The accompaniment on the Grand Raid Occitan, the experiment 2013, renewed in 2014.
Who did not run completely or partially one ultra with friends or runner to there unknown, by pleasure, by chance, by strategy? Who did not feel a precious help by exchanging its knowledge of the route or by sharing its experience, for all to join the finishing line?
If bearing a number is the free access to this user-friendliness and these helps, or if it transforms the naming " wild assistance " into "good-companionship" then the border is finally very thin between what is authorized and what is not, between " the trail spirit " and the turned out cheating.
A reflection which comes to Antoine Guillon further to his 2nd place on the TDS ™ 2012, ex aequo with his friend Lionel TRIVEL, a performance which they built together, 15 hours full of pleasure, recommendations, sharing out the difficulties, the optimization of the provisionings, the strategy.
The Occitane association 6666 thus decided to modify the rules of the Grand Raid Occitan 2013 concerning the accompaniment, opening the event to "pacers", under precise conditions. The opportunity doubtless to live strong moments.
Where be accompanied:
From the mid-race (place to define later). Four different sections bounded by provisionings :
The runner can be accompanied on every section from the mid-race. Only one pacer by section. Pacers can follow one another or run on one to four sections. Only the runner crosses the finishing line, the accompanying sound stopping in the entrance of the Esplanade Farret.
Role and limits of Pacer :
His / her leading part is to help morally the runner. His / her maybe interesting reassuring presence, in particular at night. His / her lucidity can avoid the distractions and warn traps of the ground. He / she can play assistant's role inside the zones of provisioning.
On no account he can carry equipment, food or drinks for the runner except these zones, what would pull the disqualification of the runner. It is forbidden to him / her) to pull or to push the runner. He / she has access to the provisionings. No transport or shuttle set up by the organization will assure the coverage of the pacer.
Recording of the Pacer :
The runner of the Grand Raid Occitan can register at first, and register his/her pacer(s) later, or make everything at the same time. He/she will necessarily have to note on his registration form the number of pacers that he/she wishes, to add them to the "basket", then to update his form of personal information by indicating name and first name of his pacer(s) in the reserved field, and their telephone and e-mail number in the field " customer remark ". The pacer will be necessarily of 16 and more years old, and will have to supply a medical certificate of not contraindication in the practice of the running with competition, and a parental consent for the minors. He will be given a bib with the number of the runner and that of one or several run sections. The amount of the inscription will be 9€ by section.
