Official Regulation

The Sand Marathon is a sand running competition organized by the Sanasport Sports Association from Constanța and the Ultrarun Sports Club Association from Constanța. It is the only endurance competition on sand in Southeast Europe, and its purpose is to support and promote running as a mass sport.

By participating in this competition, participants agree to comply with all the provisions, terms, and conditions of this Regulation and applicable legislation.

News and additional information about the event can be found on the dedicated website: www.maratonulnisipului.ro

By completing the form provided by the Organizer and participating in the Event and any of the associated races, you explicitly and unconditionally agree to comply with the terms of this Regulation and any instructions/recommendations from the Organizer and Event Officials.
The Organizer reserves the right to modify this Regulation until the first day of the Event, provided that participants are informed on the Event website.

The Sand Marathon will take place on Saturday, May 17th, 2025 – children’s races, and Sunday, May 18th, 2025 – competitive races.

The Start/Finish location is on ZOOM Beach, in Constanța city.

Whenever necessary, the Organizer reserves the right to modify the route, the position of the aid stations, or any other element that is part of the event organization.

Additionally, the Organizer may change the event date or start times at any time without compensating the participants.

3.1. REGISTRATION
Participants can register for all events online on the official website – www.maratonulnisipului.ro, subject to availability and by the date mentioned on the official website.
The participation contribution is in the form of a donation. On-site registration is not allowed.
Registrations that do not have all the required information are considered incomplete and will be canceled.

3.2. PARTICIPATION CONTRIBUTION
The participation contribution, in the form of a donation, is non-refundable, even if the registered person does not attend the event.
Those wishing to change the race they registered for can do so for free by sending an email request to office@maratonulnisipului.ro by May 1, 2025. Any changes made after this date will incur an additional fee of 50 lei.
In cases of force majeure, the participant must present a document accepted by the organizers to verify the situation, and the change will be made free of charge.

* If you wish to transfer from a longer race to a shorter one, the fee difference will not be refunded.No changes will be made after the registration period has ended.Participation kits will not be sent by courier in case of non-participation.

CONTRIBUTIONS/PARTICIPATION FEES

3.4. PARTICIPATION CONDITIONS
To participate in the Maraton, Marathon Relay, Half Marathon, 10 km Cross, and 5 km Popular Race during the 2025 Sand Marathon international sports event and to receive the race kit, each participant must meet the following conditions:

• Be at least 18 years old by the race day – May 18, 2025. Exceptions can be made for young participants aged 15 or older with exceptional athletic skills, provided that written and signed consent from parents/guardians is submitted with the registration form and the liability declaration, confirming that they understand the competition’s conditions and rules and agree to the participant’s entry and involvement. This rule is valid only for the 10 km cross and the 5 km popular race.
• Pay the participation contribution.
• Possess an identity document for verification.
• Assume full responsibility for any accident or damage that may occur during the race, without holding the organizers liable.
• Assume responsibility for their physical fitness and have medical clearance to participate in the race they have registered for. The organizer disclaims any responsibility for any medical issues arising during or after the event.

Participation in the event is strictly personal. It is prohibited to change, sell, transfer, or offer the registration for exchange. Additionally, it is prohibited for someone other than the registered participant to wear the race number assigned to them based on the registration details.
Any violation of this rule will result in disqualification of the runner and a ban on their participation in future events.

3.5 AVAILABLE SPOTS

• 1500 spots for competitive events for adults (marathon, marathon relay, half marathon, 10 km cross, and 5 km popular race).
• 300 teams for the Family Run race.
• 1000 spots for the School Champions race.

3.6. PARTICIPATION KIT

• T-shirt (random size for those registered after April 15, 2024)
• Race number
• Finisher medal
• Sandwich and soft drink (at the end of the race)
• Hydration and aid stations along the route and at the start/finish area
• Medical assistance
• Timing
• Relaxation area
• Luggage storage area
• Electronic certificate
• Personalized photos from the event
• Other materials provided by sponsors and partners.

Note: The popular race with a 100 RON registration fee does not include a technical t-shirt.

To pick up the race kit, participants must present the following documents:

• The registration confirmation email received from the organizer – printed copy.
• Identity document.

• Marathon 42 km
• Marathon Relay 3 runners x 2 loops/runner x 7 km
• Half Marathon 21 km
• 10 km Cross
• 5 km Popular Race

The route descriptions and intermediate time limits can be found in the RACES menu.

4.1. Special Rules for the MARATHON RELAY. Team Composition, Team Changes, Absence of Team Members.

• The team participating in the Marathon Relay must consist of 3 (three) members, each assigned a 14 km segment, running two relay loops of 7 km each, in the order of their registration. None of the relay team members will be allowed to participate in another race during the EVENT. Only teams that follow these rules will have their result recorded in the competition and will appear in the official ranking.

• The relay can be male, female, or mixed. Each runner/member must run in the order of registration a total of 14 km as follows: one 7 km loop of the route, then wait for the other two team members to complete their loops, and then run another 7 km loop to complete their allocated 14 km. The relay exchange can only take place in the designated area marked by the organizer, strictly following the registration order.
• During the break between the two loops, runners may leave the relay area, but they are required to return to the designated area when it is time for the exchange.
  Any relay exchange made outside of the designated area will result in disqualification of the team from the competition.
• In the event that team members do not run in the registration order, or if the team has fewer than three members, or if one of the members runs more than two intercalated loops of 7 km each, the team’s results will be considered “out of competition” (hors concours). In this case, the team’s results will be displayed and marked with “HC” and will not be part of the official competition ranking.
• If one or more team members do not participate, and one of the team members runs more than one segment of the relay, it is mandatory to inform the organizer and specify which registered person(s) will not participate, at the latest by the race start.
  If the team participates without informing the organizer within the announced timeframe, the team will be disqualified, and the team members may be denied registration and participation in future events organized by the event organizers.
• If one of the team members registered cannot participate due to exceptional reasons presented to the organizer, they can be replaced no later than 72 hours before the race start, with an additional fee of 10 Euro (payable in RON at the official BNR exchange rate on the payment date) for each replacement.
• Except for the method outlined above, it is prohibited for any other person to participate in the competition. The organizer reserves the right to request identification of the people participating or who have participated in the race at any time. Failure to provide identification will result in automatic disqualification and may lead to the refusal of registration and participation in future events.
• If the organizer identifies that a person participating in the race is not the registered person, they have the right to stop that person from participating in the race, disqualify them, and/or refuse their registration and participation in future events.
  The team that replaces one or more members without adhering to the provisions mentioned in this chapter will be disqualified, and its members may be denied registration and participation in future events organized by the event organizers.
• The final ranking for the marathon relay will be announced within 30 days of the race completion.

4.2. Competition Equipment. Race Numbers
Participants will compete with their own equipment. Race numbers will be provided by the organizers.

4.3. Personal Bag Storage
Each participant will receive a bag and adhesive labels in the start package. The bag for storing clothes and personal items must be left in the area indicated by the organizer, which will be secured. The bag can be collected after the race only with the corresponding race number.
Please do not leave valuable items in the storage bags. The organizers are not responsible for any damage or loss of personal items.

4.4. Timing
Participants will receive an electronic timing chip when picking up their race kit, embedded in the race number. Timing will be managed by a specialized company.
The timing system will record the time of each runner who passes through the start area, the checkpoints, and the finish line.
Age category placement in the rankings will be automatically done by the timing system software based on the age the runner will turn by May 18, 2025. Checkpoints are located at the start/finish area and along the running route, but they will not be signposted.
Runners who do not pass through all the checkpoints will be disqualified.

4.5. Medical Assistance
Medical assistance will be provided by the organizer through its partners with specialized medical staff, and an ambulance will be positioned in the start/finish area.

4.6. Disqualification
The following actions will lead to the disqualification of the participant:

• The race number is not attached to the front of the shirt/top/jersey.
• Wearing a different race number instead of the one provided by the organizer.
• Changing or replacing the race number (including in case of loss) is not allowed on race day, nor is swapping numbers between participants.
• Missing a checkpoint.
• Not following the race rules.
• Unsportsmanlike behavior towards other participants, officials, the public, or others.
• Throwing trash, packaging, cups, or other objects outside of the designated areas marked by the organizer.
• Bringing pets to the event that may obstruct participants on the race course or cause incidents in the Start/Finish area.

Disqualification may also occur after the race if photos, videos, or complaints from other participants are reviewed and deemed valid. The participation fee will not be refunded in the case of disqualification.

4.7. Responsibility and Conduct
Participants assume full responsibility for their physical/medical ability to participate. The organizers and their partners are not, and will not be, responsible for any event or action that results in:

• The destruction or loss of any personal belongings or items of any participant during and as a result of the event.
• Any damage, injury, or loss, of any kind, suffered by any participant during and as a result of the event.
• Delays or inability to register for the event due to technical malfunctions of the official website and/or internal platform, which are beyond the control of the organizers.
• Inability to access the official website and/or internal platform due to technical reasons independent of the organizers.

The organizers and event partners cannot be held responsible for any damage resulting from voluntary participation in the race – physical/medical problems, injuries, bodily harm, disability, or death. Movement on any public road section must comply with traffic rules and applicable legislation.

Participants may encounter vehicles, tourists, and animals along the route. Participants must consider these situations and proceed accordingly. Any accident involving participants of the Maratonul Nisipului that occurs during the event due to failure to comply with the competition rules and traffic conduct regulations mandated by law will be the responsibility of those involved in the accident.

The competition is conducted with respect for the environment. Therefore, participants will exhibit civic behavior regarding cleanliness and the protection of the natural environment.
Littering of any kind is not allowed in areas other than the designated aid stations.

Participants are expected to exhibit civilized behavior and fair play towards other competitors. Participation in the event while intoxicated or under the influence of any drugs is strictly prohibited.

The organizers reserve the right to remove any individual from the event if they are suspected of jeopardizing the overall safety of the event and/or the safety of other participants.
Failure to respect the codes of conduct may result in the removal of participants from the race, at the discretion of the organizers.

Each race will have its own ranking, which will include the time of each runner and their position in the overall ranking as well as in their specific category.

The categories for the marathon, semi-marathon, and 10 km races are Men and Women:

• OPEN
• Under 19 years
• 20-29 years
• 30-39 years
• 40-49 years
• 50-59 years
• 60 years and older

Marathon Relay

• OPEN (positions 1-3)
  • Men
  • Women
  • Mixed

Popular Race

• OPEN

In order to award prizes in the age categories, a minimum of 5 competitors of the same gender must start in each age category.
The organizer reserves the right not to award prizes in the age category if the minimum participation requirement is not met.
If the minimum number of participants is not met in any of the age categories, in order to encourage competitiveness, the organizer will award the prize only to the winner of that category – 1st place.

The prize details will be communicated at a later date on the event’s official website and Facebook page.

5.1. Prize Awarding Method

Cash prizes will be awarded via bank transfer to the accounts provided by the winners, within a maximum of 30 (thirty) calendar days from the date of the competition’s completion and after all final verifications regarding the participants’ eligibility and compliance with this regulation have been completed.

5.2. Tax Obligations

The prizes awarded within the competition are subject to taxation, in accordance with the tax legislation applicable in Romania at the time the prizes are granted.

The organizer is responsible for calculating, withholding, and transferring the income tax related to the cash prizes, according to the rates and conditions provided by the applicable Fiscal Code.

• For prizes with a value below 600 RON, no income tax is due.
  
  
• For prizes with a value exceeding 600 RON, a 10% tax will be applied to the difference between the prize amount and 600 RON.
  
  

Winners will receive the net prize amount, after the deduction of any applicable taxes as described above.

5.3. Information Required for Claiming the Prize

In order to validate and award the prizes, winners are required to submit the following information to the organizer within a maximum of 7 (seven) days from the date of announcement:

• Full name;
  
  
• Personal Identification Number (CNP);
  
  
• Domicile address;
  
  
• Bank account (IBAN) held in the winner’s name.
  
  

Failure to provide this information within the specified timeframe will result in the winner forfeiting their right to claim the prize.

5.4. Personal Data Protection

By participating in the competition, participants agree that their personal data will be processed by the organizer for the purpose of conducting the competition, validating winners, awarding prizes, and fulfilling tax obligations, in accordance with the provisions of Regulation (EU) 2016/679 on the protection of personal data (GDPR).

The data will be retained for the period necessary to fulfill legal and fiscal obligations and will not be disclosed to third parties, except to competent authorities, in accordance with the law.

By registering for the competition, all participants authorize the organizers, including their partners, to use and reproduce any statement or image of the participants, whether they are running or not.

The event may be recorded for public communication/information purposes, in any format (especially through photographs, video recordings, etc.), in any existing or future medium, for international communication, for any purpose, including advertising and commercial purposes. Therefore, each participant explicitly grants the Organizer, those authorized by the Organizer, and the beneficiaries (especially commercial partners) permission to record and reproduce, in any medium, format, or type of support, their name, voice, image, and information related to their sports activity during the Event, for a period not exceeding 20 years from the date of the Event.

The participant expressly authorizes the Organizer to grant licenses to Event partners for the use of their image for commercial and advertising purposes.

Each participant grants full and irrevocable permission to the Organizer and the beneficiaries (especially its commercial partners) to use their image for advertising, promotion, or sales campaigns, including:

• Making any changes, additions, or deletions that are deemed necessary to use their image, as described below.
• Including or combining their image with any logos, expressions, slogans, legends, marks, distinctive signs, legal information, visual effects, and, in general, any use in the communication materials where these elements are utilized.

For minors, this consent is given under the condition that their rights and interests are not violated by their parents or legal guardians (parents, tutors, etc.) making the registration on their behalf.

The participant guarantees that their image is not subject to an exclusive contract.

The Organizer, its beneficiaries, and authorized persons are expressly prohibited from using a participant’s name, voice, or image in any format with pornographic, racist, or xenophobic content. Furthermore, any use that harms the dignity of the participant is prohibited.

Participants are informed and unconditionally agree that their image, recorded by the official representatives of the Organizer, may be accessible on the Event’s website in the members’ area and the “Results” section. Regarding the Event’s website, participants understand and agree that any internet user may identify them by name, surname, and/or race number.

The registration fee is non-refundable, even if the registered person does not show up at the event.
Participants wishing to change their race selection can do so for free until 01.05.2025. Any changes made after this date will incur an additional fee of 50 RON.

In cases of force majeure, the participant must provide a document accepted by the organizers to confirm this, and the change will be made free of charge.

Whenever necessary, the Organizer reserves the right to modify the race route, the location of the aid stations, or any other aspect of the event organization.
Additionally, the Organizer may change the event date or start times at any time without compensation to participants.

If the event cannot take place or is interrupted due to circumstances beyond the Organizer’s control (e.g., administrative decisions of authorities, force majeure events, strikes, emergency states, epidemics, war, etc.), the Organizer will not be liable for any damages to participants.

However, in the cases above, the Organizer will offer participants the opportunity to register for the next event without any additional costs, but without covering any further costs to participants.

• In case the event is canceled for any reason attributable to the Organizer, any participant who does not opt to register for the next event is entitled to request and receive their registration fee back. No other amount will be paid by the Organizer.
• In the case of event cancellation for reasons beyond the Organizer’s control, the registration fees will not be refunded, and the participant will only have the option to transfer their registration to the next event.