Purpose

This operations plan outlines the guidelines and steps to be taken by representatives of the Yamacraw Trail Runs in order to comply with the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) as well as state and local guidance during the COVID-19 pandemic. This plan takes into consideration recommendations provided by the CDC’s large gathering guidance and the Commonwealth of Kentucky’s, “Healthy at Work” guidance for risk mitigation of COVID-19 transmission.

Persons should NOT attend the event if:

  1. They have a fever of ≥100.4°F on the day of the event
  2. They have had any signs or symptoms of COVID-19 in the past 
14 days. Such as a new continuous cough, fever, change/loss 
of taste/smell.
  3. They have been in contact with anyone who is sick 
(symptomatic) in the past 14 days.
  4. They have travelled within the past 14 days to any 
international location with widespread ongoing local COVID- 19 transmission.

Runners are asked to ensure that any family, friends or others that they intend to bring to the event are also subject to these criteria.

In the unlikely event that an individual should become sick, they will be immediately isolated from attendees who are not sick and asked to wear their facemask as they prepare to leave the  event.

High risk individuals should be advised not to attend the event. High Risk individuals include:

  1. Individuals with underlying medical conditions placing them at higher risk: moderate to severe asthmatics, diabetics, severe obesity (BMI > 40), any chronic liver, kidney or heart conditions and immunocompromised individuals or those who live with someone who is immunocompromised.
  2. Individuals aged 60+ years with an underlying health 
condition like lung or heart disease, diabetes or 
immunocompromised.

Minimum Requirements

  • All attendees must practice social distancing when possible. (six (6) feet or more)
  • Face coverings to be worn at times when the recommended social distancing of 6 feet cannot be maintained.
  • Failure to follow these requirements, violations of any rules or directives may be grounds for disqualification and permanent ban from future Ultranaut Running events.

Spectator Limited Access

  • Spectators will be prohibited at the race start.
  • Spectators WILL NOT BE PERMITTED IN THE AID STATIONS. They must stay at a minimum of 6’ outside of the Aid Station tents or Aid Station Pavilions. This means no entering aid stations to assist volunteers or runners.
  • Signs will be posted at aid stations to remind runners, volunteers, and spectators of everyday preventive actions they should take to reduce potential spread of COVID-19.

Indoor Facilities & Restrooms

  • Indoor facilities space will be limited 50% of the maximum permitted occupancy capacity.
  • Face coverings in indoor facilities are required.
  • All attendees must practice social distancing.
  • All attendees (runners, staff, and volunteers) must thoroughly wash hands before leaving the restroom.
  • Sanitizer will be placed inside each restroom. We ask that you sanitize your hands BEFORE & AFTER LEAVING the restrooms.

Friday Pre Race (Bib & Packet Pickup)

  • Highly recommended that only runners attend pre race activities.
  • Weather permitting, some pre race activities will be conducted outdoors.
  • Floor markings will be provided to space out runners 6 feet to comply with
 physical distance requirements and create a single file one way flow.
  • Hand Sanitizer stations at the entrance and exit.
  • Runners bib (packet, merchandise, etc.) will be prepared in advance and then isolated before bib collection begins. Packets will be visibly labeled and ordered by bib number to expedite the check-in process.
  • Runners are not permitted to pick up anything from any table during the event weekend. This includes bibs, shirts, swag, safety pins, etc. at packet pickup. If you need anything, ask a staff/volunteer member.
  • All event staff and volunteers will wear gloves and face coverings at all times while at the packet pickup tables.
  • Guests are asked not to congregate after receiving their bib and packet.
  • Signage at entrances and throughout the facility or space alerting staff and patrons or attendees to the required occupancy limits, six feet of physical distance, and face covering requirements.

Pre Race Briefing

  • An online online live-streamed briefing will be held one week prior to the race on Monday, April 5th, 2020 @ 7:30 PM EST. It will be recorded and made available to view online. A question and answer session will follow the briefing. All runners are welcome to participate but it is not mandatory.
  • There will be no onsite pre race briefing in 2021.

Race Morning Check-in

  • Weather permitting, some race morning activities will be conducted outdoors.
  • Bibs/Packets will be handed out race morning to those who did not check-in the day before.
  • Highly recommended that only runners visit the check-in tables.
  • Runners are not permitted to pick up anything from any table during the event weekend. This includes bibs, shirts, swag, safety pins, etc. at packet pickup. If you need anything, ask a staff/volunteer member.
  • Signage at entrances and throughout the facility or space alerting staff and patrons or attendees to the required occupancy limits, six feet of physical distance, and face covering requirements.

Shuttles Start/Finish

  • Shuttle buses will transport runners from the staging area at the Stearns Heritage Hall to the race start.
  • Shuttle buses will run throughout the day to hellp transport runners from the finish area (Blue Heron) back to the Stearns Heritage Hall.
  • Face coverings are required to be worn at times on the shuttle buses.
  • Bus loads will be limited to 3/4 capacity.
  • Sanitizer will be placed nearby shuttle loading. We ask that you sanitize your hands BEFORE entering the shuttles.

Race Start

  • Waved start per shuttle bus load.
  • Masks are required at the start
  • Runners will maintain social distancing as they make their way to the starting line and while waiting within the start area.
  • Chip time rather than gun time will be used to determine results.

*Official race end time and aid station cutoff times determined by the start of the final wave and based on an 11 hour total cutoff time.

Aid Stations

  • Hand sanitizer will be set up and positioned as runners enter the aid-station, and their use is MANDATORY.
  • Volunteers and Runners and Pacers are required to wear face covering (masks) when entering an aid station.
  • Spectators WILL NOT BE PERMITTED in the aid station areas and must practice social distancing (masks recommended if they can not meet social distancing requirements).
  • Signage will be posted to remind spectators that they are not permitted to enter aid stations.

Aid Station Food & Hydration Handling

  • To address the risk of contaminant transmission on or in food, we will have less food than usual at the aid stations.
  • Other than fruit, No food will be prepared or cooked at the aid stations. Instead, single serving package food (bags of chips, bags of candy, granola bars, etc.) will be  used to remain sealed until opened by the runner.
  • Runners are NOT PERMITTED to pick through and select their own food off aid station tables.
  • Runners will be responsible for filling their own water bottles, bladders, etc. In order to limit the interaction between runner and volunteer at close proximity, we will be asking that runners instead fill their own hydration. There will be alcohol swabs on the tables with the water and electrolyte drink mix coolers. After using the hand sanitizer to clean your hands, you can use an alcohol swab to sanitize the cooler spouts.

Drop Bags

On Course

  • There will be no on-course drop bags in 2021.

Finish Area

  • Runners are permitted to have one finish area drop bag that will be transported to Blue Heron by race staff. Runners can retrieve those upon finishing the race.
  • It is recommended to have a change of clothes, especially warm clothing should it be cooler temperatures on race day.
  • Be sure to label your drop bag so it is easy to locate and identify
  • DO NOT USE BLACK/GREY/WHITE GARBAGE BAGS as drop bags. They can be mistaken for trash by park or race staff.

Race Finish

  • Participants are encouraged to move through the finish area quickly and to maintain physical distancing.
  • Avoid handshakes, “high-fives”, and hugs unless with your party.
  • All food/water will be distributed using the Aid Station guidelines outlined above.
  • Face coverings should be kept on-site and worn at times when the recommended social distancing of 6 feet cannot be maintained.
  • Runners and spectators are asked not to linger at the finish area after their runner has finished and received their finisher award.