After long hours of struggle, gathering information, consultations and analyses of different scenarios we have come to a difficult decision of postponing Łemkowyna Ultra-Trail® 2020.
As many of you already know, the resolution of Polish government dated 16th October 2020 on pandemic regulations has not introduced major changes to main restrictions on sports events. In theory, we could go on with the event in waves up to 250 people, according to the decisions and permits we had earlier received and the safety protocols we adopted.
The current law principles are not, however, the only factor we need to take into consideration while preparing a safe and quality event that would resemble a sports event with competition. In the last few days the circumstances have drastically changed and that is why we have to put it off this fall. What has made us decide to do so?
Our medical crew is ready to operate in these difficult times. Both mountain rescue teams and additional medical staff confirmed they are ready and willing. However, in certain severe cases our participants are being transferred to emergency rescue personnel. In our history there have been 10 such cases, and some of them included serious threats to participants’ lives. It is crucial to have the ambulance come as fast as possible to transfer the injured runner to the hospital.
Recently there have been more and more cases of many hours’ waiting for an ambulance and cases of people being rejected hospital admission. Statistics show that this trend may be increasing in the coming week.
In such circumstances, even the best personnel of the organisation team is not able to assure your safety, which is our obligation. It is not only a risk of long awaiting for a RTG scan of a broken limb, but a direct threat for the life of a runner who would succumb to hypothermia in freezing temperatures of the second night at LUT150. We have got too much respect for human life, health as well as each and every one of you to allow such risk, even if it would not be “our” fault.
The amount of participants and volunteers who are sick or quarantined
In the last week we received dozens of questions about the possibility to refund or transfer the entry fee because of COVID-19. I some cases it were the whole families and groups of friends, which were supposed to come and couldn’t anymore. This tendency is also increasing and there might be large numbers of people who would not be able to come. We want you all to be able to come and would be heavily missing the ones who wanted, but were not allowed.
We have got around 200 volunteers every year, from all over Poland, who come for a few days or the entire week. They come for free and for you, to assure your best experience. And they are, just as the medical staff, ready to serve you. Unfortunately in the last few days many of them had to cancel. We have been looking for replacements, but again the statistics show that this problem may be aggravated.
Law principles uncertainty and lack of vacatio legis
Even if we assume the best possible scenario and disregard the three above mentioned factors, there is one severe threat to the event. It is the way new law is being introduced, without consulting it with the society groups, at random and in illogical manner. Government resolutions have been published only a few hours before they take force. Increasing numbers of COVID-19 positive test results make it very likely that we are going to face new restrictions in the next few days. Nobody knows if they will concern sports events. No vacatio legis means that it might be that you would come and pick up your bibs, and then we would all be told that we need to go home. It would be the worst scenario, and unfortunately it is very likely to happen.
We know that you miss running, the Low Beskid and the amazing people you meet here. Nevertheless, we need to wait for the big event to happen. It might be that sometimes we just need to give up, and maybe it is the best solution. That is why we are so sorry.
We did everything for us to meet in Low Beskid, but this time it is just too risky. There can be only one worse scenario - to cancel the event on Friday. If we do not act now, it is likely to happen.
Many people say Low Beskid is the most beautiful in October, but we would love to invite you in May, when the grass is the greenest and the trees are blooming - and so are we. Let’s meet again on 14th-16th May, 2021!
We are going to provide you with detail on how to transfer fee or have the refund within next few days.
President of Ultra Foundation - Gabriela Gajdzińska
Race Director - Krzysztof Gajdziński
Executive Director - Piotr Chachaj
Medical support coordinator - Rafał Jakubowicz
