Chip timing as the underlying principle
In the Austrian ultra-running scene, timing at 24-hour runs is handled almost without exception through electronic transponders — commonly called chip timing. A small radio sensor sits either on the bib or on the runner's shoe; antenna mats at start and finish register every loop pass automatically. This technical basis is shared across the established providers in the region and is what allows live results to be available online while the race is still running.
Online entry via external providers
Registration for Austrian 24-hour runs is typically handled through the online system of an external timing or entry provider. Several platforms are active in the regional scene — among them Pentek-Timing, davengo and raceresult — alongside the entry systems of the regional federations. The workflow is similar across providers: runner data is created once, payment goes directly through the portal, and a confirmation email is sent automatically.
Which platform is in use for a given race is announced in the organiser's official race documentation. This page does not endorse a specific provider.
Practical note: the login code that the entry portal assigns is the key to any later changes — late entries, race-format switches or data corrections. It pays to keep it somewhere safe.
Early-bird tiers and tiered entry fees
At almost every Austrian ultra event the entry fee is tiered by registration date. Early entrants pay markedly less; in the final weeks before the event the fees rise step by step. Typical tiers:
- Early-bird — up to roughly three months before the race, often 20–30 % below the standard rate.
- Standard — up to about two weeks before the race.
- Late entry — up to the official entry deadline, frequently 30–50 % above early-bird pricing.
- Day-of nomination — up to shortly before the start, with a further surcharge.
Data typically requested
- First and family name, date of birth, gender, nationality.
- Postal address — relevant when starter packs are sent by mail at certain events.
- Email address for confirmation and later communication.
- Club affiliation (optional for open entry, mandatory for championship rankings).
- Race-format selection: solo distance, relay size, age-class self-assignment.
- For relays: team name, list of team members (often with an individual login per runner).
- Optional extras: camp-spot reservation (where offered), additional portable toilet, catering packages.
Nomination for championship rankings
For national championship rankings — such as the Austrian Ultra-Running Championship — nomination typically does not go through the public entry portal but through the database of the Austrian Athletics Federation (ÖLV). Only the runner's home club can submit this nomination. Anyone aiming for a championship placing should coordinate with their own club early on, so the ÖLV nomination is filed alongside the public registration.
Late entry on race day
At most Austrian 24-hour runs, late entry remains possible up to shortly before the relevant start. A common cut-off is one hour before the race start; school-runs and children's events typically close earlier, since they require more organisational lead time. Late entry happens directly at the race office — most often in a sports hall, the Stockhalle, or a designated registration island on the event grounds. Payment is by cash or debit card; a surcharge is standard.
Bib pickup
Starter packs are handed out at the race office, normally on the Friday morning through the evening for classic weekend events, and on the Saturday from the early hours up to the first start. A particular characteristic of Austrian ultra events is a night closure of the bib desk — typically between roughly 8 p.m. and 5:30 a.m. the race office is unstaffed. Late-arriving runners need to plan for picking up their bib only on race morning.
Required documents
At bib pickup the following are normally checked:
- A photo ID (national identity card, passport or driving licence).
- For relays: either all team members appear together, or one team member presents a written authorisation.
- At some events: a self-declaration of sport fitness or a medical certificate — the exact form and deadline are set by the organiser.
Withdrawal and refunds
Withdrawal policies vary from event to event. A common pattern:
- Up to ca. three months before the race: full refund minus a small handling fee.
- Up to six weeks before: partial refund (often 50 %).
- From four weeks before: no refunds.
- Transfer of entry to another person is often possible, against a small fee and via a written handover note.
After registration
A successful registration is confirmed by email. The login code for the entry portal then allows:
- access to your own data and bookings,
- switching race formats within the windows the organiser allows,
- data corrections before bibs are printed,
- printing your finisher's certificate after the race (typically through the same timing portal).
An overview of the typical race-format choices is available on the races page. The wider rule set is described on the rules page.