Rules

Camino de Dragones 2027 · 12–13 June · version of 3 November 2026

Camino de Dragones is 300 kilometres from the Pyrenees to the sea, as a team and without stopping. These rules are here so that it goes well and everyone gets home in one piece: there are mountain legs, there is night running and there are open roads. Almost everything below is common sense put in writing, but all of it is mandatory and breaches are penalised.

0. The race is organised by Camino de Dragones S.L., tax ID (NIF) B-23904261, with its registered address at Calle Sant Feliu 30, Esc. B, P. 2, Pta. 2, 08390 Montgat (Barcelona), Spain (“the organisation”). Contact: info@caminodedragones.es. Organisation phone during the race: +34 677 34 66 95. These rules are published in Spanish, Catalan and English; if the versions differ, the Spanish version prevails.

The race and the route

1. The official race route is run as a relay, in teams of 9 to 12 runners.

2. The route is divided into 32 legs.

3. The start is at Vallter 2000, in waves. Each team starts at the time the organisation gives it, based on the flat 10 km times its captain declares (Rule 7). Declare realistic times: if you run much faster or slower than declared, you throw everyone's handovers off.

The handover

4. The handover takes place inside the marked zone at each relay point: the incoming runner hands over to the outgoing runner in front of a member of the organisation, who records the team number and the time.

5. Check there and then that the number and the time have been recorded correctly. Once that relay point closes, no corrections are accepted.

6. On paired legs, both runners start and finish together, and the handover happens once both have arrived.

Running order

7. In the captains' section, the captain sets the team members by Thursday 22 April 2027 (after that, only replacements for injury or illness, Rule 41), and the running order, with each runner's time over a flat 10 km, by Monday 24 May 2027 at 23:59. Runners take their turns in that order:

a) No runner may run two consecutive legs.

b) Each runner must complete at least 2 legs during the race.

c) Four legs — 15, 16, 17 and 18 — must be run jointly by two runners from the same team. They are the four legs crossing Montnegre i el Corredor: mountain trail, at night and far from everything. Nobody runs them alone. Each paired leg takes up two places in the running order. If one of the pair cannot continue, the other does not carry on alone: they wait together, inform the organisation, and another pair from the team finishes the leg from that point, in accordance with Rule 8.

d) Minors may not run any leg between 19:30 and 07:30 (Rule 47), and therefore cannot run legs 15 to 18. If, with the actual race timing, a minor's leg falls in that period, another team member runs it, informing the organisation, and the penalty for changing the running order does not apply.

8. If a runner cannot continue because of injury, illness or exhaustion, another team member continues the leg from the exact point where they stopped, respecting Rule 7: nobody runs two legs in a row. The injured runner's remaining legs are shared among the others, without changing the rest of the order. Only if this would make someone run two legs in a row may the captain change the order as little as needed to avoid it, informing the organisation as set out in Rule 9. The injured runner does not run again, but may join the team for the last 100 m to the finish.

9. Tell the organisation straight away on its phone number: who is withdrawing, who is finishing the leg and who is running their remaining legs. In an emergency, call 112 first.

10. If a runner leaves the route, they must go back to the point where they left it and continue from there.

Vehicles and parking

11. Each team may use a maximum of three five-seat estate cars (e.g. Seat León ST, VW Golf Variant) or two vehicles with up to 9 seats including the driver that can be driven with a standard car licence (category B), e.g. VW Caravelle or Ford Tourneo. Vehicles requiring a category D licence, coaches, caravans and motorhomes are not allowed. We recommend two vehicles per team: it is what works best for chaining handovers. The captain enters how many vehicles the team is bringing in the captains' section by Friday 30 April 2027.

12. At large relay points, only two vehicles per team may park, and only for as long as needed: at most 20 minutes before the runner's expected arrival, and leave as soon as the handover is done.

13. At small relay points, only one vehicle is allowed, under the same conditions.

14. All team vehicles must be clearly identified throughout the race with the parking card that the organisation hands out in the start pack, showing their assigned number. Check that the card is visible: an unidentified vehicle may have to be moved, which costs you time and everyone else space. Each parking card must clearly show a contact phone number for the driver.

15. Each vehicle has at least two drivers. Nobody drives for more than 3 hours in a row without a 20-minute break, and nobody drives while sleepy: at the first sign of tiredness, change drivers.

16. From 23:00 to 06:00, every moving vehicle must have at least two people awake: the driver and a co-driver keeping an eye on them.

17. Drivers must have a blood alcohol level of 0.0 at all times. The organisation may ask any driver to take a breath test; the test is voluntary, but refusing it means that driver is disqualified and may not drive again during the race. The phone is used by the co-driver, never by the driver. Following Rules 15 to 17 is the responsibility of each driver and their team.

18. Vehicles always follow the car route provided by the organisation. Driving onto the runners' tracks or trails is forbidden.

19. Driving alongside the runner is forbidden. Mid-leg, the runner may be given food, water or encouragement only with the vehicle parked off the road, in a safe and authorised place; at night, anyone getting out of the vehicle wears a reflective vest or garment.

20. Anyone not running stays outside the handover zone. Vehicles do not set off until the organisation gives the OK and there are no runners on the road.

21. If a team vehicle has an accident, call 112 and inform the organisation. The team may continue with another vehicle if everyone is fit to do so.

Identification and mandatory equipment

22. Each runner receives a bib in the start pack. It must always be visible, at night too. In addition, every runner must carry a working mobile phone with enough battery during their leg.

23. Every runner running between 19:30 and 07:30 must carry the mandatory night equipment: a certified reflective vest or garment visible from the front and the back (for example EN 17353, the standard for runners), a lit headlamp and a red flashing light visible from behind (on the back, the arm or the backpack).

24. From 19:30 to 07:30, any team member who gets out of a vehicle near a road or at a relay point wears a reflective vest or garment; the running one is fine. The two vests carried in each vehicle are for a breakdown or an accident.

25. Carrying the mandatory equipment is the responsibility of each runner and their team. The organisation may check it at bib collection and at any relay point. Without the mandatory equipment, you do not start.

26. Each vehicle carries the equipment listed on the Mandatory equipment page of the website.

Times and closing

27. Each relay point has opening and closing times (the “active handover” window). The organisation may hold runners if safety or route preparation requires it; that time is deducted from the result.

28. The finish closes on Sunday 13 June 2027 at 19:00, and each relay point has its own closing time; once a point closes, the route marking is removed. A team that has not reached the finish by then is out of the race, with no official time: it may carry on by its own means and under its own responsibility, like any other road user, without the organisation's services and without cover from the race insurance. If the captain expects the team not to make it in time, they must let the organisation know. If a relay point has already closed when you arrive but the finish is still open, send the handover time to the organisation's phone number, with your team number and the relay point number, and carry on. The exact times for each relay point will be published before the race, once the start waves are closed.

29. Each leg is run on foot, without any means of transport and with no help beyond what Rule 19 allows. Other runners from the team may run with them on any leg, but not as pacers. In the last 100 m of leg 32, the whole team may accompany the last runner to the finish.

30. Timing stops when the last runner crosses the finish line.

31. The race is run under normal conditions. Delays caused by traffic lights, level crossings or other external factors are not deducted.

32. If the team withdraws, tell the organisation straight away on its phone number and say where you are.

33. Weather. At 36 °C or above, there are compulsory cooling stops and the organisation may neutralise the most exposed legs. With an electrical storm less than 10 km away, the race stops; if it is still going after 2 hours, the affected leg is neutralised. Waiting time does not count. A neutralised leg is not run: teams travel by car to the next relay point and are given, for that leg, the time set by the organisation, the same for everyone.

34. The ranking is based on the team's total time plus penalties. In the event of a tie, the teams share the position.

Conduct and responsibility

35. Runners must comply with the Spanish Traffic and Road Safety Act (RDL 6/2015). On the road you are pedestrians: run on the left, facing the traffic, where there is no pavement; in single file; and cross at pedestrian crossings or, where there are none, at right angles and when the road is clear. Headphones are not allowed on road sections.

36. Consuming alcohol or drugs is forbidden until your team crosses the finish line. Anyone under their influence is disqualified, and the team may continue without them.

37. Each runner takes part at their own risk. The organisation is liable for damage attributable to it under applicable law. It is not liable for damage caused by participants' recklessness or breach of these rules, by third parties unrelated to the organisation, or by force majeure.

37a. Insurance. For the race, the organisation will have taken out civil liability insurance and accident insurance for registered runners. The insurance covers runners during their legs and until the finish closes (Rule 28). It does not cover team vehicles or their occupants, who must be insured as required by law, or anyone running out of the race (Rule 28).

38. The organisation reserves the right to stop the race or change the route in the event of unforeseen circumstances or adverse weather, in order to ensure safety.

39. The organisation may change deadlines or rules. Changes are communicated to captains by email and on the website at least 7 days in advance, except those forced by weather, permits or safety, which are communicated as soon as they are known. The same applies to the route: the published route is the planned one and may change because of municipal permits, health restrictions or weather. Each captain passes changes on to their team.

40. When registering the team, the captain accepts these rules on behalf of everyone and confirms that they have informed each member of these rules and of the privacy policy before providing their details; each runner accepts them by signing the document in Rule 48 and undertakes to follow them.

41. Entries and withdrawals.

a) Final entry and voluntary withdrawals: the entry fee is a single fee per team and is final. The organisation does not make refunds, full or partial, for withdrawals, injuries, the team breaking up or inability to attend, regardless of when it is notified.

b) Transfer of place: instead of a refund, individual runners may be changed, or the whole team entry may be transferred to another holder, until Thursday 22 April 2027 (Rule 7). Any payment for the transfer is solely a matter between the teams involved. After that, and until Friday 4 June 2027, a runner may only be replaced because of injury or illness, by informing the organisation; the replacement takes their place in the running order.

42. Postponement, suspension and cancellation.

a) Force majeure: if the race has to be suspended or postponed due to force majeure beyond the organisation's control (extreme weather, permits refused at short notice or government restrictions), the team's entry moves automatically to the new date or to the following year's edition. If there is no new date and no following edition, the organisation refunds the fee, deducting only the costs already incurred and not recoverable that it can justify.

b) Refund for force majeure: if the team does not accept the new date, the captain has 14 calendar days from the organisation's notice to request cancellation. In this case only, the organisation refunds part of the amount paid, depending on the date on which the organisation announces the cancellation or postponement, to cover production and management costs already incurred and not recoverable: 90 % if the organisation announces it by Thursday 22 April 2027; 50 % if it announces it between 23 April and 31 May 2027; if it announces it from 1 June 2027, there is no refund and the entry moves to the new date or to the following edition.

c) Cancellation attributable to the organisation: if the organisation cancels the race for a reason attributable to it, it refunds the full fee.

d) Changes to the route or timetable, the removal of legs, and stopping or shortening the race for safety once it has started (Rules 33, 38 and 39) do not give the right to a refund: the race counts as held. If a substantial change is announced before the start (a different date or the removal of more than 4 legs), the team may request cancellation on the terms of section b).

e) For financial matters, the organisation deals only with the captain or the person who paid the entry.

43. The organisation reserves the right to reject team names or logos that are offensive, discriminatory or use third-party brands without permission.

44. Quiet hours from 22:00 to 08:00: no horns, loud music, megaphones, bells, whistles or shouting.

45. If another runner is in trouble, stop to help and inform the organisation. Failing to do so means disqualification.

46. The race doctor, the race director or the technical director may withdraw any runner whose health is at risk.

47. Age: at least 18 on race day, except as provided below for runners aged 16 and 17. The race accident insurance covers runners under 66; runners aged 66 or over may take part if, at bib collection, they show their own accident insurance covering their participation in the race with at least the same cover as the race insurance. Runners aged 16 or 17 may take part with a consent form signed by their parent or legal guardian, a copy of that person's ID and a medical certificate of fitness, and with that parent or guardian on the same team. Minors only run daylight legs: none between 19:30 and 07:30 (Rule 7 d). Everything is handed in at bib collection.

48. Assumption of risk and physical fitness: every runner must accept and sign the “Assumption of risk and declaration of physical fitness” document before the start. The team captain is responsible for checking that all team members have completed this step. No bib will be handed to a runner who has not completed this document beforehand. By starting, the runner confirms that they are in adequate physical condition to meet the demands of the race. The organisation recommends that all runners have a medical check-up beforehand.

49. At least one member of each team attends the captains' meeting, held on Thursday 15 April 2027 in the afternoon, by video call, in two sessions (Spanish and English); the time will be sent to captains. A team that does not attend cannot claim to be unaware of what is announced there.

50. Personal data and images. Participants' data are processed in accordance with the privacy policy published on this website, which forms part of these rules. The organisation may use general images of the race to report on it. Using images in which a participant appears prominently in promotional material requires their consent, which is requested at registration and can be withdrawn at any time by writing to info@caminodedragones.es.

51. Complaints and applicable law. Official complaint forms are available to participants from the organisation. These rules are governed by Spanish law. Sporting complaints about the results are handled under the section “Reporting breaches and complaints”.

Road sections and crossings

Sections of the route that involve crossing roads or run partly or entirely on roads open to traffic are not closed to traffic.

On these sections, participants must comply with traffic regulations at all times, take extreme care and stay alert to traffic. They must also make their presence properly visible to any vehicles that may be using the road. Participants do not have right of way over other road users and, at crossings, follow the instructions of the organisation's staff.

The organisation is not liable for incidents resulting from participants' failure to follow these rules.

Clarifications

* The race is divided into 32 legs. Each runner must run at least 2 and may not run two in a row. With a team of 12, each runner gets 3 legs: 28 solo legs plus the 4 paired legs make 36 slots. With 9 runners, it works out at 4 each. With 10 runners, 6 run 4 legs and 4 run 3; with 11, 3 run 4 legs and 8 run 3.

* Large relay points: those where the handover is between runners arriving and leaving in two different vehicles of the same team.

* Small relay points: those where the handover is between runners travelling in the same team vehicle.

Compliance

Compliance with these rules will be checked throughout the race. Breaches will be penalised as set out below.

And most importantly: you run at your own risk. Look after your health and your team's.

Penalties

* Not following the set running order under the rules → 60 min (except changes under Rules 7 d) and 8 reported to the organisation).

* Not following the specified route without gaining an advantage → 30 min.

* Deliberately cutting the route → disqualification.

* Not reporting a substitution due to injury → 60 min.

* A runner replaced because of injury running again → disqualification.

* Disobeying the organisation's instructions a second time → disqualification.

* Not being visibly identified, or not using the mandatory safety equipment during the stated hours → 60 min.

* Running without a working mobile phone → 60 min.

* Failing to help another runner → disqualification.

* Being under the influence of alcohol or drugs → disqualification of that person; the team may continue.

* Refusing a breath test (Rule 17) → disqualification of that driver, who may not drive again; the team may continue.

* Handing over outside the zone marked by the organisation → 120 min (only exception: a substitution due to injury that complies with Rule 8).

* Team vehicles not visibly identified → 30 min.

* Exceeding the number of vehicles allowed at a relay point or staying longer than permitted → 30 min.

* Using a phone while driving → 120 min.

* Driving alongside the runner → 120 min.

* Blocking the handover zone → 30 min.

* Not following the organisation's instructions during the race → 120 min.

* Dropping litter outside the designated areas → 30 min.

* Improper parking at relay points, blocking access or parking in prohibited areas → 30 min.

* Breaking quiet hours (22:00–08:00) — horns, loud music, megaphones, bells, whistles → 180 min.

* Any other breach of these rules → minor (does not affect safety or give an advantage), 15 min; serious (affects safety or gives an advantage), 60 min; very serious (endangers people or is repeated), disqualification. The race director decides the category.

Reporting breaches and complaints

Participants may report breaches, but these must be reliably documented (photo, video, etc.) and reported immediately after they are spotted.

Complaints must be made in writing to the race director within 1 hour of the team crossing the finish line. Race management resolves them before the prize-giving, in accordance with these rules.

Penalties are communicated to the captain as soon as they are imposed and, in any case, when the team crosses the finish line. A disqualification or a penalty of 120 min or more can be appealed by the captain in writing within 30 minutes of learning of the decision. Appeals are decided by a committee of three members of the organisation other than those who imposed the penalty, before the final results are published. Its decision is final.

If a team is disqualified, it is not entitled to a refund of the entry fee.