

Additional considerations :

• Runners not fluent in English should bring an interpreter.
• Most of Australia is lightly populated and the Nullarbor section is unpopulated wilderness except for the roadhouses. Prepare as you would for a week of camping in the wilderness, just to be safe.

We suggest runners arrive early in the Perth area to become acclimatised to the weather.

Start times for each days stage may vary quite a bit. Be prepared to run in the dark before dawn to avoid the heat.

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