Race ­rules

The Black Forest ULTRA Trail Run (BFUTR) is a trail running event on existing infrastructure: hiking trails, forest roads and existing trails. Running cross-country, shortcutting or widening paths is strictly prohibited.

Protecting nature and running the event sustainably matter to us. We run through the Black Forest as guests and leave no trace: no litter, no shortcuts, respect for animals, plants and other people. More at Leave no Trace.

The race rules are binding for all participants, support crews, volunteers, partners and service providers.

Races 2027: 1ONE (10–15 km), 2TWO (18–23 km), 3THREE (30–35 km), 5FIVE (50–55 km), 8EIGHT (77–82 km) and XTREME (100–110 km). We'll publish the exact distances with the GPX data.

The official GPX route is binding. The authoritative version is the last one we publish before the race and confirm in the Race Briefing. It applies even if markings are missing, have been moved or are hard to see.

We also mark the route with biodegradable or reusable markers and remove everything completely after the event. The markings are a navigation aid, not a guarantee: third parties may remove or move markers, and fog, darkness or vegetation may hide them. We do our best to mark the route throughout.

Following the course correctly is your own responsibility. You carry the GPX track on your watch or phone (mandatory kit) and check regularly along the way that you're on course.

If the markings and the GPX route differ, the GPX route applies. The only exception: marshals or race management explicitly redirect you on site, for example because of a closure. Then their instruction applies and there is no penalty.

Depending on weather, safety or official requirements, the organiser may adjust the route, cut-offs, start times or alternative routes at short notice, up to and including neutralised sections or stopping the race.

Getting lost: If you've left the course, accidentally or not, walk back to the point where you left it and continue from there. Cutting back to the course cross-country is not allowed. If you can't get back safely, for example in the dark or on dangerous terrain, call the emergency number and follow race management's instructions.

No time credit: Time you lose by going off course is on you. There are no time credits, no extended cut-offs and no refunds, not even for missing or moved markings. The only exception is first aid (point 11).

No further claims: If you miss a cut-off because you got lost, or race management or the Medical Crew take you out of the race, you have no right to be let back onto the course and no claim to a ranking, a refund of the entry fee or any other benefit.

• Back at the point where you left the course: no penalty.
• Shortcut on paths: 15-minute time penalty per kilometre cut, reported or not. We round to the nearest kilometre, minimum 1 km: up to 1.49 km counts as 1 km, 1.5 to 2.49 km as 2 km. Shortcut of 5 km or more: disqualification. No entitlement to a podium ceremony or prizes. If your GPS recording shows that your path was not shorter than the official route, the penalty is dropped; however, there is still no entitlement to a podium ceremony or prizes.
• Shortcut cross-country or checkpoint missed: disqualification.

Report any deviation at the latest when you finish, to timing or race management.

To decide, we use timing, checkpoints, photos, reports from marshals and other participants, and your own GPS recording, which you provide on request. The race committee decides (section 13).

Minimum age: 1ONE from 16 (born 2011 or earlier), all other races from 18 (born 2009 or earlier). Younger runners can’t take part.

Every participant moves autonomously through the terrain and adapts navigation, nutrition, fluids and clothing to the conditions. Outside assistance is not permitted outside the official aid stations.

By registering, you confirm that you are fit to take part in sport. Do not start with an acute illness or injury.

Registration is online and places are limited. There is no legal entitlement to participate.

Race packs are only handed out on presentation of photo ID.

Staggered start times and start waves spread out the field.

Net or gross timing depending on the distance, results lists online.

Categories (m/f/div), by year of birth: Overall, U18 (2010–2011, 1ONE only), Main class (2011–1988), Master 40+ (1987–1978), Master 50+ (1977–1968), Master 60+ (1967 and older). U18 runners are ranked in their own category and also in the main class.

Podium ceremonies take place if a category has at least 5 finishers per race. For the ceremony, we merge smaller categories with the next younger one. The official results are not affected.

The top three in each category receive a podium ceremony and prizes in kind.

We publish the full list for each race separately, see mandatory kit.

Kit check: When you enter the start area, we check every runner’s mandatory kit. The crew may also check on the course and at the finish. Each missing item results in a 10-minute time penalty. If more than 5 items are missing, you may be disqualified.

Poles: not allowed on 1ONE. On all other races, you carry them from start to finish. No handing over or dropping them along the way.

Headphones in one ear only and not in hazardous or narrow sections. Wearing headphones in both ears can lead to disqualification. Instructions from marshals take priority.

The aid stations offer drinks and solid food. No disposable cups: refills go into your own containers only.

Your own food is allowed. Label all of it (bars, gels and other food) with your bib number. You may not carry unlabelled food. Dispose of rubbish only at aid stations.

External support (crewing) only in designated crew zones and at marked aid stations. Pacers are not allowed unless expressly announced.

Principle: after the run, the forest should look just as it did before.

Stay strictly on the trail: only the official course, no shortcuts, no cross-country, no widening of paths.

Zero tolerance for litter: throwing anything away leads to immediate disqualification. Thanks to the bib number labelling, litter can be traced back.

Medical services, mountain rescue and marshals are positioned at key points. The emergency numbers are printed on your bib.

We announce the cut-offs for each race in advance. If you don’t make them, you’re out of the race or redirected.

Race management can take participants out of the race for safety reasons, for example due to hypothermia, exhaustion, weather or course closures.

If you drop out, you must check out with race management: at the next aid station or via the emergency number. Otherwise we have to launch a search.

If you give first aid to another person and mountain rescue, an emergency doctor or the ambulance service is needed, you’ll receive an appropriate time credit. In this case, finishing after the cut-off may be permitted. The decision lies with race management. This is the only form of time credit.

• Leaving the course without returning to the exit point: time penalty or disqualification, see point 3
• Checkpoint or timing point missed: disqualification
• Littering outside the aid stations: disqualification
• Missing mandatory kit: 10-minute time penalty per missing item, disqualification possible if more than 5 items are missing, see point 8
• Outside help outside the zones: time penalty or disqualification
• Unsporting behaviour, ignoring instructions, endangering others: disqualification
• Doping, alcohol, drugs: zero tolerance; even suspicion leads to exclusion

Written protest up to 30 minutes after finishing or after a decision has been announced.

The decision is made by the race committee, made up of race management, safety, timing and the course director. The decision is final and documented in writing.

By registering, you consent to the processing of your data for organisation, results lists and certificates.

The organiser and partners may use photos and videos for editorial and advertising purposes unless you object in advance.

The organiser may adjust the race rules up to event day, for example due to weather or official requirements. We communicate changes via the official channels and in the Race Briefing.

You participate at your own risk. The organiser is liable only within the statutory provisions in cases of intent or gross negligence. We recommend private accident and liability insurance.

Please follow the code of conduct for protecting wildlife at bewusstwild.de.