Team-Relay (Ekiden)

The famous origin of the marathon is the legend about the battle of Marathon and the Messenger Pheidippides. Less spread is the knowledge of ‘Ekiden‘s’ onset.
As collective name for long distance relays, Ekiden-Marathon is the most known form of Ekiden. It has it seeds in Japan of 17th century. To deliver messages from Tokyo to Kyoto, several runners were taken on even distances along the route to forward the message to the next runner.

At IWB Basel Marathon the message is wrapped by a hook-and-loop tape with integrated chip. The system stays the same. In the categories Gentlemen, Ladies, Mixed, Juniors, Masters, Students and Companies, teams of six participants complete the course. Each team member runs two, three or four loops before they transfer the fillet to the next one.
The route will be shared with the participants of the other categories. The common finish area will be on Marktplatz – cheered by spectators along the route.

In time all team guarantors will get information for the hole team per mail. Please read and discuss the following information about the transition area with your team to guarantee a smooth flow. Possible mutations must be done until Thursday, September 21st 2017.

Before the race

  • Please pick up the race numbers, the chip with hook-and-loop tape, the bracelets and the race bags at the Race number pick up station in time. Control the formatation of your team.
  • Race number pick up station:
    Saturday: 10.00am to 05.00pm at Shopping Center St. Jakob-Park (Runners’ Exhibition)
    Sunday: as of 06.30am
    It suffices, if the team captain picks up the staff for all team members.
  • Please control:
    (1) Member „A“ is wearing the hook-and-loop tape with the chip on his right arm.
    (2) All members wear the correct number of bracelets good visible on their left arms
    (3) All team members know the route.
    (4) As of about 09.30am the transition area is built up and available to be inspected. We recommend to use this opportunity.
    (5) Each team member receives a number of bracelets and yields one at the transition area after each loop. As soon as all bracelets are yielded, the hook-and-loop tape with chip will be transferred to the next runner.
    (6) The team receives a programmed timing chip together with the race numbers. It is affixed at a hook-and-loop tape, that needs to be worn at the right wrist. The chip will be transferred to the next team member at the transition area.
    (7) Please inform all team members about the route definition.

During the race (Start 11.00am)

  • At the transition and finish area the timings of all route sections will be measured.
  • The transformation of the chip and the hook-and-loop tape must take place at the marked transition area (20m).
  • Only replace team members are allowed to wait in the transition area.
  • Primarily each team is responsible by itself that all members run the right number of loops. Bracelets and marshals are there to assist.
  • Each team member must only complete one route section and participate in one team.
  • The running order A to F is to be kept strictly – otherwise there will be no valuation.
  • Chaperonage by foot or by bike is not allowed. Teams who don’t keep this instruction will not be valued.

After the race

  • The chip needs to be handed back after the race. Otherwise we will have to charge you for the missing chip!
  • Medals will be handed out directly after runner „F“ arrives at the finish line (prices will not be sent on).
  • Ceremony Publication: At the stage on Marktplatz

The team captains are responsible for their teams. Questions will be answered at the info desk at the transition area.