The trip:
For the participants leaving from Italy to get in Frankfurt, departures can be from all the Italian airports; in the evening the group will proceed for Windhoek with the flight of the good national company Air Namibia.
The flight is of about 9 hours from Frankfurt. The night flight both to and from Windhoek avoids the addition of extra days to the programme for the transfers and the time zone is only – 1 hour from Italy.
The arrival in Windhoek is due early in the morning, where the group will meet with all other participants arriving from other flights and move on altogether by bus to Sesriem (about 320 km), lunch on the way, arrival at the Sossuslei lodge, dinner and overnight stay.

Documents and vaccinations:
The passport with at least 6 months validity and no visa is required for the Italian citizens and in general for the European Community citizens. Otherwise it would be better to check and ask the competent government. No vaccination is compulsory, except for people coming from a country with infections in action, and the anti-malaria prophylaxis is important only during summer and for people going in the north of the country, in the Namib Desert zone it is not necessary. All other information and suggestions can be given in the competent sanitary inspector’s office.
It is compulsory for all participants to present a medical certificate issued by a sports medical centre with a test on physical efforts, stating that the athlete is physically fit for this race.


Baggage:
Are allowed 20 kg of baggage in addition to the hand luggage, suggested to keep in hand luggage everything you need for running, in case of lost luggage, the race will not be compromised.

The climate:
During the month of December it is summer in Namibia, as underneath the Equator the seasons are inverted, so that the time will be nice for facing a run in the Namib Desert.
The area of interest in the race is at an altitude of approximately 700 meters above sea level, daytime temperatures range from a low of 15 ° at dawn to a maximum that can exceed 40 degrees even in the hours between 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. then go back to 20 ° / 25 ° in the evening around 9 p.m.
Due to the extremely low percentage of moisture the perception of heat is much lower, the real problem remains that the rays of the sun by mid-morning reach a considerable intensity, from which you will need to protect you.
The departure at the earliest light of day with temperatures around 15 ° / 20 °, will facilitate the first part of the legs, but after 9 am temperatures rise up quickly.
The only big uncertainty of the desert remains the wind, which cannot be forecasted and when it comes it makes life hard for anyone, but of course you should be ready to anything to participate to this race.

Technical Clothing:
Suitable clothing is essential made in technical fabric, sunglasses, hat with veil, shoes bigger at least one number more than usual, those with built-in gaiters has given good results. Not recommended anti-sand gaiters improvised, sleeveless vests and shorts reduced, in cases of very “light colour skin” recommended thin long sleeve shirt and shorts longer then usual, Camelbak or water bottles tested before. For the “not faster” runners only in the first leg, with departure at sunset, could arrive in the dark, recommended a headlight. Recommended glasses “type motorcycle” scarves in cotton or buff to be used in windy conditions.

The race:
The long itinerary of the race takes place along the charming and unique desert of Namib, for a total of about 100 km.
There are 4 legs to be run during the 4 days of the race, each of them having a completely different surrounding to run into.
The surroundings of the 4 legs are completely different one from the other:
The first leg, 18 km, you’ll find sand and savannah, start in the afternoon and end among the beautiful colours of the african sunset,
The second leg you’ll run for 20 km in the Tsauchab river bed up to the unique and exciting final canyon, starts at 7,00 a.m. to avoid the heating of the sun.
The third leg will take place on the 3rd day for the classic distance of a marathon, 42,195 km. The race will take place in a sheltered place and a special permission has been given to go through places normally forbidden to tourists, therefore completely uncontaminated, giving to the participants the unique sensation to be the only human being to set foot in those lands. Of course the rules of the Park are very rigid especially concerning the rubbish, therefore all participants must follow them carefully. Starting hour 5,30 a.m., maximum time 7 hours
The last leg, 23 km, you will run in the big dunes and you’ll face climbing of the highest dune in the world, the Crazy Dune, with its 300 metres oh height. The never ending horizon and the great spaces will leave an indelible sign in the heart of people who will live this race. Starting hour at 6,00 a.m., from the dune 45
Orices, ostriches, jackals, antelopes and gazelles are the only possible meetings during the run.
A harder physical effort then, but also a more comfortable and safer logistic accommodation, granting a better rest and recovery, with no alteration to the aggregation of the group.
The paths are entirely marked by blue carton boards, in so far as the surroundings allow, there will be only one refreshment point for the first and second leg, will be 3 refreshment point during the third leg and 2 on the last leg, each runner should have a reserve of at least 1 litre of water, together with the security set of equipment established by the rules, which must always accompany the athletes.
The choice of the path, due to the total length of the race, was made with stony and sandy grounds always to be as compact as possible, and only the last day the magic sand dunes will take the lead and will require an additional effort to be violated.
The leg classification and the general one will be made adding the time of each leg, each of which will be given a maximum time, but if some of the participant will take a longer time to arrive to the finish line of one leg he/she will not be disqualified but will only be given a penalty time as indicated in the rules.

Walkers:
There is a walker program too, (minimum number 10 people) walkers will start from the refresh point, halfway the marathon race course, and they’ll arrive to the leg finish line, following the ways and the times that the group responsable will decide.

Escorts:
The type of formula and the type of arrangement may encourage the presence of family and friends not involved in the sports program. They can follow the race on board the organization car, or take advantage of the many extra activities, organised by the Adventure Center of Lodge. 4x4 guided tours, scenic flights by plane and balloon, or helicopter flights, on request stop in the dunes at sunset, an unforgettable experience at a reasonable cost (3 occupants on the flights for 15 minutes cost approx. € 70 per person)

Protecting the skin from the sun:
Important support comes from the sun protection products but not those with total protection, it is demonstrated that can create problems with sweating and therefore the equilibrium of hydration. In the case of complexions clearer could be useful to take tanning beds to activate the natural protection of skin from the sun itself.
Absolutely essential to protect, at least during the hottest hours, the head with the hat with veil and possibly parts of skin on display along with sun light but opaque clothing.

Hydration:
The hot and dry climates require a greater integration, constant and careful. With the rise of the temperatures, the water in the Camelbak or water bottles becomes hot and uninviting to drink, better to bring the granular sweet powder or dry tea to dissolve in water, as well as better integrated will be like drinking warm tea.

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BOOKING:
Inscription: send the entry form from www.born2run.it click on 100 KM OF NAMIB DESERT, then on Inscription then Send the entry form.
Deposit: € 750 + Entry fee to the race (if requested)
Final balance: within 15/10/2010

Bank information: CARISBO – Reggio Emilia
IBAN: IT08 B063 8512 8001 0000 0001 293
BIC: IBSPIT2B
Account holder: Melville Travel & Leisure S.R.L. – Reggio Emilia

Or by credit card through the on-line payment: www.born2run.it


Penality in case of cancellation:
10% of the rate for cancellation until 90 days before the departure
25% of the rate for cancellation from 89-60 days before the departure
50% of the rate for cancellation from 59-30 days before the departure
75% of the rate for cancellation from 29-7 days before the departure
100% of the rate for: - cancellation from 6 days to the day of departure
- in case of NO-SHOW
- in case of not regular personal expatriation documents

REGISTRATION FEE TO THE RACE and REGISTRATION FEE TO THE PROGRAM are not refundable!

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REGLEMENT

ART. 1 ORGANIZATION
ZITOWAY Sport & Adventure based in Modena, Italy, created, owns the brand, and takes care of the sport and logistic organization of the 6th edition of the “100 Km of Namib Desert”. The race will take place from the 4th to the 10th of December 2010 in Namibia.
The technical and touristy organization and the exclusive distribution are taken care by Melville – Born 2 Run, based in Reggio Emilia, Italy.
ART. 2 THE RACE
The “100 Km of Namib Desert” is a running race in a desert environment, on a 100 km distance split on 4 stages in 4 days.
ART. 3 SAFETY KIT
Every runner must always carry the compulsory safety kit. The kit can be subject to random checks by the race marshals during the race itself; if a kit will be found incomplete, the runner will undergo a penalty.
Compulsory kit:
1 liter of water (minimum amount), minerals, survival aluminium blanket, lighter, whistle.
ART. 4 REGLEMENT ACCEPTANCE
The subscription to the race officially and automatically involves the acceptance of this reglement in every section. The acceptance itself allows the organization to modify the reglement in any moment of the race, as per the following art. 17.
ART. 5 ADMISSION RULES
The runners must be 18 years old, men or women and must show a compulsory medical certificate issued by a sport medicine specialized doctor; the certificate must report ECG and effort test results testifying the athlete fitness.
All the runners must sign a declaration of self-responsibility, relieving the organization of any responsibility in case of accident or damage during the race.
ART. 6 CATEGORIES
There will be two categories:
Males
Females
ART. 7 CHECKS
Checks will take place on Monday and will regard the compulsory survival kit, the medical certificate and the bureaucratic stuff.
After that, race numbers will be released; these must be beared unmodified (must fully show the printed brands) during the whole event.
ART. 8 RACE AND TIMING
The start of every leg will be given at the time reported during the briefing. The time limit is 7 hours only for the marathon.
Runners must leave with at least 1 liter of water.
In the first and second legs only one water station will be set, the third leg will have 3 water station, and the forth will have 2 water station.
Littering along the itinerary will be cause of sudden disqualification for the runner.
The water station will also be a passage checking point of the runners. At the same way, passage controls can be arranged random along the itinerary.
ART. 9 THE ITINERARY
The entire itinerary will be marked by the organization in the best way, according to the rules of the protected area the race will enter. Furthermore, runners must be advised that only on the main itinerary the assistance – and possible rescue - of the organization will be granted.
ART. 10 WEATHER CONDITIONS AND TERRAIN
In December daily temperatures after 9 a.m. can be more than 40° C are foreseen, with no humidity at all.
During the night, temperatures drop to 15°/20° C.
The terrain has different features: tracks with hard, rocky surface during the first three legs; only in the last leg the sand will prevail, with high dunes until the finish line.
In case of sudden sandstorm, with no visibility, runners must stop on the marked track and wait for the race marshals.
ART. 11 RETREAT
In case of final retreat, the runner must immediately tell his decision to a race marshall and deliver his race number. The retired runner will be anyway taken care by the organization, unless the runner is sent back home due to health reasons.
In case of partial retreat (for just one leg), or arrival beyond the time limit, the runner will be given the maximum time set for the leg plus a penalty fixed by the organization; in any case, he can start for the next leg the day after.
ART. 12 RANKS
Timing will be taken in hours, minutes and seconds. The sum of the times of every leg, will define the final general rank.
ART. 13 MEDICAL ASSISTANCE AND INSURANCE
Only for the italian runners, is set an insurance linked to the travel package, covering health problems and possible travel back home. No personal insurance for accidents is set.
During the race a full medical assistance will be provided; runners must be anyway aware that terrain conditions and distances may affect the speed of assistance.
Runners take part in the race under their full responsibility, while the organization is relieved from any responsibility due to accidents, falls or diseases during the legs. Runners can’t hold as responsible for accidents any other runner, even in case of accidents or contact caused by them.
No insurance for civil risks is compulsory for the organization, that is also relieved from any responsibility in case of accidents, death or damages suffered by the runners during the race.
ART. 14 ACCOMODATIONS
Accommodation during the race will be at Sossusvlei Lodge; participants will be accommodated in 2 beds bungalows, while Sossusvlei Lodge staff will arrange meals.
ART. 15 PICTURES AND VIDEO RIGHTS
All rights for pictures and/or video regarding the “100 km of Namib Desert “ are reserved.
Participants, with their subscription, give their authorization to the organization for the use of their name and pictures. All the pictures and videos realized during the event can be used by the runners only for personal, private use, unless special authorization released by the organizers.
ART. 16 PRIZES
Cups and plates will be offered to the runners arrived in the first three places of each category.
Special awards will be offered by decision of the organization. To all the runners finishing the race, a medal will be offered.
ART. 17 ORGANIZATION’S RIGHTS
The race Director hold the right to modify, under his unquestionable decision, any point of this regalement.
The race Director furthermore holds the right to modify, under his unquestionable decision, the itinerary, the distance or the total number of legs, if technical, weather or safety conditions should require.