Post by raymatthews on Mar 2, 2012 14:07:18 GMT -5
Well its that time of year again.
100 km DEL SAHARA DESERT RACE
This Sunday will see the UK contingency setting off for the Sahara to take part in the 100km Del Sahara event.
The 14th edition of the 100km Del Sahara race is rightly called the flagship of Zitoway Sport Adventure being one of 5 different desert races.
The athletes will leave Heathrow for Italy, and then on to Tunis, followed by 4x4 vehicle expedition into the desert in readiness for the race
I will be keeping in touch with the athletes as they take on the less than suitable running terrain the desert hold for them, and posting the day to day feelings and positions
Good luck guys from Ray and the Zitoway UK team.
Part of the entry details for the athletes
A valid passport is required and no vaccinations are needed for italian people. In addition, a medical certificate isued by a sports medical center facility with a test on physical efforts to confirm sufficient athletic ability for this race is absolutely MANDATORY. Without this certificate, you will not be allowed to participate. The some ceritificate is required for walkers.
BAGGAGE
The backpack will be the only hand luggage allowed on the plane. This should contain only what is necessary for the race (running shoes, shorts, t-shirt, and survival kit ). We have already had an incident where someone’s personal luggage was in delay and they were at risk for not being able to participate in the race. If you have the necessary items in your backpack, you can run with no problem until your baggage arrives. The hand luggage needs to fit inside the baggage you have. We are sorry, oversized bags will not be allowed.
RACE CLOTHES
Shoes should be suitable for off-road running and should be a little oversized to allow for sore and swollen feet.
It is advisable to use gaiters for the sand, but make sure they are good quality and won’t impede performance.
If you tend to burn easily in the sun, it is not advisable to wear a singlet or tank top during the race.
T-shirts should be made of a suitable anti-sweat material like dryfit, etc.
It’s strongly recommended to bring a Saharan scarf, called a “shesh”, that can be useful to protect the nose and mouth in case of wind or sand storm in addition to motorcycle glasses.
RECOMMENDED EQUIPMENT
A warm sleeping bag (the desert nights during this season are always cold!), a comfortable change of clothes, warm-up suit, several t-shirts, a sweat-shirt or a pile, a light windbreaker, a warm hat, a towel, sandals and swimsuit, 4 pair of socks for the race, a needle and thread, safety pins, a toiletry bag, toilet paper and wet wipes, ear plugs and eye drops, compeed plastersor mole skin, protective sun lotion, any personal medications necessary, flashlight (we recommend a headlamp), mineral salts, energy bars, a Swiss army knife, anti-reflection sunglasses, and motorcycle glasses (in case of wind).
The first day in Ksar ghilane, it will be possible to buy survival kits, camelbaks and other gear.
CLIMATE
This is the only element that remains uncertain and impossible to predict.
During this period, conditions are typically good with day temperatures around 30° Celsius and 4/12°Celsius at night. However, the uncertainty of spring weather also affects the desert and temperatures can be much higher or lower than forecasted. Another challenge is the wind, which is absolutely unpredictable!
The temperatures at night during this season are usually so cold.
It is imperative for the race that participants are prepared for any conditions! It’s part of the challenge!
RACE COURSE
The run starts from the Ksar Ghilane oasis and it finishes in the Douz oasis, totalling 111 km. The race course is very sandy in each of the 4 legs. The race course is totally marked and each stage will have water stations and refreshment points along the way. The altitude is not considerable but many ups and downs can make a difference of level at certain points during the race for about a hundred meters.
RACE BACKPACK
For safety reasons, it is MANDATORY that participants have a race backpack containing the following items: minimum 1 litre of water (inside the backpack or in flasks around the waist), survival blanket, whistle, lighter and chemical light. A hat, sunglasses, protective sun lotion, a small knife and some Compeed plasters are also recommended.
The mandatory equipment may be verified at any moment and if an item is missing a penalty will be immediately applied per regulations.
CATERING SERVICE
During the race days, a catering service for participants will be arranged by the organization.
Almost all the products come from Italy, except fresh produce (fruits and vegetables) which are bought directly in Tunisia. The menu is studied and balanced to avoid dietary stress.
Breakfast:
Coffee, tea, milk, cookies, cakes, fresh bread, jams, honey, muesli, cereals, eggs, cooked ham, cheese, fruits
Light lunch:
Pasta or rice, hot or cold dish of meet, hot or cold side dish, salami and cold pork meat, Parmesan cheese, tuna, tomato salad, fruits
Dinner:
Appetizers, pasta, rice, vegetable soup an broth, hot dishes of meet, hot or cold side dishes, tomato salad, Parmesan cheese, fruits, dessert, wine on the table
TELEPHONE SERVICE
People will be allowed to call with a satellite telephone only during times decided by the organization. There is a charge for satellite calls. It is also possible to receive (not send) e-mails through the provided form present in the website. Messages will be printed and given to receivers.
100 km DEL SAHARA DESERT RACE
This Sunday will see the UK contingency setting off for the Sahara to take part in the 100km Del Sahara event.
The 14th edition of the 100km Del Sahara race is rightly called the flagship of Zitoway Sport Adventure being one of 5 different desert races.
The athletes will leave Heathrow for Italy, and then on to Tunis, followed by 4x4 vehicle expedition into the desert in readiness for the race
I will be keeping in touch with the athletes as they take on the less than suitable running terrain the desert hold for them, and posting the day to day feelings and positions
Good luck guys from Ray and the Zitoway UK team.
Part of the entry details for the athletes
A valid passport is required and no vaccinations are needed for italian people. In addition, a medical certificate isued by a sports medical center facility with a test on physical efforts to confirm sufficient athletic ability for this race is absolutely MANDATORY. Without this certificate, you will not be allowed to participate. The some ceritificate is required for walkers.
BAGGAGE
The backpack will be the only hand luggage allowed on the plane. This should contain only what is necessary for the race (running shoes, shorts, t-shirt, and survival kit ). We have already had an incident where someone’s personal luggage was in delay and they were at risk for not being able to participate in the race. If you have the necessary items in your backpack, you can run with no problem until your baggage arrives. The hand luggage needs to fit inside the baggage you have. We are sorry, oversized bags will not be allowed.
RACE CLOTHES
Shoes should be suitable for off-road running and should be a little oversized to allow for sore and swollen feet.
It is advisable to use gaiters for the sand, but make sure they are good quality and won’t impede performance.
If you tend to burn easily in the sun, it is not advisable to wear a singlet or tank top during the race.
T-shirts should be made of a suitable anti-sweat material like dryfit, etc.
It’s strongly recommended to bring a Saharan scarf, called a “shesh”, that can be useful to protect the nose and mouth in case of wind or sand storm in addition to motorcycle glasses.
RECOMMENDED EQUIPMENT
A warm sleeping bag (the desert nights during this season are always cold!), a comfortable change of clothes, warm-up suit, several t-shirts, a sweat-shirt or a pile, a light windbreaker, a warm hat, a towel, sandals and swimsuit, 4 pair of socks for the race, a needle and thread, safety pins, a toiletry bag, toilet paper and wet wipes, ear plugs and eye drops, compeed plastersor mole skin, protective sun lotion, any personal medications necessary, flashlight (we recommend a headlamp), mineral salts, energy bars, a Swiss army knife, anti-reflection sunglasses, and motorcycle glasses (in case of wind).
The first day in Ksar ghilane, it will be possible to buy survival kits, camelbaks and other gear.
CLIMATE
This is the only element that remains uncertain and impossible to predict.
During this period, conditions are typically good with day temperatures around 30° Celsius and 4/12°Celsius at night. However, the uncertainty of spring weather also affects the desert and temperatures can be much higher or lower than forecasted. Another challenge is the wind, which is absolutely unpredictable!
The temperatures at night during this season are usually so cold.
It is imperative for the race that participants are prepared for any conditions! It’s part of the challenge!
RACE COURSE
The run starts from the Ksar Ghilane oasis and it finishes in the Douz oasis, totalling 111 km. The race course is very sandy in each of the 4 legs. The race course is totally marked and each stage will have water stations and refreshment points along the way. The altitude is not considerable but many ups and downs can make a difference of level at certain points during the race for about a hundred meters.
RACE BACKPACK
For safety reasons, it is MANDATORY that participants have a race backpack containing the following items: minimum 1 litre of water (inside the backpack or in flasks around the waist), survival blanket, whistle, lighter and chemical light. A hat, sunglasses, protective sun lotion, a small knife and some Compeed plasters are also recommended.
The mandatory equipment may be verified at any moment and if an item is missing a penalty will be immediately applied per regulations.
CATERING SERVICE
During the race days, a catering service for participants will be arranged by the organization.
Almost all the products come from Italy, except fresh produce (fruits and vegetables) which are bought directly in Tunisia. The menu is studied and balanced to avoid dietary stress.
Breakfast:
Coffee, tea, milk, cookies, cakes, fresh bread, jams, honey, muesli, cereals, eggs, cooked ham, cheese, fruits
Light lunch:
Pasta or rice, hot or cold dish of meet, hot or cold side dish, salami and cold pork meat, Parmesan cheese, tuna, tomato salad, fruits
Dinner:
Appetizers, pasta, rice, vegetable soup an broth, hot dishes of meet, hot or cold side dishes, tomato salad, Parmesan cheese, fruits, dessert, wine on the table
TELEPHONE SERVICE
People will be allowed to call with a satellite telephone only during times decided by the organization. There is a charge for satellite calls. It is also possible to receive (not send) e-mails through the provided form present in the website. Messages will be printed and given to receivers.