Rules

Registration

Registration for all races is done online on the official website – www.builatrailrace.ro, subject to availability and until 14 July 2027, 23:59 (Romania local time). Registrations that do not contain all the required data are considered incomplete and will be cancelled.

Cancellation of registration and participation

If you withdraw your registration, the fee cannot be refunded or transferred to another person.
If a participant collects their kit and later wishes to withdraw, they must notify the organizer and return the timing chip if it is a wristband chip. Failure to return the timing chip (unless otherwise specified by the organizer – e.g. for chips attached to the bib number) results in a charge of 80 Euro (the value of the chip) to the participant who did not return it. In case of a no-show at the start, abandonment, withdrawal for any reason, or cancellation or postponement of the competition due to an exceptional situation or for reasons beyond the organizer’s control, THE PARTICIPATION FEE IS NOT REFUNDED.

However, you may transfer your place to another person or change your race by sending a request by email to contact@sportfaralimite.ro by 14 July 2027, 23:59 (Romania local time). After this deadline these changes can no longer be made. Finding the person to whom you transfer your place is your responsibility.

Conditions of participation

The Curmătura Builei 18K and Buila 36K races are intended for those who have reached the age of 18 and are medically, physically and mentally fit to sustain this type of effort.
The Cros 11K race is also open to persons who have reached the age of 14 on the date of the competition; for them, the consent of the parents/guardian is required, written and signed on the registration form/declaration of responsibility, certifying that they are aware of the conditions and rules of the competition and agree to the young person’s registration and participation in the race.
Only runners with an ITRA index of at least 400 may register for the Buila 36K race.

Available places

700 places across all races (100 - Cursa copiilor Velgala, 600 - Cros 11K & Curmătura Builei 18K & Buila 36K).

Elite athletes

In recognition of sporting performance, we offer free entries based on the ITRA index, as follows:
• Buila 36K: 800 for men, 720 for women
• Curmătura Builei 18K : 780 for men, 680 for women
Free entries must be confirmed in advance by sending an email to contact@sportfaralimite.ro.
Free entries include the technical t-shirt.

Participation kit

• Non-personalized bib number
• Finisher medal
• SportHG technical t-shirt (random size after 1 June 2027)
• A drink and a hot meal (at the end of the race)
• Hydration and aid stations on the course and in the start/finish area
• ITRA/UTMB points
• Medical assistance and mountain rescue (Salvamont) teams on the course
• Timing
• Relaxation area
• Camping area
• Campfire
• Photos taken during the event
• Free access to Buila-Vânturarița National Park during the competition;
• Materials and products from sponsors

• Cursa copiilor Velgala
• Cros 11K - 11Km with 500m elevation gain
• Curmătura Builei 18K - 18Km with 1250m elevation gain
• Buila 36K - 36km with 2300m elevation gain, difficult course

Course descriptions and intermediate cut-off times can be found in the ROUTES menu

Courses and course marking

All 4 races of the competition run on marked mountain trails, but they will be additionally marked with spray paint, reflective tape and flags.
Failure to follow the established course leads to the competitor’s elimination from the race. This rule includes passing through all intermediate checkpoints.
The organizers are exempt from liability if members of the public damage the course markings during the race.

Completing the course

The course must be completed in full in order to be included in the final ranking.
Competitors may not use any means of transport along the course (motorbike, ATV, etc.).
The organizers cannot be held liable for damage to sports equipment during the competition.
Each participant taking part in the competition is responsible for their own security and safety.
Competitors must protect/avoid any spectators, animals, vehicles, motor vehicles, machinery or members of the public who happen to be on the course.
Buila 36K competitors who do not make the cut-off time at the Cacova 1 checkpoint will be redirected onto the Curmătura Builei 18K course and will hand in their bib number at that point. They will not be eligible for awards and will appear in the results as DNF. Attempting to continue the course “on one’s own responsibility”, outside the competition, after the cut-off times have expired leads to disqualification and a ban from future participation in the events of Asociația Sport fără Limite Vâlcea;

Race equipment. Bib numbers

Participants will take part in the competition with their own equipment. Bib numbers will be provided by the organizers.

Timing

Competitors will receive the electronic timing chip, embedded in the bib number, when collecting their kits. Timing will be provided by a specialized company.
The timing system calculates each participant’s time by recording every pass of the chip over the electronic timing mats – at the start, at the checkpoints on the course and at the finish.
ATTENTION! Participants who do not pass through all checkpoints will be disqualified. Participants are responsible for wearing the bib number on the front of their shirt and for not damaging/losing the electronic chip. On race day it will NOT be possible to change or replace bib numbers if lost, nor to swap bib numbers between participants. These breaches lead to disqualification.

Checkpoints / aid stations

First aid, medical assistance

The main First Aid point will be provided by an ambulance with a doctor and a nurse contracted by the organizers. It will be positioned in the Start/Finish area.
There will also be another medical team on the course, able to provide assistance in emergencies. It will be alerted by the course marshals if a participant is injured and will go immediately to evacuate the injured.
If a person feels unwell/shows signs of dizziness/any other problem, the organizers and technical crews will report it as quickly as possible to the race headquarters and the medical crews. At the technical briefing, participants will receive contact phone numbers for technical and medical interventions.

Stopping / Withdrawing from the race

In case of abandonment or disqualification, the participant must make their own way to the finish, on their own responsibility (injuries excepted).
The organizer reserves the right to stop a participant in the following cases:
● they have been injured after the start and their condition no longer allows them to continue the race;
● in exceptional cases;
● if the organizer observes that the participant does not respect one of the rules of this competition or those of common sense and fair play.
Any participant who can no longer or no longer wishes to continue the race, for whatever reason, must immediately inform the organizers at the start, at the checkpoints, in exceptional cases on the emergency phone number, or at the finish. Failure to report a withdrawal from the race will trigger a search and rescue operation (rescue teams, Salvamont, etc.), possibly at the expense of the participant involved, if they do not need those services.
Withdrawal will be confirmed by handing in the bib number. Any participant who withdraws will be helped with the best withdrawal option, but is responsible for their own transport, the route they use and their actions after the time and place of withdrawal, except for serious cases that do not allow them to move by their own means.

Penalties

The organizer may disqualify any participant for:
● Not completing the entire course or shortening it.
● Using outside assistance (using cars, motorcycles, etc.)
● Not wearing the correct bib number or wearing a different bib number instead of the one received from the organizer.
● Damaging the environment and discarding packaging or other waste on the course. These may only be left at aid stations.
● Unsporting behaviour towards competitors or organizers.
● Failure to comply with the competition rules.
Disqualification may also take place after the race, following review of photos or videos, or well-founded reports from other competitors.
The participation fee will not be refunded in case of disqualification.

Responsibility and conduct

Participants assume full responsibility for their physical/medical fitness to take part. We recommend undergoing specialist medical check-ups before taking part in endurance events that involve a high level of effort. The organizers and their partners are not and will not be responsible for any event or action resulting in:
a) the destruction or loss of any goods or personal belongings of any participant during and as a result of the event;
b) harm or damage of any kind, or any material losses, suffered by any participant during and as a result of the event;
c) delay in or impossibility of registering for the event due to technical faults of the official website and/or the internal platform, beyond the organizers’ control;
d) the impossibility of accessing the official website and/or the internal platform for technical reasons beyond the organizers’ control.
The organizers and partners of the event cannot be held liable for any damage resulting from voluntary participation in the competition – physical/medical problems, injuries or any bodily harm, disability or death. Movement on any section of public road must comply with traffic rules and the legislation in force. Vehicles, hikers and animals may be encountered on the course. Participants must bear these situations in mind and run accordingly. Any accident involving Buila Trail Race participants that occurs during the competition as a result of failure to comply with the competition rules and the traffic rules imposed by law will be the responsibility of those involved in the accident.
The competition is held with respect for the environment. Competitors will therefore behave responsibly in keeping the area clean and protecting the natural environment. Throwing away litter of any kind anywhere other than at the aid stations is not accepted.
Competitors will behave in a civilized, fair-play manner towards the other participants in the race. Taking part in this event while intoxicated or under the influence of drugs of any kind is strictly prohibited.
The organizers reserve the right to remove from the event any person who is suspect and who may endanger the general safety of the event and/or the safety of the other participants.
Failure to comply with the rules of conduct may lead to competitors’ elimination from the race, at the organizers’ discretion.

Age categories

• Cros 11K: 14-29 years, 30-39 years, 40-49 years, 50+ years
• Curmătura Builei 18K and Buila 36K: 18-29 years, 30-39 years, 40-49 years, 50+ years

Prizes

• At Cros 11K, the first 3 OPEN places and the first 3 places in each age category will be awarded
• At Curmătura Builei 18K, the first 3 OPEN places and the first 3 places in each age category will be awarded
• At Buila 36K, the first 5 OPEN places and the first 3 places in each age category will be awarded

The OPEN ranking is an overall ranking, separate from the age category rankings.

OPEN prizes consist of cash, trophies and products, while age category prizes consist of vouchers, products and trophies.

Competitors awarded in the OPEN ranking will not also be awarded in their age category.

Cash prizes will be paid into your account within a maximum of 7 working days.

The use of trekking poles is not prohibited

Each participant must have their own reusable flask/bottle/cup. There will be no cups at the hydration points! Breaking this rule will result in disqualification or a 10-minute penalty.

Competitors who start with trekking poles but do not bring them back to the finish will receive a 10-minute penalty!

The self-declaration of responsibility must be downloaded in advance, printed, completed by each participant and handed to the Organizers when collecting the kit;

The organizer may at any time grant invitations to recognized athletes who wish to take part in the competition, in addition to the available places;

Before, during and after the race, photos and video footage may be taken of the competitors and/or spectators of the event. By registering for and taking part in the race, they implicitly accept that these materials may be used by the organizers to produce clips, collages, covers and/or other advertising products to promote the competition and Buila-Vânturarița National Park.

Photos and results from Buila Trail Race are public documents and may be used for statistical, journalistic and research purposes without the participants’ prior consent;

All participants must present an identity document when collecting their kit and hand the organizer the declaration of responsibility (completed and signed in advance). By registering for this competition, competitors automatically accept its rules;

Bib numbers can only be collected in person.

Participants/volunteers who win prizes in the prize draw and are not present forfeit their prizes, as do race winners who do not attend the awards ceremony (whether the prize is cash, sports equipment or vouchers).

The organizers reserve the right to modify the courses (alternative course) or even to cancel/postpone the races if the weather does not allow the competition to be held safely for the participants (thunderstorms with lightning, hail, etc.). In exceptional situations, the event may be postponed or cancelled due to temporary national laws or orders. In this case the participation fee is not refunded; participants may choose to receive the kit by post or to transfer their registration to a later date of the competition, communicated in due time.

Free entries received as invitations or won in raffles during promotional campaigns are not transferable.

The use of open fire or any other source that could start a fire is strictly prohibited inside Buila-Vânturarița National Park!

In exceptional circumstances, the organizer reserves the right to make decisions that depart from these rules.