Race Rules + Gear

Race Requirements

Downloads so you can plan for race day:

Racer Information Package – This is your first resource for information on the Hook or Crook. It contains everything you need to know about the race and more.

Medical Form – This form is optional. Fill it out if you have a medical condition or anything you want our medics to know (contact lenses to heart problems).

Emergency Protocol – Please review this document as it will help you understand what to do in case of an emergency.

Mandatory/Recommended Gear

This list is a mix of mandatory and recommended gear. You will be in remote wilderness, and you are responsible for your safety. If you are injured it may be several hours before we can reach you, so you need to be prepared. Do not think it will not happen to you! Weather changes quickly in the mountains so prepare accordingly. You may elect to carry additional gear, like bear spray, at your discretion. We reserve the right to add gear

Prohibited/Restricted Items

• Performance-Enhancing Drugs: See Rules and Definitions
• Headphones: See Rules and Definitions

Rules and Definitions

Updated July 14, 2023

New! See our new Gender Category Policy.

Definitions

• Competitor: Someone who is registered in the race, has checked in and signed a waiver, and is designated to run all of or a specific portion of the race
• CP: Checkpoint, also "Water Station" or "Aid Station".
• Disqualified: A competitor or team that has not completed a mandatory section of the race, or has been removed from the event by Race Administration.
• DNF: Did Not Finish, also "Disqualified".
• DNS: Did Not Start, also "Disqualified".
• Leg: Also "Stage"; any one of the seven sections of the race.
• Pacer: A runner who is enlisted specifically to assist a Competitor finish a stage of the race.

Race Rules

1. Competitors are required to check in at registration by 8:00pm on the day prior to the race, and sign a waiver provided by the Sinister Sports Inc. A competitor is considered DNS without a signed waiver.
2. Competitors are responsible for their own medical coverage and all costs incurred by any form of rescue services, treatment, or hospitalization if they are injured during the race. If emergency evacuation is required, the cost will be the responsibility of the individual in need of assistance. This includes the cost of airlifting and helicopter or ground search if required.
3. Start Times:
   1. The race begins at 8:00am on the Tuesday of the race.
   2. Competitors must start within 10 minutes of their assigned start time. Late starters may be removed from the course or shuttled ahead and marked as Unranked at the discretion of the Race Director.
4. Finish Times:
   1. The race ends at 12:00pm Saturday for an elapsed time of 100 hours.
   2. Racers not finished by this time will be considered Over Time Limit (OTL) and do not receive a regulation time.
5. Start and finish times may be adjusted at the discretion of the Race Director due to environmental or safety factors.
6. Each leg of the race has a cutoff, and competitors must start the next leg by the time listed. If a competitor cannot finish their leg by this time, they may be instructed to pull out of the race. Cutoff times are available on the course page of the website.
7. The only means of travel on the course is walking, running, or crawling. No mechanical assistance is allowed. Using any other means of travel will result in disqualification.
8. The timing chip is property of Sinister Sports, or it's suppliers, and must be returned at the end of the race.
9. The numbered race bib must be worn on the front of your body so that it is visible to race marshals.
10. Competitors must carry mandatory race gear at all times, as shown in the Race Requirements section of this page. Not carrying the mandatory gear will result in penalties or disqualification at the discression of the race director
11. Competitors must check in at all CPs. Your number and time will be recorded before you continue on the course.
12. The course is published and marked, and runners must adhere to the designated route; any deviance or short cuts will result in disqualification.
13. If any act of nature or uncontrollable act takes place that inhibits your progress on the course (eg: snow, rockslide) no time credit will be given; these factors are a part of the race.
14. Competitors are allowed assistance (eg: support crew, volunteer, race marshal, or bystander) only at designated CPs. Accepting assistance outside a CP from anyone besides a registered competitor (see 15) or race medic will result in disqualification. You can receive assistance from appointed race medics anywhere on the course, even outside of designated CPs, providing that the assistance is not in the form of transportation.
15. Competitors are also allowed to work together on course, and provide assistance to each other between CPs.
16. Competitors are allowed to use pacers starting at CP6 and from that point until the end of the race. Pacing and pacer specific rules:
1. Competitors may have up to four pacers in the race;
2. Competitors may only have one pacer on course with them at a time;
3. Competitors, not pacers, must carry the satellite tracker;
4. Pacers are a reflection of the Racer and must abide by both the rules and spirit of The Divide 200, including signing a race waiver and carrying the appropriate mandatory gear (not including a tracker);
5. Pacers must start and finish at a checkpoint that is support crew accessible (CP6, CP9, CP10, CP12, Finish);
6. Pacers must wear a pacer bib and add their racer’s number to the bib;
7. Pacers must stay within 10m (30') of their racer at all times, except if going for help in the event of an emergency;
8. If a pacer needs to drop out, they must report to the nearest CP for evacuation and the competitor must notify race administration;
9. Pacers are not allowed to "mule" for their racer. The competitor is responsible for carrying their own equipment and sustenance at all times.
10. Race administration does not track the whereabouts of pacers and the competitor is responsible for ensuring their pacer is in the appropriate locations at the appropriate times.
17. Competitors are not allowed to cache food or gear along the course except at designated areas.
18. Littering on the course is unacceptable and will result in immediate disqualification.
19. Competitors receiving an IV during the race, by any other source than our offical race medics, will be disqualified. If a competitors receives an IV from our medics, we will determine on a case-by-case basis, with the advice of our Head of Medical Services, if the competitor may continue.
20. Any competitor found using, or supplying performance-enhancing drugs to other competitors, will be disqualified and permanently barred from all Sinister Sports events. See http://list.wada-ama.org/ for banned substances. Sinister Sports Inc. respects any existing bans and will comply with any investigation undertaken by anti-doping agencies. Competitors may apply for an exemption by contacting the Race Director.
21. Headphones must be removed in a CP. Not doing so may result in penalties or disqualification at the discretion of the Race Director. If used on course, consider wearing only one earbud and keeping the volume at an acceptable level so that you can hear your surroundings without disturbing other competitors.
22. Any competitor that drops out of the race must notify the nearest race marshal or director at the earliest opportunity. Do not drop out of the race without telling race officials as this will result in a costly search and you may be billed.
23. Medical staff and/or Race Directors may remove any competitor from the racecourse if they feel it is unsafe for the competitor to proceed (eg: natural hazards, hypothermia, dehydration, frostbite, debilitating injury, unprepared for weather events).
24. Unsportsmanlike conduct will not be tolerated and may result in disqualification at the discretion of the Race Director.
25. Any disputes with the racecourse, race results, course management or the actions of other competitors must be submitted to the Race Director, in writing, within 30 minutes of the end of the race. If not received within this time, complaints will not be considered.
26. The Race Director will determine if there has been a violation of these rules and will be the final authority in assigning penalties.