Racer Info Package

DIRECTIONS TO THE AREA

Air Travel

The closest airports to Crowsnest Pass and Castle Mountain Resort are in Calgary and Lethbridge (Alberta) or Cranbrook (British Columbia). A wide variety or domestic and international carriers service Calgary International Airport. Both Calgary and Cranbrook airports are approximately a two and a half hour drive from the area and Lethbridge is one and a half hours, however fewer airlines fly there.

HOST SITE INFORMATION

Start Line

The race will start and finish outside the main lodge at Castle Mountain Resort.

Dogs

We love dogs but they can cause a great deal of disruption for racers and create extra mess that is not appropriate around the areas that make up the host sites. If you do bring your dog, it must be on leash at all times around the host site and checkpoints throughout the race. Dogs are not allowed near the food areas at CPs, or on the race course.

RACE WEEKEND AGENDA

Race Package Pickup

Package pickup will happen at Castle Mountain Resort in the main hall at the times mentioned above.

Pre-Race Meeting and Welcome Dinner

All racers must attend the pre-race meeting the day before the race. We will talk about the course, safety, and any last minute changes that may occur due to trail conditions, weather, or animal activity. Most importantly, this will give you a chance to check in without stress and allow us to welcome you with a dinner hosted by the race organizers and our sponsors. The meal is included as a part of your registration.

Post-Race Awards Ceremony

Celebrate the The Divide 200 with your fellow racers. Everyone is welcome, whether or not you finish the race, so please do stay and share your experiences. We will also honor racers for achievements such as “first blood”, the Trevor Nickel Spirit Award, and more. Stick around – who knows what awards you may qualify for.

RACE INFORMATION

During the race, you will be in some very isolated areas and may not have immediate access to facilities, or assistance of any sort. The race is geared to the most experienced trail runners who also have a background in alpine travel. The The Divide 200 is as mentally demanding as it is physically challenging. When you have been running for hours on end, your mind will give you a million reasons to quit - you have to decide that it is more important to finish.

Please note that any course descriptions in this document are subject to change due to environmental factors, weather, and animal activity. We will do our best to update you if changes arise prior to the race but we will confirm all of the details at the pre-race meeting.

Safety

You will be running in remote wilderness, and the chance of injury is very real so prepare to be self-sufficient. We hire top-notch medical staff but they cannot be everywhere at once. If you are injured out on the course, be ready to hunker down for a few hours until a course sweeper or medic comes to you. If you are injured but able to move, try and make it to the nearest Checkpoint. If not, try and send word with another racer. Race marshals on foot, bike, and ATV will sweep the course if we do not see you move for a while. Your inReach is key to notifying us if you need help. Please take the time to read the Emergency Protocol document on our website.

There are definitely bears and cougars in the area. If there is reported activity around the course prior to, or during the race, we may modify the course. We cannot predict random animal activity so please stay alert. Take note of the information below on what to do if you approach a bear or cougar on the trail.

If you drop out of the race, it is essential that you contact the race directors at either the nearest Transition Area or the race HQ. If you do not, we will assume you are lost or injured and we will be out looking for you. If we mobilize a search party, you will be charged for any search and rescue fees that are incurred as this takes up valuable resources. Please just take a few minutes to check in. Even if you do drop out, we want you to join us at the awards lunch so you can share your stories and let us wish you on your way.

Pacers

Pacers are allowed on specific sections of the race. See the Race Rules for details.

Medical and Health Concerns

If you have a medical condition or take medications that may affect your race in any way, you should consult your doctor before competing. We will have medical staff on site to help with first aid, search and rescue, and emergency transport only.  They will not assess if you are capable to run. If you do have a condition that our medics need to know about, please fill out the Medical Form on our website. This is confidential and only used by our medics in case of emergency.

Wildlife Encounters

Every year we get a report of a racer seeing a bear or cougar on a racecourse. The reality is that most encounters with these animals rarely lead to aggressive behaviour and attacks are even rarer. Bears especially prefer to avoid contact with humans, and any animal you do see is probably just as frightened as you are.

The best way to prevent an unpleasant encounter is to avoid them all together. Bears and cougars usually avoid people, and most people don’t even know when they’ve come close to an animal. To ensure a surprise or unpleasant encounter doesn’t occur, try to remain with other runners as much as possible and make lots of noise by talking or singing. Put the iPod away and pay attention to your surroundings.

If you do encounter a bear or cougar, pepper spray and bear bangers can be useful IF you know how to use them. Remain calm. Stay together if you are in a group; you will appear larger and more intimidating if you stick together. Identify yourself by speaking in a calm, appeasing tone. Back away slowly, preferably in the direction you came. Walk, don’t run, and keep your eye on the bear so you can see how it will react. In most cases, the animal will flee.

To learn more about bear encounters, check out these BearSmart guidelines, or the Alberta Bear Smart brochure. For cougar information, read the Alberta Cougar safety brochure.

Drop Bags

NEW! See the Drop Bag, Pacer, and Support Crew info page.

This year, we are going to ask that you bring a maximum of two drop bags/bins. The southern bag will start at CP3, then move to CP4, and then to CP13. The northern bag will start at CP6, then move to CP7, CP9, and then back to CP10(AKA CP6).

Only people without support crews need a drop bag. Please keep your bags or bins under 25kg and a reasonable size. If we have a whole pile of huge bags, we may not be able to fit them all under the tents, and then they will be out in the elements.

Start and Cutoff Times

The race starts at 08:00 hrs on Tuesday and you have until 12:00 hrs Saturday (100 hours) to complete the race.

This table condenses the cutoff times from the main list on the Course page.

Race Start and Finish

The start and finish are located at Castle Mountain Resort, Alberta, Canada. See the Travel page for how to get here.

Checkpoints

The course is divided by several Checkpoints (CPs) staffed by race marshals. These locations are typically remote and act as safety points. All CPs are equipped with a radio and some have emergency supplies. The distance varies between 20km and 40km.

Some CPs (TBA) are accessible by road and you will be able to access supplies, meet your support crew, and take a break in relative comfort. CPs will also have some basic facilities such as portable washrooms, snacks, water, and shelter.

Staff and volunteers will be waiting at the chutes to assist you if required. We know you will be tired and probably delirious, but please be aware of the signs.

Course Markers

The The Divide 200 course will be minmally marked with flagging, and coloured direction signs. There should be no guesswork when it comes to following the proper route. Main junctions will have a number of markers to eliminate any doubt as to the right direction.

We will talk about course markings at the racer meeting. Remember: It is still up to you to stay alert and watch for these signs. Use your inReach to navigate. We highly recommend reviewing the route on our website and making a visit to the area to run the course ahead of time. The routes are available for download on our website at on the Course page.

Food and Water on Course

We will have a variety of foods available at most CPs. We cannot accommodate every need so please plan to bring anything you really want via support crews or drop bags. Any CP that is accessible by road will have water and food.

We recommend that you be prepared to drink from streams or rivulets if you need water when higher up in the mountains. The water in the area is generally clean, and besides, illnesses like Beaver Fever take about two weeks to manifest symptoms so you should be fine for the duration of the race!

Also note that all food and supplies are for racers and volunteers only.

Race Rules

Updated July 14, 2023

Also see our Gender Category Policy.

Definitions

• Competitor: Someone who is registered in the race, has checked in and signed a waiver, and is designated to run all of or a specific portion of the race
• CP: Checkpoint, also "Water Station" or "Aid Station".
• Disqualified: A competitor or team that has not completed a mandatory section of the race, or has been removed from the event by Race Administration.
• DNF: Did Not Finish, also "Disqualified".
• DNS: Did Not Start, also "Disqualified".
• Leg: Also "Stage"; any one of the seven sections of the race.
• Pacer: A runner who is enlisted specifically to assist a Competitor finish a stage of the race.

Race Rules

1. Competitors are required to check in at registration by 8:00pm on the day prior to the race, and sign a waiver provided by the Sinister Sports Inc. A competitor is considered DNS without a signed waiver.
2. Competitors are responsible for their own medical coverage and all costs incurred by any form of rescue services, treatment, or hospitalization if they are injured during the race. If emergency evacuation is required, the cost will be the responsibility of the individual in need of assistance. This includes the cost of airlifting and helicopter or ground search if required.
3. Start Times:
   1. The race begins at 8:00am on the Tuesday of the race.
   2. Competitors must start within 10 minutes of their assigned start time. Late starters may be removed from the course or shuttled ahead and marked as Unranked at the discretion of the Race Director.
4. Finish Times:
   1. The race ends at 12:00pm Saturday for an elapsed time of 100 hours.
   2. Racers not finished by this time will be considered Over Time Limit (OTL) and do not receive a regulation time.
5. Start and finish times may be adjusted at the discretion of the Race Director due to environmental or safety factors.
6. Each leg of the race has a cutoff, and competitors must start the next leg by the time listed. If a competitor cannot finish their leg by this time, they may be instructed to pull out of the race. Cutoff times are available on the course page of the website.
7. The only means of travel on the course is walking, running, or crawling. No mechanical assistance is allowed. Using any other means of travel will result in disqualification.
8. The timing chip is property of Sinister Sports, or it's suppliers, and must be returned at the end of the race.
9. The numbered race bib must be worn on the front of your body so that it is visible to race marshals.
10. Competitors must carry mandatory race gear at all times, as shown in the Race Requirements section of this page. Not carrying the mandatory gear will result in penalties or disqualification at the discression of the race director
11. Competitors must check in at all CPs. Your number and time will be recorded before you continue on the course.
12. The course is published and marked, and runners must adhere to the designated route; any deviance or short cuts will result in disqualification.
13. If any act of nature or uncontrollable act takes place that inhibits your progress on the course (eg: snow, rockslide) no time credit will be given; these factors are a part of the race.
14. Competitors are allowed assistance (eg: support crew, volunteer, race marshal, or bystander) only at designated CPs. Accepting assistance outside a CP from anyone besides a registered competitor (see 15) or race medic will result in disqualification. You can receive assistance from appointed race medics anywhere on the course, even outside of designated CPs, providing that the assistance is not in the form of transportation.
15. Competitors are also allowed to work together on course, and provide assistance to each other between CPs.
16. Competitors are allowed to use pacers starting at CP6 and from that point until the end of the race. Pacing and pacer specific rules:
1. Competitors may have up to four pacers in the race;
2. Competitors may only have one pacer on course with them at a time;
3. Competitors, not pacers, must carry the satellite tracker;
4. Pacers are a reflection of the Racer and must abide by both the rules and spirit of The Divide 200, including signing a race waiver and carrying the appropriate mandatory gear (not including a tracker);
5. Pacers must start and finish at a checkpoint that is support crew accessible (CP6, CP7, CP9, CP10, CP13, Finish);
6. Pacers must wear a pacer bib and add their racer’s number to the bib;
7. Pacers must stay within 10m (30') of their racer at all times, except if going for help in the event of an emergency;
8. If a pacer needs to drop out, they must report to the nearest CP for evacuation and the competitor must notify race administration;
9. Pacers are not allowed to "mule" for their racer. The competitor is responsible for carrying their own equipment and sustenance at all times.
10. Race administration does not track the whereabouts of pacers and the competitor is responsible for ensuring their pacer is in the appropriate locations at the appropriate times.
17. Competitors are not allowed to cache food or gear along the course except at designated areas.
18. Littering on the course is unacceptable and will result in immediate disqualification.
19. Competitors receiving an IV during the race, by any other source than our offical race medics, will be disqualified. If a competitors receives an IV from our medics, we will determine on a case-by-case basis, with the advice of our Head of Medical Services, if the competitor may continue.
20. Any competitor found using, or supplying performance-enhancing drugs to other competitors, will be disqualified and permanently barred from all Sinister Sports events. See http://list.wada-ama.org/ for banned substances. Sinister Sports Inc. respects any existing bans and will comply with any investigation undertaken by anti-doping agencies. Competitors may apply for an exemption by contacting the Race Director.
21. Headphones must be removed in a CP. Not doing so may result in penalties or disqualification at the discretion of the Race Director. If used on course, consider wearing only one earbud and keeping the volume at an acceptable level so that you can hear your surroundings without disturbing other competitors.
22. Any competitor that drops out of the race must notify the nearest race marshal or director at the earliest opportunity. Do not drop out of the race without telling race officials as this will result in a costly search and you may be billed.
23. Medical staff and/or Race Directors may remove any competitor from the racecourse if they feel it is unsafe for the competitor to proceed (eg: natural hazards, hypothermia, dehydration, frostbite, debilitating injury, unprepared for weather events).
24. Unsportsmanlike conduct will not be tolerated and may result in disqualification at the discretion of the Race Director.
25. Any disputes with the racecourse, race results, course management or the actions of other competitors must be submitted to the Race Director, in writing, within 30 minutes of the end of the race. If not received within this time, complaints will not be considered.
26. The Race Director will determine if there has been a violation of these rules and will be the final authority in assigning penalties.

Mandatory / Recommended Gear

This list is a mix of mandatory and recommended gear. You will be in remote wilderness, and you are responsible for your safety. If you are injured it may be several hours before we can reach you, so you need to be prepared. Do not think it will not happen to you! Weather changes quickly in the mountains so prepare accordingly. You may elect to carry additional gear, like bear spray, at your discretion. We reserve the right to add gear

This list is a mix of mandatory and recommended gear. You will be in remote wilderness, and you are responsible for your safety. If you are injured it may be several hours before we can reach you, so you need to be prepared. Do not think it will not happen to you! Weather changes quickly in the mountains so prepare accordingly. You may elect to carry additional gear, like bear spray, at your discretion. We reserve the right to add gear

Restricted / Prohibited Items

• Performance-Enhancing Drugs: See Rules and Definitions
• Headphones: See Rules and Definitions

ROUTE MAPS + DESCRIPTIONS

CAUTION: If you choose to explore using this information, you do so at your own risk. These files are for reference only. Do not enter land that is marked as private.

SUPPORT CREW INFORMATION

Support Crew’s Role

Support people (aka Support Crews) are often a lifeline during a long race. Support people help keep their racer moving. If you intend to support a racer, do not be afraid to ask questions – we want your experience to be as rewarding for you as it is for the competitors.

There is minimal cell coverage outside of the town proper. Any emergency communications should be done through Race Staff, who are all equipped with a radio or inReach. The tracking information should be online at all times so please refrain from asking for competitor updates.

Support Vehicles + Driving

You do not need a 4x4 to support this race, but a vehicle with good ground clearance will make it easier on you. Trailers and RVs are not a great idea as parking is limited and you will find it difficult to maneuver.

We will have printed copies available at the host site. You are able to drive to all TAs to meet your racer. Once your racer starts on a leg, you should make your way to the next TA and set up for their arrival.

Support/Pacer Driving Directions

You can find the only required driving directions to supported CPs, or pick up a copy at race check-in.

Medical Help

If your racer doesn’t look well (delirious, dehydrated, or somehow broken), please contact our staff. The racer will not be disqualified for receiving basic medical aid.

Stuff to Bring

Make sure you have enough gear to keep yourself comfortable during the race. You will be in the mountains and it can get pretty cold in the evening. There can also be blistering heat during the day. Suggested crew gear: