Event Rules & Guidelines

Participation

• Registrants must be capable of completing the full distance, start line to finish line, within the event time requirement: 2013 Chicago 10K in 1 hour and 30 minutes (approximately 15:00 mile pace).
• Each participant must sign an event waiver before participating in the event. Registrants under 18 years of age must have an applicant wavier signed by a parent or legal guardian.
• Participant bib numbers and timing devices are specific personal identifiers and may not be exchanged, transferred or sold to any other person. Sale, trade or transfer of race entry, bibs and/or timing devices are strictly prohibited and will result in the disqualification and banning of any individuals involved from future events.
• All entry fees are non-refundable and may not be deferred toward a future event.
• Registration closure is determined and announced when event participation reaches participant capacity.

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Participant Conduct and Safety

• Participants must follow instructions as given from all event officials including race staff, volunteers, medical personnel, fire and police officials, security officers, and city officials throughout the duration of the event.
• Every participant shall be provided with a bib number, which must be worn during the event. No participant shall be permitted to participate in the event without the appropriate bib number.
• The use of music devices (e.g. iPods) is permitted by event officials; however, athletes competing for awards or prize money may not use music devices.
• The use of wheeled devices by participants or any other person authorized to be on the course is limited to (a) authorized race officials (b) authorized course marshals on bicycles. Baby strollers and joggers, skateboards, roller skates, in-line skates, unauthorized bicycles or any other wheeled device will not be permitted on the course.
• Event officials reserve the right to delay, cancel or suspend the race due to inclement weather in accordance with emergency protocol.
• Participants are responsible for their recognition and understanding of event signage, symbols, and color relating to participant maps, facilities, and directions.

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Start

• Participants are responsible for knowing the race’s start time and be present in advance of that time to receive instructions and to participate in the official start of the race.
• Participants shall position themselves based on their starting assignment.
• All participants must be positioned behind the start line prior to the race start.

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Course Monitoring

• Any participant who refuses to obey the directions of event officials, including fire and police officials, city officials or course marshals or who conducts himself/herself in an unsportsmanlike manner, or who is offensive by action or language to officials, volunteers, participants or spectators may be disqualified by the event and from future participation at the discretion of race officials.
• No participant, after leaving the course, shall be allowed to rejoin the race either for the purpose of gaining a place or to pace or to assist another participant.
• Any participant who has been found by a course marshal, event official or surveillance equipment to have gained an unfair advantage by intentionally shortening the route of the race (“cutting the course”) shall be immediately disqualified from the event.
• Any person who participates in the event without a current official event bib number or a bib not officially assigned to him/her is subject to removal and disqualification from future events.
• No persons are authorized to be on the course unless they are registered participants. Therefore, no person shall be allowed to accompany a participant if he/she is not registered in the event, nor shall any participant be allowed, without the permission of the event management, to receive assistance or refreshment from anyone during the progress of the event. Any person not properly displaying an authorized and issued bib number shall be directed to leave the course.
• Participants must retire at once from the race if ordered to do so by a member of the event’s official staff, official medical staff or any governmental authority, including fire and police officers.
• Participants are responsible and assume liability for any and all medical expenses incurred as a result of training for and/or participation in the event, including but not limited to ambulance transport, hospital stays, physician, and pharmaceutical goods and services.

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Result Timing and Awards

• Participants who elect to be timed will be assigned a timing device, distributed on individual bib numbers.
• Clock time is the official finish time for the top ten male and female participants. The clock times shall be recorded from the point when the start horn sounds to when the participant crosses the finish line. Times shall be rounded to the next highest second.
• Official times for all other participants will be the electronic timing device time (net time) from when the participant crosses the start line to the point where the participant crosses the finish line.
• Participants must wear their assigned timing device continuously from start line to finish line to receive an accurate finish time.
• Bib number must be visible and worn on the front of the torso.

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Amendments, Reservations and Acknowledgements

• Event officials reserve the right to modify, supplement or waive all or part of the event rules.
• Participants shall be bound by any modification or supplement of the event rules published prior to the event.
• Failure to follow these event rules, as may be amended, will result in immediate disqualification, loss of prize money, and removal from official results.

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The 2013 Chicago 10K follows, and participants are subject to, the rules specified by USATF. Please visit usatf.org for additional information concerning the rules mandated by the U.S. governing body for the sport.