Race The Machine – Participation Disclaimer
Last updated: 9 April 2025
Please read carefully before entering or taking part.
By participating in Race The Machine, you agree to the following terms and participate at your own risk.
🏃 Participation and Safety
I, Michael Loudon, as the creator and organiser of Race The Machine, provide virtual running challenges to motivate and engage runners of all abilities. However, I do not supervise your activity, assess your health or fitness in person, or monitor the conditions in which you choose to run.
It is your responsibility to ensure that you are medically fit and properly prepared for the physical demands of each run. If in doubt, consult a healthcare professional before participating.
You also agree to:
- Choose a safe running environment
- Use appropriate clothing and footwear
- Obey all local laws and traffic rules
- Avoid running in hazardous conditions
I accept no liability for any injury, illness, accident, damage, or loss that may occur while participating in any Race The Machine challenge.
📊 Fitness Assessments and Target Times
Initial target times are based on the fitness level you self-report at the time of entering. These targets are designed to provide motivating yet achievable goals, calculated using structured logic and performance patterns. While ‘The Machine’ may appear to offer tailored advice, it operates purely based on a set of logical formulas and calculations.
You are responsible for providing an honest fitness assessment. However, I understand that participants may sometimes overestimate or underestimate their ability, especially when starting a new challenge.
🔁 Target Time Reassessments
If your initial target time proves to be clearly inappropriate — for reasons such as overestimation, personal change, injury, or other genuine factors — you may request a reassessment.
However, reassessments:
- Are not guaranteed
- Will not be granted for tactical advantage
- Are subject to my discretion as the organiser
This policy is in place to ensure fairness and to preserve the spirit of the challenge.
📤 Result Submissions
By submitting your result, you agree that it will reflect your genuine personal performance — whether on road, trail, treadmill, or track.
Evidence is required (e.g., GPS data, screenshots, photos). Any result suspected of being false, manipulated, or not in the spirit of fair play may be rejected at my discretion.
⚖️ Liability
By entering and participating in Race The Machine, you acknowledge and accept:
- I am not liable for any injuries, health issues, or accidents that arise from your participation
- Your participation is entirely voluntary and at your own risk
- No insurance coverage is provided through Race The Machine
If you require insurance for running activities, it is your responsibility to arrange appropriate personal cover.
🤖 The Machine’s Voice
“The Machine” is a playful persona used throughout the Race The Machine experience. Any communication from The Machine is intended solely for motivational and thematic effect, and not as a professional instruction, diagnosis, or guarantee.
📝 Acceptance
You confirm that you understand and accept this disclaimer:
- When submitting race evidence (via checkbox)
- Or, at the point of entry into the challenge (for new participants)
If you do not agree to these terms, you must not participate.
