Rules and Regulations

General Provisions | Regulations 148 km | Regulations 377 km

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GENERAL PROVISIONS

I. Purpose of the Event

The purpose of the event is to promote a healthy lifestyle, physical activity, mountain tourism, and the Ślęża region.

II. Organizer

Klub Biegacza Sobótka
ul. Mickiewicza 51A
55-050 Sobótka, Poland

www.kbsobotka.pl

III. Participation Requirements and Entry Fees

The event is open to adults who have paid the entry fee in accordance with these Rules.

By registering for the event, participants declare that they take part at their own risk and that there are no medical contraindications preventing them from participating in a long-distance mountain event.

Registration and payment of the entry fee constitute acceptance of these Rules.

Each participant must complete verification at the Event Office. A valid photo ID and a signature on the event card are required.

The entry fee is PLN 450.

The entry fee must be paid through the registration system available at biegkreta.pl.

The Organizer reserves the right to close registration for Bieg Kreta before the announced deadline if the participant limit is reached.

The entry fee is non-refundable. The entry may be transferred to another participant until the day of the event. The fee for transferring an entry to another person is PLN 50. Transfers must be made through the registration portal.

The entry fee includes:

• route map,
• access to aid stations along the route,
• finisher’s medal for participants who complete the event,
• GPS tracker rental,
• transport to the starting point (for the 148 km distance).

IV. Mandatory Equipment

Participants are required to carry the following equipment throughout the event:

• valid ID document,
• fully charged mobile phone,
• emergency thermal blanket,
• headlamp/flashlight and a set of spare batteries,
• water container(s) with a total capacity of at least 1 litre,
• waterproof/windproof jacket with a hood,
• reflective elements,
• route map provided by the Organizer at the Event Office,
• GPS tracker provided by the Organizer at the Event Office.

The Organizer reserves the right to conduct random mandatory equipment checks along the route and at the finish line. Such checks may be carried out by volunteers at aid stations and at the finish.

A one-hour time penalty will be imposed for each missing item of mandatory equipment.

V. Use of Personal Support

Definitions

For the purposes of these Rules:

• Pacer – a person pre-arranged by the participant or belonging to their support crew who accompanies the participant during the event in order to provide support, including pacing, navigation or mental support.
• Spectator/supporter – a person who spontaneously accompanies or supports a participant without performing an organized support role.
• Volunteer – a person supporting participants on behalf of the Organizer.

Personal support is permitted under the following conditions:

1. Support on foot (pacers)

Pacers are permitted along the entire route.

A participant may be accompanied by pacers on any sections of the course; however, the combined length of all such sections must not exceed 50% of the total event distance.

This restriction does not apply to volunteers or spectators/supporters, who may accompany a participant on any section of the route.

Monitoring the total distance covered with pacers is the responsibility of the participant and their support crew and is based on fair-play principles. The Organizer will not verify this distance unless there are clear indications that this rule has been violated.

Pacers are not permitted to carry any of the participant’s mandatory equipment. Pacers may not use bicycles or any other alternative means of transport while accompanying a participant.

2. Vehicle support

Personal vehicle support — including mobile nutrition, recovery and sleeping/rest stations — is permitted only at locations designated by the Organizer.

The Organizer distinguishes three categories of such locations:

Main support points with Organizer assistance (mobile support):

Świdnica, Szczawno, Kamienna Góra, Przełęcz Okraj, Chełmsko, Honske Sedlo, Batorów, Bystrzyca Kłodzka.

Main support points with Organizer assistance (permanent 148 km aid station):

Stary Gierałtów, Przełęcz Łaszczowa, Przełęcz Wilcza, Przełęcz Woliborska, Zygmuntówka, Przełęcz Walimska, Kiełczyn.

Additional support locations without Organizer assistance, where vehicle support is permitted:

Przełęcz Tąpadła, Kiełczyn, Gogołów, Witoszów Górny, Palmiarnia, Konradów, Gorce, Pisarzowice, Paprotki, Lubawka, Vernerowice, Pasterka, Karłów, Polanica-Zdrój, Przełęcz Sokołowska, Zalesie, Marianówka, Międzygórze, Przełęcz Płoszczyna, Lądek-Zdrój, Radochów, Przełęcz Kłodzka, Bardo, Przełęcz Srebrna, Przełęcz Jugowska, Glinno, Lutomia, Mościsko.

3. Spectator aid stations

Participants are permitted to use food and drink stations organized spontaneously by spectators, provided that such stations are open and available to all participants.

4. PTTK mountain huts providing support to participants

Support is available at the following PTTK mountain huts:

• Na Śnieżniku – for the 377 km distance,
• Zygmuntówka.

VI. Fair Play

The Organizer reserves the right to conduct random anti-doping tests before the start and at the finish line.

The anti-doping rules and regulations of POLADA (Polish Anti-Doping Agency) apply.

The current list of prohibited substances and methods is available at:

https://antydoping.pl/kontrole/miedzynarodowy-standard-listy-substancji-i-metod-zabronionych

VII. Course Marking and Navigation

The route is not marked with ribbons or any additional event-specific markers, apart from existing hiking trail markings.

Approximately 99% of the route follows marked hiking trails.

Participants are responsible for their own navigation using maps, the provided trail description, and the latest GPX files made available for download by the Organizer.

VIII. Time Penalties and Protests

If a participant shortens the official route, a time penalty may be imposed.

The following penalties apply:

• For areas above 1,000 m above sea level: 25 minutes for each kilometre of the route shortened or each 100 metres of elevation gain avoided.
• For areas below 1,000 m above sea level: 20 minutes for each kilometre of the route shortened or each 100 metres of elevation gain avoided.

The Organizer may decide not to impose a penalty if the participant clearly covered additional distance elsewhere on the same section between two checkpoints or if the route deviation did not provide the participant with an advantage.

All decisions will be made in accordance with the spirit of fair play.

Any protests must be submitted to the Organizer without delay and will be considered during the event or immediately after its conclusion.

Participants are required not to litter along the route and to comply with the generally applicable rules of conduct on hiking trails and public roads used by the event.

IX. After the Event

After the event, the Organizer will provide participants with a recovery meal.

Showers and overnight accommodation will also be available. Advance reservation is required for accommodation.

X. Insurance

Participants are responsible for arranging their own personal accident insurance.

XI. Image Rights, Personal Data and Promotion

By participating in Bieg Kreta, participants consent to the use of their image for purposes related to the promotion of the event and to the processing of the personal data provided during registration to the extent necessary for the organization and conduct of the event.

The participant’s bib number must be clearly visible and worn on the front or back of the body.

XII. Final Provisions

The Organizer reserves the right to amend certain provisions of these Rules due to circumstances beyond its control or force majeure.

The Organizer has the final authority to interpret these Rules.

Detailed information regarding the course, schedule, aid stations and qualification requirements is provided below separately for each event distance.

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REGULATIONS FOR THE 148 KM DISTANCE (CLASSIC)

XIII a. Date, Location and Start Schedule

23 September 2026

20:00 – Registration opens (please note: registration will take place through the new portal at biegkreta.pl).

16 April 2027 (Friday)

Winiarnia Celtica, Sobótka, ul. Czysta 1

14:00 – Event Office opens and race pack collection begins
17:30 – Pre-start briefing for participants
18:15 – Buses depart from Sobótka to Kletno

Kletno, Muzeum Ziemi

21:00 – Start of the 148 km event

17 April 2027 (Saturday)

Winiarnia Celtica, Sobótka, ul. Czysta 1

10:00 – Finish line opens

18 April 2027 (Sunday)

Winiarnia Celtica, Sobótka, ul. Czysta 1

14:00 – Finish line closes

XIV a. Route and Distance

Distance: 148 km (Kletno – Śnieżnik – Wielka Sowa – Ślęża – Sobótka)
Elevation: 5,500 m descent, 4,700 m ascent.

The route is not marked with ribbons or any additional event-specific markers, apart from existing hiking trail markings.

The GPX file can be downloaded from the Bieg Kreta website.

Starting from Kletno, the route follows marked hiking trails. Participants follow the yellow trail to the mountain hut below Śnieżnik, then the green trail to the summit of Śnieżnik and continue via Sadzonki, Dziczy Grzbiet and Płoszczyniec to the asphalt road.

Initially, the route follows the yellow trail along the road. When the yellow trail turns left, participants continue along the switchbacks until reaching the intersection with the blue trail, which shortly afterwards turns right.

The route then follows the blue trail through Wielkie Rozdroże and Jawornik Kobyliczny to Stary Gierałtów, and continues past the ruins of Karpień Castle and Trojak to Lądek-Zdrój.

The first aid station will be located in Stary Gierałtów.

From Lądek-Zdrój, the route continues along the blue trail through Radochów, passing Radochowska Cave and Ptasznik towards Przełęcz Kłodzka. After crossing national road No. 46, the route continues via Grodzisko, Jelenia Kopa and Ostra Góra to Przełęcz Łaszczowa.

From there, the route leads via Kalwaria to Bardo Śląskie.

From Bardo, the route continues through the Sowie Mountains, then via Lutomia and Tuszyn to Przełęcz Tąpadła. From there, participants follow the yellow trail to the summit of Ślęża and then the red trail to Sobótka.

The finish line is located at Winiarnia Celtica, ul. Czysta 1, Sobótka.

The route GPX file and detailed maps are available for download from the Bieg Kreta website*: https://biegkreta.kbsobotka.pl/#tab2-1

* The Organizer reserves the right to make adjustments to the route after publication of these Rules. Participants will be kept informed of any changes.

XV a. Timing, Time Limit and Participant Limit

Timing will be recorded at the finish line and monitored using GPS trackers.

Participant limit:

• 80 participants – open entry pool,
• 25 participants – Organizer’s entry pool.

The Organizer has set a 41-hour time limit for completing the event.

Participants who withdraw from the event or fail to complete it within the time limit are required to contact the Organizer by phone and proceed to, remain at, or return to the nearest aid station. From there, they will be transported to Sobótka under the conditions specified during the pre-start briefing.

The Organizer does not guarantee transport after the designated time has expired.

XVI a. Support Points

Support points are located at:

Stary Gierałtów, Przełęcz Łaszczowa, Przełęcz Wilcza, Przełęcz Woliborska, Zygmuntówka, Przełęcz Walimska, Kiełczyn.

Opening hours may change depending on conditions and the situation along the route.

Drop bags will be available at Stary Gierałtów and Przełęcz Woliborska.

Detailed opening hours of the support points are provided in the table in Section XVI a.

XVII a. Qualification Procedure

Any person who is at least 18 years old and has no medical contraindications to participating in long-distance running events may enter the 148 km event.

Open Entry Pool

The first 80 participants to register will qualify through the open entry pool.

Places will be allocated on a first-come, first-served basis.

Participants are required to pay the entry fee within seven days of registration. If payment has not been received within this period, the participant will be automatically removed from the start list without the right of appeal, and the place will be returned to the open entry pool.

Organizer’s Entry Pool

25 participants will qualify through the Organizer’s entry pool.

Places from the Organizer’s pool are available to:

• the first ten participants on the Hardcore reserve list,
• Bieg Kreta volunteers from previous editions,
• active members of KB Sobótka with more than one year of membership,
• elite athletes according to the RMT_Kret ranking.

Applications for places from the Organizer’s pool must be submitted through the registration portal.

Places from the Organizer’s pool will be allocated after the results of the Bieg Kreta Hardcore qualification process have been announced, according to the following order of priority:

1. Hardcore reserve list – first ten participants,
2. volunteers,
3. KB Sobótka members,
4. athletes qualifying according to the ranking criterion.

XVIII a. Awards and Classifications

The top three participants overall, regardless of gender, and the fastest woman will qualify for the next edition of Bieg Kreta Hardcore.

The number of qualification places is limited to:

• three places if the fastest woman finishes within the overall top three,
• four places if the fastest woman finishes outside the overall top three.

If two or more participants finish ex aequo in a position for which only one wild card is available, the Organizer will arrange a play-off.

The play-off will take place no later than one hour after the participants concerned reach the finish line. The route and distance of the play-off will be determined by the Organizer immediately before its start.

A participant has the right to refuse to take part in the play-off. In such a case, the Hardcore wild card will be awarded to their rival.

Every participant who meets the participation requirements and completes the event within the time limit set by the Organizer will receive a commemorative finisher’s medal.

Separate women’s and men’s classifications will be maintained for Bieg Kreta. The top three participants in each category will receive awards.

Prizes for the winners are at the discretion of the Organizer.

The award ceremony will take place after the top three women and top three men have reached the finish line.

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REGULATIONS FOR THE 377 KM DISTANCE (HARDCORE)

XIII b. Date, Location and Start Schedule

23 September 2026

20:15 – Applications for qualification to Bieg Kreta Hardcore open.

15 October 2026

23:59 – Applications for qualification to Bieg Kreta Hardcore close.

November/December 2026

Announcement of the Bieg Kreta Hardcore qualification results.

14 April 2027 (Wednesday)

Winiarnia Celtica, Sobótka, ul. Czysta 1

16:00 – Event Office opens and race pack collection begins
17:00 – Pre-start briefing
17:20 – Participant presentation and commemorative photos
17:45 – Time for participants to prepare for the start
18:00 – Start of Bieg Kreta Hardcore (377 km)

17 April 2027 (Saturday)

Winiarnia Celtica, Sobótka, ul. Czysta 1

10:00 – Finish line opens (the Organizer will open the finish line earlier if necessary)

18 April 2027 (Sunday)

Winiarnia Celtica, Sobótka, ul. Czysta 1

14:00 – Finish line closes

XIV b. Route and Distance

Distance: 377 km
(Sobótka – Ślęża – Chełmiec – Przełęcz Okraj – Honske Sedlo – Łomnicka Równia – Śnieżnik – Kłodzka Góra – Wielka Sowa – Ślęża – Sobótka)

Elevation gain: 12,000 m

The start and finish are located at Winiarnia Celtica, ul. Czysta 1, Sobótka.

The route is not marked with ribbons or any additional event-specific markers, apart from existing hiking trail markings. Approximately 99% of the route follows marked hiking trails. Participants are responsible for their own navigation using maps, the provided trail description and GPX tracks.

The GPX file can be downloaded from the Bieg Kreta website.

Due to the regulations of Karkonosze National Park, we are unable to organize a sports and recreational event on the summit of Śnieżka. The National Park permits individual hiking in this area. Therefore, for participants wishing to complete the full Sudetes Triangle, an extended stop at Przełęcz Okraj is planned.

During this time, participants who wish to do so may climb Śnieżka independently and at their own risk.

Participants who choose not to take this additional option will be required to remain at the mountain hut at Przełęcz Okraj for a minimum of 10 hours, counted from the moment they arrive at the hut. After this period, they may continue the event.

The 10-hour mandatory stop does not apply to participants who provide evidence that they reached the summit of Śnieżka.

Detailed route maps are available on the Bieg Kreta website*: https://biegkreta.kbsobotka.pl/#tab2-2

The Organizer plans to review the route one month before the event and also reserves the right to make adjustments after publication of these Rules. Participants will be kept informed of any changes.

XV b. Timing, Time Limit and Participant Limit

Timing will be recorded at the finish line and monitored using GPS trackers.

Participant limit: 10 participants.

The Organizer has set a 92-hour time limit.

The time limit is strict and will not be extended, regardless of conditions along the route.

Participants who withdraw from the event or fail to complete it within the time limit are required to contact the Organizer by phone and proceed to, remain at, or return to the nearest aid station, from where they will be transported to Sobótka.

Each participant has the right to continue the challenge after the official opening hours of the aid stations in a self-supported format. In such a case, however, the Organizer does not guarantee assistance along the route or official finish-line services.

The Organizer does not guarantee transport after the designated time has expired.

Approximately halfway through the route, the Organizer plans to replace participants’ GPS trackers with fully charged units. The tracker replacement checkpoint is planned at Batorów (185 km).

XVI b. Logistics and Aid Stations

Detailed logistics maps are provided on the Bieg Kreta website.

1. Mobile Support

On the Sobótka – Okraj – Śnieżnik section, participants may use either their own personal support crew or the mobile support provided by KB Sobótka.

The Organizer permits participants to use their own individual support. Participants are asked to declare that they will be using their own support crew and to provide contact details for their support crew so that logistics can be coordinated.

Participants without their own support crew will be given priority at support points.

The Organizer does not guarantee mobile support to participants who have declared that they will be using their own support crew.

2. Fixed Aid Stations

On the Śnieżnik – Sobótka section, participants will use the Bieg Kreta 148 aid stations located at:

Stary Gierałtów, Przełęcz Łaszczowa, Przełęcz Wilcza, Przełęcz Woliborska, Zygmuntówka, Przełęcz Walimska and Kiełczyn.

Participants must reach these stations during their designated opening hours in order to use them.

3. On-Call Support

On-call support will be provided if a participant reaches the location of a fixed aid station before it officially opens.

In such a case, a designated volunteer will contact the participant by phone to arrange the location and time of support.

Detailed Support Point Schedule

XVII b. Qualification Procedure

Applications for qualification to Bieg Kreta Hardcore must be submitted entirely through the biegkreta.pl portal.

In addition to the participant’s personal details, applicants are required to:

• submit one or more photographs together with consent for their publication for promotional purposes,
• submit a personal introduction in any format — text, audio or video.

All materials must be submitted through the application form.

What should you include in your personal introduction?

First and foremost, tell us who you are, what your story is and why you want to take part in Bieg Kreta Hardcore.

Creativity, an unconventional style and references to the Bieg Kreta story and atmosphere are welcome. Use your imagination.

It is also worth mentioning achievements in sports other than trail running and anything else that cannot be learned from your RMT profile.

Applications may be submitted until 15 October 2026, inclusive.

Participants wishing to take on this challenge will be verified by the Organizer.

The minimum requirements for submitting an application are:

• completion, within the last 4 years, of at least one event rated RMT7 or higher (a flat 100-mile event or its mountain equivalent),
• an RMT_Kret ranking above 500.

Participants can check their current ranking in the “My RMT Kret” section after registering at biegkreta.pl.

This section will indicate whether the participant meets the ranking requirement. The complete RMT Kret ranking is available at ratemytrial.pl as a premium service.

Qualification Points

If the number of applicants exceeds the limit of 10 participants, the Organizer will select candidates with the highest number of qualification points, awarded according to the following criteria:

• Athletic level → RMT_Kret ranking value (+500 to +967 points).
• Personal introduction → 0 to +25 points, based on the Organizer’s subjective assessment of style, format and content.
• Determination → +10 points for each unsuccessful Bieg Kreta Hardcore application from previous years. The counter resets after each successful qualification.
• Unused wild cards → +10 points for each wild card earned in a previous edition but not used.
• Achievements in other sports → +30 points for International Master Class, +20 points for Master Class, +10 points for First Sports Class, or an equivalent national/international sporting classification.

Veterans – “Sandbags”

For the purposes of qualification, veterans are participants who have previously been given the opportunity to start in Bieg Kreta Hardcore.

The requirements for their subsequent qualification are higher. Therefore, so-called “sandbags” — negative points for previous Bieg Kreta Hardcore participation — are applied:

Finishers:

• –160 points – finisher of the most recent Hardcore edition (2026),
• –80 points – finisher of the previous Hardcore edition (2025),
• –40 points – finisher of the 2024 Hardcore edition,
• –20 points – finisher of the 2023 Hardcore edition or any earlier edition.

DNF:

• –80 points – DNF in the most recent Hardcore edition (2026),
• –40 points – DNF in the previous Hardcore edition (2025),
• –20 points – DNF in the 2024 Hardcore edition or any earlier edition.

From among all applicants, the Organizer will select at least three women and three men, provided that they meet the minimum qualification criteria.

If there are not enough eligible candidates in either category, the remaining places will be allocated according to the overall qualification ranking, regardless of gender.

In addition, the number of veterans on the Bieg Kreta Hardcore start list may not exceed 4 participants, including participants holding wild cards.

Grounds for Rejecting an Application

The Organizer reserves the right not to consider an application in the following circumstances:

1. Reasonable suspicion of manipulation of the RMT ranking.
2. Inability to verify the participant’s current athletic condition — for example, no race participation within the last two years — or a significant discrepancy between the participant’s current performance level and their ranking.
3. Documented cases of doping by the participant in the past.
4. Hate speech or public displays of disrespect towards other participants, volunteers or the principles of fair play.

Participants in Bieg Kreta 2026 who earned wild cards must declare their intention to participate by 15 October 2026. After this date, unused wild cards will expire.

Qualification Process

1. Applications are accepted from 23 September 2026 to 15 October 2026, inclusive.
2. The Organizer announces the main list and reserve list of qualified candidates in November–December 2026.
3. Qualified participants must pay the entry fee within one week of receiving the qualification confirmation email. Participants who fail to pay within this period will be removed from the main list and replaced by participants from the reserve list. Participants promoted from the reserve list will also have one week from receiving notification of promotion to the main list to make payment.

The first ten participants on the Bieg Kreta Hardcore reserve list will be offered the opportunity to participate in Bieg Kreta 148 and compete for qualification to Bieg Kreta Hardcore in the following year.

To accept this opportunity, the participant must pay the entry fee within one week of being notified that they have been placed on the reserve list.

Participants who have already registered and paid for the 148 km distance may also apply for the 377 km distance. In this case, submitting the application by email is sufficient.

XVIII b. Awards and Classifications

Every participant who completes the event within the time limit set by the Organizer will receive:

• a commemorative medal,
• a finisher’s trophy,
• a personalized Sudetes Triangle completion certificate.

Separate women’s and men’s classifications will be maintained.

The winners of the Hardcore distance will receive PLN 2,000 in prize money.

The Organizer will also provide prizes for participants finishing in the top three.

Additional prize money will be awarded for setting a new course record.

The current course records are:

• Men: 59 h 50 min
• Women: 67 h 20 min

The prize for setting a new course record is PLN 5,000.

The award ceremony will take place no later than a few hours after the participants reach the finish line, at a time agreed with the participants in advance.