Safety, health and wellbeing

Ahead of the race starts, all runners will be briefed on safety, health and wellbeing matters for the race, and will be told about the kit to be carried throughout, including any additional kit beyond the mandatory kit that the race directors consider necessary. Kit checks will take place at the start of the race and may also take place at random points on the course.

Runners take primary responsibility for their own safety, health and wellbeing. By entering, you confirm that you are fit and healthy, and that you have the experience, capacity and capability to complete the race.

Before the race

• Don’t take part if you have a notifiable infectious disease (such as Covid-19 or influenza). Follow Public Health Agency guidance.
• Familiarise yourself with the local terrain, and have the skills to deal with any navigation problems you meet. GPS devices are allowed.
• Attend the pre-race briefing and cooperate with all kit checks.
• The race uses electronic tracking. Check your tracker is working before you go to the start line.
• If you’ve registered but decide not to start, tell the race organisers.
• We may withdraw a runner who we believe is inadequately prepared, is missing any required kit, or lacks the experience, capacity or capability to complete the race.

During the race

• Follow instructions from the race organising team and the marshals.
• Carry any compass bearings you may need. Low visibility can disorientate even the most experienced runner.
• Give way to descending runners, and be courteous to other mountain users.
• Know the symptoms of hypothermia and hyperthermia, and what you can do to avoid or reduce them.
• Clean and cover any cuts or grazes as soon as you can, to reduce the chance of infection.
• Drinking from mountain streams is discouraged. If you do, use a filter or water purifying tablets.
• Don’t cross rivers in spate. Rivers are not usually marshalled: cross at low points or where there are stepping stones, and help fellow runners across if needed.
• Steer clear of livestock, wild animals, and farm, forestry and other vehicles.

If you need help

Get to the nearest marshal point, or give the distress signal: six whistle blasts, repeated after a minute’s pause. If you’re heard, you should hear three blasts in reply.

If you use your phone to raise the alarm or ask for help, call the race director first and follow their instructions. In an emergency, call 999 and ask for the police, then mountain rescue.

Fire on the mountain

There are occasionally fires in the Mournes. If there is fire or smoke on or near the route, keep well clear of it, abandon your race, alert a marshal if you can, return to the start and finish area, and tell the race organisers. If a fire breaks out on or near the course, the race will be stopped: everyone returns to the start and finish area by the safest route, so everyone can be accounted for.

After the race

• Accept first aid or medical help if the team at the finish think you need it.
• Check yourself for ticks and other insect bites or stings as soon as you can, and treat them according to medical advice.

Our full hazard controls

Full details of our safety, health and wellbeing controls, including emergency response measures, are in our race-specific safety, health and wellbeing assessment. Runners should familiarise themselves with these control measures: in signing up for a race, you agree to abide by them. Safety, health and wellbeing controls, 2027 (PDF)

Any infringement of safety, health or wellbeing rules could result in disqualification and a ban from taking part in future Granite Peaks Ultras events.

Questions about this policy? Email the race directors: racedirectors@granitepeaksultras.com