POLICIES AND RULES GOVERNING MARATHONS

Based on the review of AVA policy and IVV Rules, the following information concerning sanctioning of marathons is provided.

The old AVA policy manual established specific requirements concerning sanctioning and conducting a marathon walking event. It basically provided a step-by-step procedure to be followed at each level of the sanctioning approval.
When the Executive Council reviewed and approved the new policy manual, they very purposefully eliminated those stringent requirements. The Council took this action for two reasons - to reduce the regulatory requirements on the AVA clubs and to, hopefully, encourage more clubs to hold marathon walking events.
The new policy manual does establish several specific requirements for marathons. These are presented in the normal text concerning events just as the requirements for other events are presented. The club must meet these requirements when they conduct the event.
There is no requirement in the new policy manual that the National Special Events Committee approve a sanction request for a marathon. The elimination of this requirement also was purposefully done by the Executive Council when it approved the new manual.
There is a requirement in the IVV Rules that the national association must approve all trails more than 30 km long. The AVA has designated certain positions as "sanctioning authorities." These sanctioning authorities approve events in the name of the AVA (the national association). The primary sanctioning authority for all events is the Regional Director. The Regional Director may delegate that authority to another person and may establish limits to that delegated authority.
Part of the responsibility that goes along with being designated a "sanctioning authority" is that the individual so designated must ensure that a club requesting that an event be sanctioned can and will fulfill all of the regulatory requirements established for that type of event.
There is no AVA or IVV requirement that a special patch be provided for a marathon event.

Based on this information, AVA offers the following guidance:

There is no requirement that a club wanting to hold a marathon must use any special sanctioning procedure. The club must comply with the rules established in the AVA policy manual for the marathon. It is the responsibility of the sanctioning authority to decide if the club can and will comply with the specified requirements and to stop the event if they do not meet those requirements on the day(s) of the event.

AVA POLICIES THAT SPECIFICALLY PERTAIN TO MARATHONS

Policy 4.01 II, D, 4: The start/finish area should have free water, garbage containers and rest rooms available. If rest rooms are not available at the start/finish, a notice will be placed in the event brochure. The club should ensure that rest room facilities are available approximately every ten (10) kilometers along the selected trail

Policy 4. 0 1, U, D, 6a: Except for swimming events, clubs must offer participants a minimum of three (3) hours after the close of the start point to complete a short distance event. The club offer at least six (6) hour to complete a medium distance event and nine (9) hours to complete a long distance event.

Policy 4. 0 1, 11, D, 9: Clubs should use manned checkpoints to monitor and help participants if necessary. Clubs will mark start cards at the checkpoint with any kind of stamp or punch. Self checkpoints may replace manned checkpoints if the club has another means of monitoring participants. For long distance events, to include Marathons, clubs shall establish manned checkpoints no more than six (6) kilometers apart. Additionally for long distance walks, to include Marathons, telephone and/or radio communication must be available between manned checkpoints and the start/finish area.

Policy 4.01, U, D, 10: During all events, medical assistance shall be reasonably accessible. For long distance events, including Marathons, medical assistance must be readily available and must be readily accessible be telephone and/or radio.

Policy 4. 0 1, U, D, I 1: Free water will be provided at each checkpoint or participants will be required to carry water. The club will note any requirement for the participant to carry water in the event brochure. For long distance events, to include Marathons, A VA recommends that clubs make available free of charge, a non-sugared, sodium restricted drink. Clubs should consider hot drinks or soups when the temperature is less than 40 degrees F. They must ensure that there are garbage containers available at all manned checkpoints.

Policy 4.04, IL d. Awards may be acquired by participants who have completed the event to the satisfaction of the sponsoring club. Clubs may only give awards for distances greater then 30 kilometers when the participant has completed the actual event distance. The sponsoring club will establish the terms and conditions for participation that will allow event workers to receive the event award.

Additionally, IVVs Rules of the IVV, H VOLKSMARCHES (Walking Events), 2a. states.

"The approval of the national association is required for trails over 30km