There are a number of items specific to the 100 mile event. They are listed here to help potential event organizers.

Is it a race?
No. It is a challenge in which persons try to walk 100 miles within 24 hours. To our mind, it does not matter if the person finishes in 18 hours or 23 hours. All finishers become Centurions. We acknowledge a best performance (fastest time) within Australia but that's where it ends.

Judging
This event is not judged strictly according to the rules of race-walking. The contact rule applies as normal but the straight leg rule is applied leniently. Walkers cannot normally maintain a strict race-walking action over such a long distance and time and eventually resort to brisk street walking. Some will adopt this technique right from the start. In such a technique, the leg action does not necessarily strictly obey the rule but it is acceptable to us. The rule should only be applied to the obvious case of bent leg running or creeping which is always illegal.

Pacing
While pacing is not allowed, we encourage persons to accompany the walkers on their journey (especially during the night time and in the latter stages of the race when the going gets tough. The emphasis should be on walking with them and the person should walk on the outside of the competitor. The competitor should not be physically helped during the event while on the track. As in all such events. he must complete the distance under his own steam. You cannot for instance support the competitor while he makes his way around the track.

Feeding
A competitor may take food or drink at any time and may carry food or drink with him as he progresses around the circuit. He may be passed this by his support team. He does not need to pick it up from a feeding table as in other races.

The final stages
It is our wish that all centurions should be allowed the honour of completing the final stages of the event unaccompanied. We recommend that for the final 10 laps of a track event or the final 4 km of a road event, the competitor should be left alone. Thus spectators see him finishing the event as an individual. This adds to the symbolism of the feat. Of course, the wishes of the centurions may override this. If the competitor feels that he really wants certain people to accompany him to the end, then so be it.

Clothing and Numbering
It is not necessary for the competitor to wear a number due to the frequent changes of clothing that he may make if the weather conditions prove inclement. Competitors may wear long tights or a tracksuit bottom. Judges must cope with this and we feel that they will still be able to judge if the competitor is truly walking even though the legs are covered.

Leaving the track
Competitors may leave the track at any point and for any length of time. The clock keeps running and they have only 24 hours to complete the event so this is generally not a big problem. There are only 2 provisos with regard to this.

1. The competitor must reenter the track from the same point at which he left.
2. The competitor may go to such places as clubrooms attached to the venue, to support tents or to vehicles at the trackside but the competitor should not leave the environs of the event. To do so would mean that the race organizers would lose control of the event.

Trophies and awards
We do not generally award trophies to the winners of Centurion events. It is our feeling that the awarding of the Centurion medallion and of the Centurion Certificate and the automatic life membership of the Centurion Club are reward enough. This does not mean that the group organizing the event cannot seek their own sponsorship and provide their own awards or charge their own entry fees. These are matters outside our control. In fact, we rely on organizations such as the state Walking Clubs to run these events for us and leave such details to them.

Recorders
Each competitor should arrange for his own recorders and support team. It is not the responsibility of the event organizers to supply such persons. The race organizer should supply the recording sheets and arrange for the recording of such milestones as the 50 mile mark but that is where the responsibility ends. The results sheets should be passed to the race organizer as each page is filled. The race organizer will check the pages and confirm that all is correct. The race organizers should also sign the final page as a confirmation of the actual performance.

Venues
We generally conduct our events on athletics tracks as we can then verify the distance walked and can supervise the event easily. The track should also have adequate lighting to enable to competitors to be sighted at all times. There have been occasions when road courses or courses such as racecourses have been accepted but this must be checked with the Centurions Club first. We may wish to make some input on the course or recommend a particular course of action.

Verification
The event should be run by accredited officials and the Centurion Club should be notified beforehand. We will then try to ensure that we have one of our Centurions onsite to verify the performance and possibly to make the presentations of medallions and certificates and to welcome new members. The lap distance must be authenticated. For a track event this is not a major concern but for other venues, this is a necessity. A surveyor's report is generally accepted as sufficient proof. WE WILL NOT NECESSARILY ACCEPT A PERFORMANCE IF WE CANNOT ADEQUATELY VERIFY THAT THE PERFORMANCE WAS A LEGITIMATE WALKING ACHIEVEMENT OVER AN ACTUAL 100 MILE DISTANCE.

Press here to return to the Centurions Home Page.