| 1. |
How do I get my FREE pair of Brooks running shoes? |
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All full marathon finishers that complete the race in the 6-hours or less qualify for a FREE pair of Brooks running shoes. Option #1: Runners may visit any of the 8-participating Second Sole locations as early as 2:00 pm on Saturday, September 27, 2008 to receive their FREE pair of Brooks shoes. Runners should present their marathon bib upon entering the store. Option #2: If you prefer to have your shoes shipped to you, please visit www.akronmarathon.org for a downloadable mail-in form which will include detailed instructions for processing your order. All mail-in shoe orders will be processed out of Second Sole’s Corporate Office located in Youngstown, Ohio. You will need to complete the form, and submit the form along with your marathon bib. Please note that there is an $8.00 shipping & handling fee for mail-in orders; $12.00 for international shipments. Payment must accompany your order form. Credit cards and checks are accepted. Your bib will be returned to you with your shoes. Please allow for a 2 to 3-week delivery time. Additional Notes: If you plan to gift your shoes to a family member or friend, a marathon bib must be presented at the time of purchase to receive a FREE pair of Brooks shoes. If you wish to upgrade to a different shoe model, you may do so and will be charged the difference. |
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| 2. |
What type of running surfaces on the course? |
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Other than the Towpath trail, which is a crushed limestone surface, the majority of the race is run on paved asphalt and concrete streets. |
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| 3. |
How much of the course is run on concrete? |
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The first 11 miles are mostly concrete, at the 11.2 mile location we begin the 4 mile stretch on the towpath which is crushed limestone, we exit the towpath at the 15.1 and run asphalt up through Sand Run Parkway through west Akron, to the 24 mile mark and again run on mostly concrete to the entrance to Canal Park and our olympic style finish. The Half Marathon route starts and follows the existing marathon course and continues past the 11 mile turn and continues to run on concrete with the same olympic style finish at Canal Park. |
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| 4. |
Can I register on the day of the race? |
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No, the last opportunity to register is at The University of Akron Health and Fitness Expo on Friday, September 26, 2008 at the John S. Knight Center. |
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| 5. |
What is the time limit for the full Marathon and the Half-Marathon? |
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The full marathon course will remain open for six hours, meaning that the course will close on a continuous pace of 13:41 minutes per mile. Anyone who cannot maintain the 13:41 min/mile pace must move to the sidewalk or catch a shuttle bus as the course closes to allow regular traffic through. Runner services cannot be guaranteed for participants beyond the 13:41 min/mile pace. The Half Marathon route will remain open for three hours, following the same 13:41 pace requirement and procedures as the full marathon. |
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| 6. |
What type of liquids do you provide along the course? |
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We provide non-diluted PowerAde and Dasini water at all fluid stations along the course. |
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| 7. |
Is the Road Runner Akron Marathon a qualifier for the Boston Marathon? |
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Yes, the course is a USAT&F certified course and your time will qualify for the Boston Marathon. Boston Marathon Qualifying Times: http://www.baa.org/BostonMarathon/Qualifying.asp |
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| 8. |
How do I dress (layers?) for the Road Runner Akron Marathon? |
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Weather in Akron, Ohio in the Fall can vary dramatically. We suggest you bring gloves, a hat and long sleeve shirt. Early in the race, you might have to shed some clothes so don't wear anything too nice in case you want to throw them away (your competitor bib number must be pinned to the front of the clothing you wear since event officials will be inviting unregistered runners to exit the course. You could be mistakenly identified as an unregistered runner if your bib number is not visible). If you want to shed some clothes prior to the race start, you will be able to check them into the Gear Transfer Station and have it transferred to the finish line.
See the Weather section of the website (under Race Information/General Information) for historical race day temperatures. |
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| 9. |
What age is Master's? |
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You must be at least 40 years of age on race day. |
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| 10. |
Can I double dip with awards? |
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No. You can only win one award. There is no double dipping for awards either in cash or age group awards. You will be awarded the highest dollar award. |
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| 11. |
Can I run more than one leg of the marathon relay? |
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The marathon runner can run the first leg as a team member and then continue as long as they pay the registration for for both the relay and marathon and wear both chips. A relay runner can run additional legs as long as the legs are contiguous, and the team is paid in full. |
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| 12. |
How many women and men need to be on a Mixed Relay team? |
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Any combination is acceptable but must include at least one woman and one man. |
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| 13. |
Is it possible to drive the marathon course? |
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It's not entirely drivable. You will not be able to drive the Towpath Trail portion and access to Stan Hywet Hall & Gardens is limited. Otherwise, the remainder of the course can be driven. |
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| 14. |
Will Pace Teams be available during this race? |
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Yes, a pace team will be available. Visit the Pace Team section of our website under Marathon. |
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| 15. |
Will photos be taken along the course and at the finish? |
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Yes. There will be exciting photo points along the course that will be clearly identified as well as at the finish in the stadium. Race photos can be viewed and purchased by visiting www.runphotos.com |
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| 16. |
What do you mail out following registration? |
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Final instructions are sent 2-weeks prior to the race via Email (if an address is provided). If we do not have an Email address, then you will be mailed the final instructions. |
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| 17. |
Can someone pick my packet up for me? |
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We strongly encourage all runners to pick up their own race packet at the The University of Akron Health and Fitness Expo on Friday, September 26th, from 11:00 AM to 9:00 PM. It is important for runners to verify their data and make any necessary changes. |
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| 18. |
If I sign up for the half and I later decide that I want to run the marathon, can I switch events? Is there an additional cost? How can I change my status prior to race day? |
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You can transfer from the half to the marathon. You must first register and pay for the marathon and then contact the marathon office via email alerting us of the change. You will be issued a rebate check based on the lowest fee paid. THERE WILL BE NO REFUND OF YOUR ORIGINAL REGISTRATION FEE. These changes can only be done prior to September 15th and must be communicated through the mail or e-mail. |
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| 19. |
If I sign up for the relay and I later decide that I want to run the marathon, can I switch events? Is there an additional cost? How can I change my status prior to race day? |
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You can transfer from the relay to the marathon. You must first register and pay for the marathon and then contact the marathon office via email alerting us of the change. You must complete the Relay Team Change Form (downloadable form via our website) and fax it to the marathon office and notify us of your replacement for your relay portion. THERE WILL BE NO REFUND OF YOUR ORIGINAL REGISTRATION FEE. These changes can only be done prior to September 15th and must be communicated through the mail or e-mail. |
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| 20. |
If I sign up for the relay and I later decide that I want to run the half, can I switch events? Is there an additional cost? How can I change my status prior to race day? |
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You can transfer from the relay to the half. You must first register and pay for the half and then contact the marathon office via email alerting us of the change. You must complete the Relay Team Change Form (downloadable form via our website) and fax it to the marathon office and notify us of your replacement for your relay portion. THERE WILL BE NO REFUND OF YOUR ORIGINAL REGISTRATION FEE. These changes can only be done prior to September 15th and must be communicated through the mail or e-mail. |
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| 21. |
If I sign up for the marathon and I later decide that I want to run the half, can I switch events? Is there an additional cost? How can I change my status prior to race day? |
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You can transfer from the marathon to the half. You must first register and pay for the half and then contact the marathon office via email alerting us of the change. You will be issued a rebate check based on the lowest fee paid. THERE WILL BE NO REFUND OF YOUR ORIGINAL REGISTRATION FEE. These changes can only be done prior to September 15th. |
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| 22. |
If I sign up for the marathon and I later decide that I want to run the relay, can I switch events? Is there an additional cost? How can I change my status prior to race day? |
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You can transfer from the marathon to the relay. You must first register and pay for the relay and then contact the marathon office via email alerting us of the change. You will be issued a rebate check based on the lowest fee paid. THERE WILL BE NO REFUND OF YOUR ORIGINAL REGISTRATION FEE. These changes can only be done prior to September 15th and must be communicated through the mail or e-mail. |
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| 23. |
I have read that it sometimes helps if a friend joins you to run for a few miles at the end of the marathon (i.e. miles 22-24) for moral support. What are the marathon rules about this? |
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Due to liability considerations, and out of respect for the registered participants, non-registered runners are not permitted to run or walk within the boundaries of the official marathon course. Friends may stand adjacent to the edge of the defined course and cheer the participants on!
Friends must NEVER cross the finish line or enter the finish zone which begins approximately 2/10 mile before the finish. |
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| 24. |
Can a race bib be transferred to someone else? |
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No. Bibs are not transferable. Transferred bibs will result in disqualification. |
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| 25. |
I was injured after registering for the race. Can I get a refund or defer until next year? |
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No - there will be NO refunds or deferments. We incur fixed costs for each runner based on registration numbers. As a result, we are not able to allow any refunds . |
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| 26. |
Can I wear headphones while racing on the Road Runner Akron Marathon course? |
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Due to safety concerns, we do not permit the wearing of headphones while on the Road Runner Akron Marathon race course. For the same reason it's not appropriate to wear headphones in a car while driving, a person that has their hearing impaired or reduced will not respond as quickly or at all to the shouts of officials, course marshals, adjacent runners or any other volunteers. Most authoritative governing bodies have this in their rules and it is not meant to be mean-spirited. It is based on common sense in a public event where participants are proximate to each other and their ability to warn each other of a moment of crisis or impending accident is reduced or eliminated. |
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| 27. |
Can I use my own Championchip "Chip?" |
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No. The Road Runner Akron Marathon has moved away from the Champion Chip and will be using the D-tag system. |
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| 28. |
Will you mail or email confirmation to me? |
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If you register online, you will receive a confirmation Email immediately from Active.com. We do advise early registration so you can promptly get the final confirmation package and instructions. Also, registration fees increase the closer it gets to race day. |
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| 29. |
What is the half marathon course like? |
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The Half Marathon will start at 7:00am on Broadway (the same time and location as the marathon). The Half Marathon course runs the established marathon route up to the 11 mile mark, located at Perkins and Howard, where the new Half Marathon will turn left heading southbound on the northbound lanes of the inner belt. Half Marathon runners are instructed to keep to the left at this intersection. Runners will be notified of the Half Marathon turn off via signage and speakers. Runners will be clearly directed on a closed course and have the same Olympic style finish in Canal Park stadium as the marathon runners. See the Half Marathon course map for further details. |
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| 30. |
Will the number of runners be limited in any of the events? |
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No. |
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| 31. |
Where should I park? |
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FREE parking is available in all Dowtown Akron parking garages and surface lots on race day. Please visit our Travel & Accomodations section of our website under directions for details. |
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| 32. |
Are wheelchairs, strollers or special vehicles permitted on the course? |
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The Road Runner Akron Marathon offers a Wheelchair Division for the marathon only. Approved racing wheelchairs will be permitted on the course. Wheelchair participants may register through the normal registration process. For more information, visit our Wheelchair section of our website. The following items are not permitted on the course: skateboards, bicycles, roller blades, baby joggers, or any other types of vehicles (other than official Marathon vehicles). These regulations are for the participant's safety and the safety of the other participants in the race. |
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| 33. |
Are showers available on race day? |
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Yes, shower facilities will be available for free at the Downtown YMCA located at One Canal Square Plaza. To use the Y’s facilities, you will show your bib at the front desk. There will be directions in with your Final Instructions but from the finish line head west on W Buchtel Ave , turn right on Water St. and continue to W State. |
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