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PRELIMINARY RESULTS

TALIHARJA VANAKURI

is a winter ultra endurance race mostly in darkness through north-east Estonia’s forests & bogs that runs on snowy/icy/muddy small roads & rough trails. 

COURSES

• Main race course is a 101 km long journey and is only partly marked. Route runs mostly on different trails, but most of it is not marked and participants must navigate the course themselves with GPS device or map. Race can be done either on foot, on skis or by bike. Racers must follow the race course and they are not allowed to do shortcuts. When travelling on open roads traffic law must be followed. Sun sets around 4 PM and light fades about 5 PM so a big portion of the race course will be completed in darkness! Race course can be relatively easy (road) or extremely tough at times – this means there can be narrow overgrown tracks, abundance of fallen trees, muddy forest machine tracks, wet swamp, ditches or no trail at all. This course will definitely challenge all participants and will feel really uncomfortable at times. The concept of the race is, that course is in it’s natural condition and must be tackled as it is, as nature has left it at race day/night. This can mean thick snow or deep overflowing river crossings etc or be very easy without any hindrance.
• There is also an option to participate in a shorter ca 55 km “pehmo” version of the race. All conditions are the same as long race, just shorter and more daytime.
• You can extend the endurance experience with extra ca 25 km finish loop “Sõge sõõr” to the end of main course. All conditions for racing are the same. Participants will have results in both result lists 101 km / 125 km, but for ITRA points/statistics runners need to choose only one distance that will count.

RACE CENTER / FINISH / STARTS

• Race center and finish is located at Roosta Puhkekülas (webpage)
• 101 km START is at Noarootsi Hosby
• 55 km “pehmo” START is at Nõmmemaa village
• Midcamp is located  Veskijärve. All main race participants must pass through the midcamp about halfway at race. There is hot drink, food, water, snacks. Toilet.

GETTING TO RACE CENTER & ACCOMMODATION

• Participants should arrive to race center with own transport. Several places to fly in to – Tallinn, Estonia (TLL), Riga, Latvia (RIX), Helsinki (HEL). Then best way is to rent a CAR to drive to Roosta. If you fly to Helsinki you need to cross sea by ferry (3h).
• Accommodation is possible in race center – Roosta vacation village. Before and after the race, it is possible to spend the night in holiday homes with all amenities (kitchen corner, washing facilities, etc.). Accommodation booking is done separately from registration and only by whole house. You can fill the house with as many people as you want (within the allowed number of people) and share the costs. We offer also floor accommodation and there is a restaurant in race center. There are no shops close by! You can find more detailed information on the ACCOMMODATION BOOKING PAGE!

SCHEDULE

Friday 10. January 2025

• 19.00-22.00 race center open
• 20.00 virtual meeting via Facebook

Saturday 11. January 2025

• 8.00 race center open
• 10.15 101 km start busses leave Roosta
• 11.00 101 km start 
• 11.15 55 km start busses leave Roosta to “Pehmo” start
• 12.00 “Pehmo” 55 km start 
• 21.00 Midcamp closes

Sunday 12. January 2025

• 11.00 finish will be closed

You can also come to start with own transport (have somebody drop you off), but remember – THERE IS NO ORGANISED TRANSPORT BACK TO START FROM FINISH AFTER RACE.

REGISTRATION

Registration: https://eventor.ee/taliharja closes 06.01.2025

1. Fill in the form with all the information requested, tick that you have read the race rules.
2. Once we receive your form, we will send you a confirmation e-mail telling that you passed the selection process and our bank transfer details.
3. Pay participation fee in EUR by wire transfer (must include transfer fees)- and your registration procedure is completed. Now your name is in the roster.

PARTICIPATION FEE

Same for runners, skiers and bikers for all distances:

• 55 euros until 10.11.2024 
• 65 euros 11.11-20.12.2024 
• 75 euros from 21.12.2024 

Race entry includes:

• bus transport from finish to start
• race maps
• race number
• personal GPS tracking by Sportrec during race
• food & facilities in the finish.
• finisher prize and diploma
• In midcamp checkpoint: warm meal, snacks and warm drink.
• transport & storage of one bag per participant from start to finish.
• floor sleeping in finish
• free photos of the event

REQUIREMENTS FOR PARTICIPANTS

Anybody who wants to participate in this race, must have the common sense to familiarize oneself about all the needs to face a competition like that. Racers must be self-sufficient and have the ability to take care of themselves. This race is potentially a dangerous one, participants have to really seriously consider if they are physically and mentally prepared for this kind of endurance and mental challenge.

• Racers must be a minimum of 18 years old. “Pehmo” course accepts also younger persons if they have adult with them on course.
• Race is limited to 300 participants altogether.
• Racers can choose to participate by running, (fat)-bike or ski, but you must finish in your chosen discipline.
• Racers must have previous experience in ultra racing (ultrarunning, adventure race, rogaining)

The race director reserves the right to refuse entry to any racer not experienced enough.

CANCELLATION & REFUNDS

• In case a participant cancels the registration til 24.12.2024 half of the race fee will be returned.
• In case a participant cancels the registration from 25.12.2024, there will be no refunds.
• Entry can be transferred to another approved racer until 06.01.2025.
• The race may be canceled before or after the start in case of extreme weather conditions that make it extremely dangerous or impossible. In case that organisation cancels the race before it begins, the registration fee will be refunded proportionally to service received. In case the organization cancels the race after it starts for extreme conditions, there will be no refunds.  

TIMING

Timing will be done by Sportrec GPS device – just carry it with you through the course. You need to pass within 5 m of control point sign to register passing.

PRIZES

All finishers will get a race specific prize and diploma. During the course you will go through checkpoints where you collect medallions that will make up your finisher medal.  

CUT-OFF TIME

• Maximum time allowed to complete the main race is 24 hours
• Any participant who is unable to complete the race in this time will be disqualified.
• Cut-off time at midcamp will be 10 h from start (participants must leave midcamp by 11. january 21.00).
• “Pehmo” race time limit is 12 hours

MANDATORY GEAR

Racers must carry all mandatory gear throughout the entire race from beginning to end and finish it with it (excl food). Any racer who does not have the appropriate mandatory gear is not allowed to participate. Any racer who does not finish with the mandatory gear will be disqualified. You must be ready to show the mandatory gear to Race officials at any time during the race.

• Sleeping bag or Bivy bag min. 250 g or insulated jacket (puffy)
• Sleeping pad full body length (foam mattres, bubblewrap or similar)
• Emergency foil blanket
• Fire starting device to build emergency fire for warmth

All above gear is necessary for emergency situations to increase the chances of survival in harsh conditions. When static a person will cool down rapidly, but help might be hours away.

• Headlamp with enough batteries
• Reflective patches on clothing front and back
• Rear red flashing lamp with enough batteries. The light must be ON when travelling on roads at night time. In case of sleeping between checkpoints the red flashing light must be ON and visible from course.
• Whistle
• Phone (switched on) + extra battery pack

All above gear is important to be visible on course and be locatable in emergency situation.

• Water container(s) capacity at least 1,5 l
• Food min 1500 kcal (750 kcal for “pehmo”)
• GPS device with saved route. Special GPS device or GPS watch with track following function is suggested. Smartphone+ extra battery is accepted, but not a good choice in case of rain or minus degrees
• GPS tracking device provided by organisation
• The race number is mandatory for all racers. On bikes it must be attached at the front, on foot/ski racer visibly in front or back

RECOMMENDED GEAR

It’s up to you to carry it. 

• Waterproof socks or overshoes (there can be water on the course even when freezing/snow).
• Footwear with good grip and suitable for temperatures 0º-30ºC
• Spare thermal underwear.
• Full wind/waterproof jacket and pants (Goretex or similar).
• Extra gloves (cover mittens suggested).
• Insulation for water container.
• Tape, vaseline for blisters.   

LITTERING AND DROPPING OFF GEAR

No littering the trail! Leave no trace except footsteps. You have to carry everything you start with until the finish. Trash can be disposed also in midcamp. Do not defecate on race trail. Get off the trail for it and return to same spot to continue.

NO ASSISTANCE

This is a human powered race, racers must be self sufficient from start to finish. Any outside help by a support crew, motorized transport, animals etc – assistance to advance on the trail is not allowed. Racers will be disqualified if, at any time during the race, they have any outside help. There is a possibility to do the course just for experience without being part of the official race – for instance use electric bike or other help. This must be confirmed with race director before and clear to all other racers that you are unofficial participant.

RESCUE, EVACUATIONS, DROPPING OUT and DISQUALIFIED

Evacuations from course are at racer’s expense. When not an acute medical issue, evacuation cost by car from race course is 20 euros and can be done only from a part of race course that is on drivable road. All racers must inform the race director if they leave the course and will not go to finish.

Rescue will be only in case of accident or acute medical issue. In case that needs rescue the participant should call emergency services phone 112 first and then inform race organization.

GPS, PHONES

All participants will be tracked live and their location published in the internet by Sportrec tracking device. All personal units for navigation, tracking or emergency position are allowed. Usually there is phone coverage throughout the race course. It is allowed to use your com devices to report on your progress during the race.