faqs This page is updated as new information becomes available. Please check frequently. REGISTRATION PACKET PICKUP COURSE AWARDS AMENITIES AND SERVICES SPECTATORS MISCELLANEOUS REGISTRATION How can I register? Online and through-office registration is open until October 6th at 9:00 am Pacific time You can also print out a registration form and mail it in to: PO Box 609420 Cleveland, OH 44109 or fax to 216-520-1833 or e-mail to tdonovan@ohiocanal.org After that point, the only registrations accpeted will be at the expo, if spaces ar available. How late can I register through the mail? We will accept registrations postmarked by October 3, however if a race sells out, we reserve the right to reject entries received after the point of sell-out. PACKET PICKUP Where and when can I pick up my packet? Friday 5pm-8pm (limited vendors) Saturday 9am-5pm Mail-out option - $10. Request form MUST be post-dated by September 24. With this option, you will will only receive your d-tag timing chip and bib in the mail. Your shirts will be available for pickup on race day at the finish area, but it will be first come, first served for sizing. We still highly encourage runners to come and pick up their packet. If you are not able to pick up your packet yourself, you can have a friend or another runner pick it up for you. The Expo will be held at Boston Mills Ski Resort. See below for driving directions. COURSE Is the course flat? YES. The course is VERY flat. There are no hills to speak of anywhere on the course What is the surface? Most of the marathon is run on the Towpath Trail which is comprised of a firmly packed, crushed limestone which is very easy on the joints. Most of the half is also run on the Towpath Trail. The 10K is a split of asphalt and Towpath Trail. Is the course a Boston Marathon Qualifier? Yes. The code is: OH 07043 PR What are the course records? Male - 2:27:59 Female - 2:50:42 Is there an award for a course record breaker? Yes, a $250 cash award will go the record breaker Will any roads be closed? Yes. The roads to both start areas will be closed from 7:30 - 8:45. Please plan to be there EARLY! How many aid stations are on the course? We will have 18 aid stations for the full marathon and 10 for the half marathon What will be provided at the aid stations? Click here for a list of what will be available on the FULL marathon course Click here for a list of what will be available on the HALF marathon course Is every mile marked along the course? Yes. The marathon miles are marked with black and white signs. The half marathon miles are marked with red and yellow signs. Are there ample restroom facilities on the course? There are restroom facilities at 13 locations along the course. See aid station list 2 questions above for a list of where restroom facilities are located. How long is the course open? The course will be supported with aid stations for 6 hours. We can not guarantee road closures or staffed aid stations past this time. This means that runners finishing the race in 6 hours will be running approximately a 13 minute mile. If you are concerned that you may not finish in that time frame, you may want to consider an early start. See question below. Can I walk the course? We welcome walkers and encourage them to take advantage of our 7:00 start time (full and half) to ensure that they finish within the alotted time. 10K runners are welcome IF THEY CAN KEEP AT LEAST A 15 MINUTE MILE for the first three miles. Please e-mail Tanya at tstella@ohiocanal.org to make arrangements. Walkers for the full and half will both start at 7:00am at Boston Mills. Walkers for the 10k will start with the runners at 8:00 am at Brandywine. return to top AWARDS What are the age groups and who is eligible? 1st, 2nd and 3rd Place Overall Male & Female (Marathon and Half Marathon) Top Master Male & Female (Marathon and Half Marathon) 1st, 2nd and 3rd Place Male & Female in the following age groups: 19 and under, 20-24, 25-29, 30-34, 35-39, 40-44, 45-49, 50-54, 55-59, 60-64, 65-69, 70-99 (Marathon and Half Marathon) return to top AMENITIES AND SERVICES What do runners get? Each runner will get a goody bag. All marathoners will receive a long-sleeved technical shirt and half marathoners and 10K runners will receive a short-sleeved technical shirt. Full and half marathoners receive finishers medals. There will be food available at no cost to runners only. Is there food provided for spectators? Food and beverages are available for purchase for spectators. Are there any other amenities? At the Towpath Village, marathoners will have access to hot tubs, massage therapists, food, live music and a cash beer garden - beer will be $3 each for our region's own Great Lakes Microbrew! There is also a kids area, where we will have crafts, entertainment and an inflatable slide. Please do not leave your children unattended. Will my photograph be taken? Yes, Brightroom Photography will provide this service. You can visit them on the web at www.brightroom.com Do you offer a pasta dinner? We will have a pasta dinner from 5pm - 9pm on Saturday night at our host hotel, the Days Inn. The cost of the pasta dinner is $10.95 per person and is available to runner and their friends/families. No reservations are required. return to top WHAT ARE THE RECOMMENDED SPECTATOR LOCATIONS? Station Road: From North or South: Take I-77; exit onto Rt 82 (exit # 149) - east. Turn east, past Rt. 21 and enter Cleveland Metroparks Parkway to Riverview Road. Cross road into Station Road Bridge parking area. Hunt Farm: From North or South: Hunt Farm is accessed from I-77 via the Richfield exit (exit # 143) Wheatley Rd./176. After exiting from I-77, drive east on Wheatley Rd. until it dead ends on Riverview Rd. Turn south (right); be prepared to make a quick turn left onto Bolanz Rd. Signs will direct you on where to park. Boston Store: Park in the Boston Mills Ski Resort Parking lot: From the south: take I-77; exit onto Rt 21 (exit # 145). Prepare to turn right (east) onto Boston Mills Rd. Turn left (north) onto Black Rd. for short trip over bridge; then turn right (east) back onto Boston Mills Rd. Drive down, to Riverview Rd. Turn left and prepare to take a quick left into the Boston Mills Ski Resort Parking Lot. From the north - Take I-77; exit at the Miller Rd. exit (exit #147) - head east (left); turn south (right) on Rt. 21; turn left on Snowville Road - drive to bottom of hill; turn right (south) on Riverview Road. About a mile and a half on your right, turn right into the Boston Mills Ski Resort parking area. Village of Peninsula: From the south: take I-77; exit at the Richfield exit (exit # 143) Wheatley Rd./176. After exiting from I-77, drive east on Wheatley Rd. until it dead ends on Riverview. Turn left and drive north towards Peninsula. Turn right onto Rt 303 and park in the CVNP trailhead parking. From the north - Take I-77; exit at the Miller Rd. exit (exit # 147) - head west (left); turn south (right) on Rt. 21; turn left (west) on Rt. 303 - park in the CVNP trailhead parking return to top MISCELLANEOUS Are headphones permitted? Yes. Please be mindful of other runners while wearing them, though! Are there any road closures? Yes. The roads to both start areas close at 7:15 and remain closed until 8:45. Please plan to be there early! Will there be a bag drop? Yes. There will be a volunteer at the start are with tags and markers. Put your bib number on your tag. It will be sorter numerically at the finish area by the merchandise table. We are not responsible for lost/stolen items, but the bags will be watched. Can I use my own Champion Chip? We are not using Champion Chips this year. We have moved on to the D-Tag. Click here for for more information on the D-Tag. Where and when will the results be posted? Results will be posted on our website within 24 hours, if not earlier. How long is the course open? The course will be supported with aid stations for 6 hours. We can not guarantee road closures or staffed aid stations past this time. This means that runners finishing the race in 6 hours will be running approximately a 13 minute mile. Do you allow walkers in the marathon? We welcome walkers in the full and the half and encourage them to take advantage of our 7:00 start time to ensure that they finish within the alotted time. Please e-mail Tanya at tanya@ohiocanal.org to make arrangements. Can I run with my dog? We do not allow dogs on the course. Can I run with my jogging stroller? We do not allow jogging strollers on the course.