General Rules & Runner Responsibilities

Çatalkaya Ultra is organized with respect for nature, fair play, safety, and solidarity.
By registering, all participants agree to comply with all rules below.

Respect Nature – The Spirit of Çatalkaya

(Çatalkaya Ultra exists not to conquer nature, but to run in harmony with it.
Respect for nature, animals, fellow runners, and ourselves is the foundation of this race.
Runners, volunteers, local communities, and all living beings share the same land. With every step, we must leave respect behind, not damage. In this landscape, as strong as it is fragile, protecting nature comes before competition.
Running in Çatalkaya is a privilege.
Honoring and preserving this land is our responsibility.)
No littering is allowed anywhere on the course.
All waste (gel wrappers, bottles, cups, tapes, tissues, etc.) must be carried to the next aid station.
Leaving trash outside aid stations results in disqualification.
Do not damage vegetation or create new paths.
Nature is the host of this race; we are only guests.

Respect Other Runners – Fair Play

All runners must behave respectfully and supportively.
Blocking, pushing, aggressive behavior, or verbal disrespect is unacceptable.
Helping another runner in difficulty is part of trail running ethics.

Single Track Rules

On narrow trails, slower runners must give way safely to faster runners.
Polite verbal warnings should be used (“Passing on your left/right”).

Self-Sufficiency

This is a semi-autonomous race.
Each runner is responsible for carrying their own food, water, and mandatory equipment.
Aid stations are supportive, not primary resources.
Mandatory equipment may be checked before and during the race.
(Ultra distances demand not only physical strength but also awareness and responsibility.
Each runner must know their limits, be able to stop when necessary, and always put health first.
Proper training, adequate rest, balanced nutrition, and choosing a course that matches one’s experience are essential.
At Çatalkaya Ultra, success is not only about finishing,
it is about staying healthy, conscious, and respectful to your own body.)

Safety / Course Markings / Medical Assistance

Following the course markings is the responsibility of the runner.
Getting lost is part of the nature of trail races; therefore, being careful and prepared is essential.
The organization reserves the right to make changes to the course before the race. Any such changes will be announced to the participants prior to the event.
The entire course will be clearly marked and visible. (In open areas, markings will be placed every 50–100 meters; in areas with dense vegetation, markings will be placed every 5–25 meters.)
At critical points, direction signs such as boards or arrows will be used for guidance. In sections that may be passed in the dark, reflective markings will be applied. If you do not see any markings within the distances stated above, you must turn back to the last visible marking and check whether you are on the correct course.
In emergency situations, it is mandatory to follow the instructions of race officials, medical teams, and security forces. The organization will use all available means to ensure the safety and health of the runners throughout the race. However, safety is not only the responsibility of the organization, but also of each runner.
When a person in need of assistance is encountered on the course, support should be given as much as possible and the situation must be reported to the officials immediately. Due to natural conditions and the structure of the course, it may take time for help to arrive. Therefore, every runner must be prepared to ensure their own safety with the equipment they carry.
Race organization staff, medical teams, search and rescue personnel, and other authorized persons may:
Withdraw a runner from the race if they are considered to be at risk and unable to continue safely.
Request a runner to use their mandatory equipment when necessary.
Direct injured or ill runners to appropriate medical facilities or treatment units.

MANDATORY EQUIPMENT

Proper equipment selection is critical for both your performance and safety during the race. Ultra-distance races require not only physical preparation but also thorough and careful equipment preparation. There is a possibility of rain during the race period, and air temperatures may drop to 9–10°C. Therefore, your equipment must be suitable for variable and challenging weather conditions and must allow you to wait safely until help arrives in case of an emergency.
Participants are deemed to have accepted that they will present their mandatory equipment during registration and carry it with them throughout the race.
The organization reserves the right to make changes to the mandatory equipment list depending on weather conditions and will inform the participants of any such changes prior to the race.

Registration

ÇATALKAYA Ultra race is open to all participants who are 18 years of age or older.
Only athletes who have completed the registration process (payment made and approval received) are allowed to participate in the race. Unregistered runners are not permitted to enter the course.
Each participant may compete in only one course. Runners who race on Saturday are not allowed to participate in any of the Sunday courses.
Registrations will be carried out through the website catalkayaultra.com.
Registration is non-transferable and no one may run in place of another participant.
The final registration deadline is November 4, 2026, at 18:00. The organization reserves the right to extend this deadline if necessary.
For runners who wish to change their race course, the deadline is October 28, 2026, at 18:00.

Registration Fee

COURSE	01.03.2026-15.03.2026	16.03.2026-01.06.2026	02.06.2026-12.08.2026	13.08.2026-04.11.2026
74K	3200 TL	4200 TL	4650 TL	5100 TL
45K	2500 TL	3400 TL	3850 TL	4300 TL
29K	2200 TL	3100 TL	3500 TL	3900 TL
14K	1400 TL	2250 TL	2500 TL	2800 TL
5K	1000 TL	1700 TL	1850 TL	2000 TL

The registration fee includes the following:

Bib number
Timing service
Race T-shirt
Race bag
Food and drink support at aid stations along the course
Medical help
Finisher medal for participants who complete the race within the specified time limits

Registration Cancellation and Refund Policy

If the event is carried out as planned, no refund will be issued in case a participant is unable to attend the race or reach the event area for any reason, and the registration will not be transferred to a future event.
⁠Participants who are unable to attend may request that their race kit be shipped to them by the organization. Shipping costs are not included in the registration fee and will be sent cash on delivery.
⁠In cases of force majeure or circumstances beyond the control of the organization, if the event is cancelled before 21 November 2026 at 00:00, or if the race is partially or fully stopped after it has started, registration fees will not be refunded. In such cases, the organization accepts no liability and registrations will be transferred to the next event.
⁠For course changes requested before the final registration deadline: No refund will be issued for transfers to a lower-priced course. For transfers to a higher-priced course, the participant must pay the difference between the current registration fee and the fee of the requested course.
⁠By completing the registration process, the participant is deemed to have read, understood, and accepted these terms and conditions.

Race Kit Distribution

Participants must collect their race kits on the dates and times specified in the event program.
Race kits can only be collected by registered runners. For runners who have completed their registration but will not be able to participate in the race, their race kits will be delivered, without a bib number and timing chip, to the person they notify by e-mail at info@rundetta.com.
Race kit distribution ends 30 minutes before the start time of the relevant course.

Bib (Race Number)

Bibs are issued only to the runner upon ID check.
They must be worn visibly on the front during the entire race.
Bib sharing or transfer of registration is strictly prohibited.

RACE START

COURSE	DATE - TIME	START LOCATION
74K	21.11.2026 – 06:00	Balçova Therapy Forest Entrance
45K	21.11.2026 – 08:00	Balçova Therapy Forest Entrance
29K	21.11.2026 – 08:30	Balçova Therapy Forest Entrance
14K	22.11.2026 – 08:30	Balçova Therapy Forest Entrance
5K	22.11.2026 – 09:00	Balçova Therapy Forest Entrance

Participants must be at the starting area at least 30 minutes before the race start time.

TIME LIMITS (CUT-OFF)

Time limits (cut-off) are set to ensure race safety and the proper organization of the event. Runners who fail to leave a checkpoint within the specified time limit will be withdrawn from the race. The cut-off times for each checkpoint are indicated on the course profile and in the checkpoint list on the relevant race page.
The maximum finishing times for each course are as follows:

74K: 16 hours
45K: 11 hours
29K: 7 hours
14K: 3.5 hours
5K: 1.5 hours

DROP BAG (Spare Clothing Delivery)

Participants must deliver their drop bags to the location designated by the organization no later than 30 minutes before the start of their race and collect them from the same area after finishing the race. Drop bags will only be handed over to the runner and to no one else.
Participants must place their belongings in sturdy, closed, and leak-proof bags and attach the drop bag numbers provided by the organization to their bags.

Supporters

Runners may receive support from third parties only in the areas designated by the organization at the checkpoints. Support such as clothing, shoes, or similar equipment is not allowed. At certain checkpoints, supporters may provide food and drink only.
Supporters are allowed to accompany a runner by running alongside them from 200 meters before the checkpoint to 200 meters after the checkpoint.
Receiving any kind of support outside of these designated areas is strictly prohibited.

Medical Certificate / License

For the 74K, 45K, and 29K courses, valid as of 21 November 2026:
A medical certificate issued within the last 6 months or a valid federation athlete license is required.
Participants aged 65 and over, regardless of the course, may take part in the race only with a medical certificate obtained from a cardiologist, including an ECG (electrocardiogram) report.

Results/Categories/Awards

Partial results during the race and the official final results will be published on the website catalkayaultra.com.
Results will be evaluated in the following categories:

Overall Classification (Women / Men)
Age Categories (Women / Men):
- 18–34
- 35–44
- 45–54
- 55+

Every participant who completes the Çatalkaya Ultra within the specified time limit and in accordance with the race rules will receive a finisher medal. In addition, various prizes may be awarded to the runners who place in the top three positions in the categories mentioned above. Detailed information about the awards will be shared on the race’s Instagram account.
A runner who cannot attend the award ceremony may have their prize collected by a friend on their behalf, provided that it is received with a signature.
No prizes will be shipped to any address after the award ceremony.

Objections/Complaints

Objections regarding rankings and results must be submitted in writing to the registration desk at the race venue within 2 hours after the runner crosses the finish line.
All other objections or complaints related to the organization, course, officials, or any other matters must be sent to the organization by e-mail within 7 days after the race.
Any objections or complaints submitted outside these time limits will not be taken into consideration.

Disqualification

The following situations result in disqualification:

Littering or polluting the environment.
Failing to carry mandatory equipment (mobile phone, waterproof jacket, water container, emergency blanket, headlamp) or refusing the inspection of all mandatory equipment.
Bib sharing or racing under another person’s registration.
Failure to comply with the instructions of the organization (refusing to follow directions or orders given by race directors, race officials, doctors, or search and rescue personnel).
Unsportsmanlike conduct (blocking, pushing, aggressive behavior, cheating by using any motorized or non-motorized vehicle or by any other means) or failing to assist a runner in difficulty.
Leaving a checkpoint after the cut-off time.
Threatening, harassing, or engaging in harmful behavior toward other runners or the organization during the race or any part of the event.

Other Penalties

Failure to carry mandatory equipment not listed under the disqualification reasons / 1-hour time penalty.
Shortening the race course / The penalty will be determined at the discretion of the organization.
Receiving assistance during the race outside of the permitted cases / The penalty will be determined at the discretion of the organization.
Missing bib number or timing chip / The penalty will be determined at the discretion of the organization.
Failing to pass through a checkpoint / The penalty will be determined at the discretion of the organization.
Participants who start the race with poles must carry their poles with them throughout the race until the finish line. Participants who discard their poles before finishing the race will receive an additional 1-hour time penalty.

Withdrawing from the race (DNF)

Unless there is a medical emergency, runners must not leave the course outside of a checkpoint.
If the decision to withdraw is made between two checkpoints, the runner is required to proceed to the nearest checkpoint for their own safety.
In the event that weather conditions deteriorate to a level that threatens race safety, the organization may decide to partially or completely stop the race. In such a case, the organization will ensure that all runners are evacuated from the course as quickly and safely as possible.

Use of visual materials

Registered participants are deemed to have given their consent for photographs and videos taken during the event to be used by the organization and its sponsors for promotional purposes.

Waiver

Participants who have voluntarily registered for Çatalkaya Ultra are deemed to have accepted the race rules and any changes that may be made to these rules. The organization cannot be held responsible for any material or moral damages, injuries, or accidents caused by or suffered by the participants.

Data Protection Law

The participant declares that the personal data provided during registration is shared voluntarily and gives explicit consent to the processing of such data in accordance with the Turkish Personal Data Protection Law (Law No. 6698) for the purposes of event organization, communication, and operational processes.