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Vamvakou Mountain Run 2024

Do you love running and are looking for alternative races on mountain trails and surrounded by the natural environment? Do you like to run and gaze at the lush landscape and the clusters of trees? Are you looking for races with uphill, downhill and distances at a high altitude? Are you preparing for a bigger mountain run race and looking for a nice event to “train”? Then Vamvakou Mountain Run, is exactly what you are looking for! The sports event is scheduled to take place on Sunday, June 16, 2024, and is being realized for the fourth consecutive year in the village of Vamvakou, Laconia, by Vamvakou Revival within the framework of the initiative for the revival of the village with the support of the Stavros Niarchos Foundation (SNF).

A mountain run race will take place across the slopes of the Laconian Mount Parnon with the village of Vamvakou serving as the starting and finish line. This year, for the first time, there will be three routes of 28, 18 and 7 kilometers included with routes through gorges, forest roads, and hiking trails, starting at an altitude of 950m. and reaching up to 1600m. following a route in an idyllic mountain setting with/ a varied landscape! Last summer, more than 380 runners, mainly from Attica and the Peloponnese, were “present” and participated in this wonderful race.

At Vamvakou Mountain Run there is an official electronic timing, so that all runners know their performance. All runners will receive a commemorative participation medal, while there will also be awards for best performance. The purpose of the event is to highlight the natural wealth of the wider area and encourage participation in activities and events in nature, with visitors having the opportunity to get to know the lush green paths of Parnon and live the experience of Vamvakou.

Every year, we are running for a good cause! This year, the amount collected will be used to support civil protection works on Mount Parnon, in the wider area of Vamvakou, in order to preserve the natural wealth of the area, but also safety and security issues.

 

Vamvakou Mountain Run, 16/06/2024

Symbolic participation fee: 5 Euros (7km), 10 Euros (18 & 28km)

Organized by: Vamvakou Revival

Supervised by: Ioannis Dimopoulos

With the support of: Stavros Niarchos Foundation (SNF)

Registration is now open, until 09/06!

28 km route – Altitude +1353 m.

The race will be conducted at Sunday June, 16 2023, with starting time at 9:30 o’clock at Central Village Square of Vamvakou

Right to participate: Individuals over 18 years old, in other words born before 16/06/2006, have the right to participate in the race. Participants must be in good physical condition and need to register via this webpage.

See more details about the race and find the registration form here!

18th km Route – Altitude +800m.

The race will be conducted at Sunday June, 16 2023, with starting time at 9:30 o’clock at Central Village Square of Vamvakou

Right to participate: Individuals over 18 years old, in other words born before 16/06/2006, have the right to participate in the race. Participants must be in good physical condition and need to register via this webpage.

See more details about the race and find the registration form here!

7 km Route – Altitude +385 m.

The race will be conducted at Sunday June, 16 2023, with starting time at 10:00 o’clock at Central Village Square of Vamvakou

Right to participate: Individuals over 18 years old, in other words born before 16/06/2006, have the right to participate in the race. Participants must be in good physical condition and need to register via this webpage.

See more details about the race and find the registration form here!

How to get to Vamvakou:

By your own vehicle, see the route here!

The event will provide participants with free transport by bus from Athens and Kalamata and in-between stops at Corinth, Tripoli and Sparti. The itineraries are as follows:

ATHENS

Gathering time: 4:45

Departure time: 5:00 the latest

Meeting Point: Syntagma Square (Filellinon and Xenofontos)

There will also be a stop at Palataki (opposite the Town Hall of Haidari) for the convenience of participants.

CORINTH

The bus from Athens will stop at the Isthmus of Corinth (Goody’s), where it will pick up those who have registered to travel from Corinth.

KALAMATA

Gathering time: 6:30

Departure time: 6:45 the latest

Meeting Point: Entrance of Kalamata opposite KTEL of Kalamata (upstream)

Register your interest in moving through the race booking form. If you do not declare a specific bus route during your registration, you will not be included in the list, so you will not be able to ride the bus as arranged by the event.

 

Technical instructions

Pick-up of race pack

The race pack can be picked up only from the administration desk of the Run:

·        Saturday June 15th between 17:00 and 20:00, Community Center of Vamvakou

·        Sunday June 16th between 7:30 and 9:00, Central Village Square of Vamvakou

To serve you best, please bring along the email mentioning your BIB number, either in print or electronic format.

Technical description of Run: The technical description of the three races of VAMVAKOU MOUNTAIN RUN will be announced on Sunday June 16th at 9:00, at the starting point.

Arrival of athletes: Participants must be at the starting point of the race at least half an hour before the scheduled starting time.

Storage of personal items: If you wish to store your personal belongings before the start, there will be a space set up by VAMVAKOU MOUNTAIN RUN for this purpose, near the starting point. The particular bag must be handed over the latest by 9:00 and will be returned to you, after finishing, by representatives of the event by demonstrating your BIB number.

Feed stations

28 km RACE There will be five feed stations set up along the route of the long race, providing participants with water, isotonic drinks, gels, dried nuts, fruit and salt, according to the point of the route.

18 km RACE There will be five feed stations set up along the route of the long race, providing participants with water, isotonic drinks, gels, dried nuts, fruit and salt, according to the point of the route.

7 km RACE There will be one feed station along the route of the short race, providing participants with water, isotonic drinks, fruit and dried nuts.

Moreover, water will be given to the runners at the starting and finishing points. At the finishing point, a light meal will be offered to the runners finishing the race.

Time limit for the conclusion of the race

For the long run 28 km-route, there are two cut-off limits which have been set at the 8th kilometer situated at the Mantres location and at the 21st kilometer of the route, situated at the Sparti Refuge location. Any athlete reaching the first point 2:15 hours and 5:00 hours at the second point after the start of the race is disqualified and will be taken to the finish point by vehicles of the organiser, as indicated by the judge in charge. If an athlete decides to continue, they must be very familiar with the mountain, bearing in mind that they are running at their own risk and be aware of the fact that signage will be lacking as the sweeper of the race will be collecting additional signage. Athletes who are dropping out for any reason must inform the judge at the nearest check point.

The time limit for the 28 km long route is set at 6:30 hours, ending at 16:00. Athletes finishing after this time are disqualified.

The time limit for the 18 klm route is set at 4:30 hours, ending at 14:30. Athletes finishing after this time are disqualified.

The time limit for the shorter route (7 km) is set at 3 hours, ending at 13:00. Athletes finishing after this time are disqualified.

BIB number of runners

The BIB number of each athlete must be visible at all times, throughout the race and upon the finish.

Medical services

Full medical support will be provided by First Aid Ambulance to offer first aid throughout the Run.

In any case, all runners are participating at their own risk, in accordance with the Participation Terms. Participants are recommended to proceed with medical exams before the race to ensure they are in good physical condition.

Other useful information

– Consult your doctor if you are suffering from some medical condition.

– Demonstrate sportsmanship throughout the event.

– Respect and follow the indications of the organizing committee.

– Do not forget to warm up before starting the race.

– Consume your last meal two hours before the race.

– Be well hydrated before and during the race.

– Get to the Starting Line on time.

– Follow your own pace and do not get carried away by the pace of other athletes.

– Do not dispose of bottles or other litter at the start, throughout the route and at the finish of the race.

– Every athlete approached by a faster athlete is obliged, if required, to move to the side so that the overtaking can be realized quickly and safely.

– It is prohibited for athletes to be accompanied in any part of the race by friends, relatives and pets.

– It is prohibited for athletes to get any external help or artificial assistance in between them, as well as help by any motor-driven means. The use of trekking poles, map and compass is allowed.

– The organising committee does not oblige athlete to have with them the following equipment. However, it is recommended for the longer route – and especially for beginners – to have with them: a small backpack with water bladder, a windbreaker jacket, solids, elastic bandage, whistle, mobile phone.

– It is prohibited to use headphones throughout the race.

– The Run supports the reduced use of plastic, so, there will be no plastic cups. The runners will be able to fill their personal water bottles at the feed stations.

– All athletes must have their own water drinkware (flask, bottle, container, cup).

Safety measures

The safety of runners and spectators is of utmost importance to the organizing committee. The organiser is supervising the routes, to the extent that this is possible, in order to avoid any unforeseen incident and provides medical assistance to athletes who might need it.

The organiser can modify the routes in case of risks for the safety of the athletes. It might also delay the start of the race or even cancel or postpone the race due to bad weather or other reason of force majeure.

We are collaborating with the Hellenic Police, the Road Traffic Police, the Hellenic Fire Service and the Red Cross of Sparti, the rescue team Etoimoklis and the Hellenic Rescue Team in order to ensure safety throughout our events.

We would like to thank the Municipality of Sparti, the Forestry Service of Sparti, the Hellenic Police and the Hellenic Fire-Fighting Service.

About Vamvakou

On June 16th, as well as on the previous day, a series of activities for the whole family and educational programmes for children will be realised at the school of the village, as part of the initiative for the revival of Vamvakou with the support of the Stavros Niarchos Foundation (SNF). Find here more information!

Moreover, the participants can find information for their stay in the village nearby areas here!