Important Race Day Information
Soldier Marathon and Half Marathon
November 9, 2012
7:00 a.m. Eastern Time
National Infantry Museum, 1775 Legacy Way, Columbus, Georgia
PRE-RACE
FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 8, 2012Registration National Infantry Museum
You may register on Friday, November 8th from 11:00 am to 7:30 pm.
You may also register on race day, Saturday, November 9th, from 5:30 am to 6:45 am.
Packet Pickup
You may pick up your race bib and race packet on Friday, November 8th from 11:00 am to 7:30 pm.
You may pick up your race bib and race packet on race day, Saturday, November 9th, from 5:30 am to 6:45 am.
Race Bib with numberPick up your bib with a race number at registration. Medical information is on the back of each bib with an emergency contact. Please complete this medical information with ball point pen so we can take care of you quickly and appropriately in case of emergency.
Timing ChipA timing chip will be on the back of your bib. The chip is protected by a foam casing. Pin your bib to the front of your shirt or shorts while running the race. Your start and finish time will be electronically recorded.
Fallen Hero BibYou may run in honor of a Fallen Hero who has died either while serving our country or after serving our country honorably. You will be offered a Fallen Hero bib at packet pick-up. You may run in honor of a Fallen Hero you know, or if you do not know a Fallen Hero we will provide you a name of a Fallen Hero. One of our volunteers will print the name of the Fallen Hero on your bib. Please pin the Fallen Hero bib on the front or back of your shirt or shorts while running, along with your Race bib.
Soldier Marathon CoinsAs part of a military tradition, you will also be presented with the distinctive Soldier Marathon coin that may be picked up at the Expo.
ExpoPlease enjoy our Expo on the first floor at the National Infantry Museum on Friday, November 8th from 11:00 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. Our Soldier Marathon shirts and gear with logo will be available. Running gear and other outdoor gear will be available by Big Dog Running Company and other national clothing and shoes brands.
Pasta DinnerNational Infantry Museum
Friday night, November 8 from 6:00 pm to 7:30 pm.
Cost is $15 per adult, $25 for two adults, and $7.50 per child. Pay at registration or prior to dinner. The pasta dinner buffet includes garden salad, spaghetti with meatballs and tomato sauce, chicken penne alfredo, apple cobbler, and tea or water. Our guest speaker will be Jim Crist, Pace Team director for the Soldier Marathon, who has developed tips to improve your running performance. Jim has directed Pace Teams in over sixty marathons and paced thousands of runners to successful finishes along with helping hundreds of runners achieve a Boston Qualifying time.
RACE DAY, SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 9THRegistration and Packet PickupNational Infantry Museum
You may register on race day, Saturday, November 9th, from 5:30 am to 6:45 am.
Packet Pickup
National Infantry Museum
You may pick up your race bib and race packet on race day, Saturday, November 9th, from 5:30 am to 6:45 am.
WeatherLast years race on Saturday, November 10th 2012 had a forecast is a low of 54 degrees and a high 74 degrees with 0% rain. Sunrise at 7:06 am with plenty of ambient light for our 7:00 am start. Wind from the south at 8 mph.
ParkingPark at the National Infantry Museum or in Oxbow Meadows across the street from the Infantry Museum. Ft. Benning Road and S. Lumpkin Road are the two access roads to the Infantry Museum. On race day S. Lumpkin Road will be one-way traffic to the Infantry Museum. Ft. Benning Road to the Infantry Museum will close at 6:45 a.m. before the race to prepare for the start of the race at 7:00 a.m. Please arrive early to park and comfortably walk to the start. Plan to walk up to ½ mile to the start line.
Porta-Potties and RestroomsPorta-potties will be in the front parking lot of the Infantry Museum and behind the Museum near the start line. Bathrooms are inside the Museum and also at the grandstand bleachers near the start line. Porta-potties will also be at each water station on the course.
Clothing BagsA plastic bag will be provided to you at registration by Big Dog Running Store. On Saturday morning before the race you may place your morning clothing in this plastic bag in a secured area behind the Infantry Museum for pickup after the race. Your bib number will be handwritten on the plastic bag.
Start Line/Finish LineThe start line and the finish line for both the full marathon and the half marathon are on Heritage Walk alongside the Infantry Museum which is also known as the Avenue of Flags.
ClocksIn addition to the start and finish line, timing clocks will be at mile 6.2, mile 13.1 and mile 20.
Hydration Coca Cola will provide Powerade at each water station on the course and at the finish line and Callaway Blue will provide water at each water station on the course and at the finish line.
CertificationThe Soldier Marathon course is certified and the Soldier Half Marathon course is also certified. The race is a Boston qualifier. The Full and Half Marathon are also sanctioned by USA Track and Field.
Relay Marathon RaceFour person relay teams start at 7:00 am at the same start line as the other runners. The relay exchange points are mile 7.0, mile 13.2 and mile 19.4. The lead runner on the Relay Team wears a slap bracelet on his/her wrist. At each exchange point the runner removes the slap bracelet and hands it to the next runner. The last runner receives the slap bracelet and also wears a bib with a timing chip to get a finishing time. Each runner wears a bib with the same Relay Team number (e.g. lA, lB, lC and 1D). The relay exchange points are accessible by car. Relay exchange point #1 is directly beside the National Infantry Museum on S. Lumpkin Road and cars may park at the Museum and runners walk to the exchange point. Relay exchange points #2 and #3 are at the Rotary Park on the Riverwalk, also known as Bulldog Marina. Cars may turn into Rotary Park off Victory Drive where parking is available. Transportation for relay team members will not be provided by the Soldier Marathon.
Water Station
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| Full Marathon
| Volunteers
| Half Marathon
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1.
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| Mile 2.5
| Chapel Parking Lot
| OCS
| Mile 2.5
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2.
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| Mile 4.5
| Running Avenue
| OCS
| Mile 4.5
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3.
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| Mile 6.3
| Custer Road
| OCS
| Mile 6.3
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4.
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| Mile 8.3
| Water Treatment Road
| House Of Heroes
| Mile 8.3
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5.
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| Mile 10
| Water Treatment Plant
| Pacelli
| Mile 10
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6.
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| Mile 11
| Rigdon Park
| Aflac
| Mile 11.5
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7.
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| Mile 13
| Rotary Park
| Brookstone
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8.
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| Mile 15
| Trade Center
| Smiths Station
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9.
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| Mile 16
| TSYS
| Northside
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10.
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| Mile 18
| Trade Center
| Smiths Station
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11.
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| Mile 20
| Rotary Park
| Brookstone
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12.
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| Mile 22
| Rigdon Park
| Aflac
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13.
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| Mile 23
| Water Treatment Plant
| Pacelli
|
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14.
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| Mile 24.7
| Water Treatment Road
| House of Heroes
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GU Supplement nutritionHalf Marathoners – Gu supplement is available at mile 6.3 (Custer Rd) and mile 10 (Water Works Plant).
Full Marathoners – Gu supplement is available at mile 6.3 (Custer Rd), mile 10 Water Works Plant), mile 14 (Trade Center), and mile 18 (Trade Center).
The Gu product offers 100 calories, 25 mg of carbohydrate, 30mg of potassium, 55 mg of sodium and 55 mg of caffeine.
Two-Way TrafficOur course is an out and back course on the RiverWalk. Faster runners will be returning on the RiverWalk at the same time as slower runners are outbound on their race. Please “Stay Right” on the Riverwalk to avoid oncoming runners. We also have hand-cycle participants.
Hand-Cycle ParticipantsHand-cycle participants will start a few minutes ahead of the other runners. Music
Several bands have volunteered to provide music on the course. Please show your appreciation.
Cut Off TimesThere is a maximum time limit of 7 hours to finish the Soldier Marathon and Half Marathon. If you’ve not made it to mile 15 (Aid Station #7 at the Trade Center) by 11:00 am, you will not be allowed to continue because you will not be able to complete the course within the 7-hour time limit.
Noon Siren WarningAt 12:00 noon the public safety siren at Oxbow Meadows will sound off its routine warning. The siren is located at mile 25.8 directly on our race course across the street from the National Infantry Museum. Please do not be alarmed by the sound of the siren as it is a routine drill.
Finishing MedalsEach finisher of the Full Marathon, the Half Marathon and the Relay Marathon will receive a finishing medal that is distinctive and commemorates your completion of the Soldier Marathon or Soldier Half Marathon.
AwardsHalf Marathon winners will be presented at 10:00 am at the statue at the end of the Avenue of Flags. Full Marathon winners will be presented at 12:00 noon the statue at the end of the Avenue of Flags. Awards will be presented to the top overall finisher, the top three finishers in each age group, male and female, and to the master’s finisher (40 and above), male and female.
Food at Finish Line At the finish line runners may enjoy Callaway Blue bottled water, Coca Cola Powerade, Coca Cola soda, as well as a McDonald’s breakfast burrito or a hamburger, fresh fruit, bagels, energy bars and cookies. Finishers will also be treated to a Michelob Ultra beer. Buck Ice will keep our drinks cool. We also will offer gluten free food to our finishers.
Race BlanketsAt the finish line each runner will receive a mylar “space” blanket to keep warm.
VolunteersVolunteers wearing distinctive yellow shirts and soldiers in uniform or wearing camouflage shirts will serve runners at Registration, Water Stations, and along the course. Be sure to thank them for their service.
MedicalMedical Aid Stations are at the Start/Finish area and at the Trade Center. Ambulances will be “roaming” the course to attend to your medical needs. All medical staff along the course will be identifiable in red medical shirts. Please thank the doctors and nurses at Columbus Regional Healthcare, Hughston Clinic, St. Francis Hospital and Columbus State University for donating their time.
MassagesPost-race massages will be available at the finish line to runners without any charge to runners.
Track your Runnerhttp://www.my-finish.com/soldierfullwww.my-finish.com/soldierhalfThings to Do Before or After the RaceThe National Infantry Museum is wonderful. The IMAX theatre inside the Museum is an incredible experience with its screen that is 5 stories tall and 70 feet wide and currently screening “The Rocky Mountain Express.” The Infantry Museum also offers exciting Combat Video Simulators, allowing you to experience shooting military weapons from a real Humvee or Blackhawk helicopter. There is also Rifle Range Simulator. Across the street from the Museum, Oxbow Meadows provides you with an environmental learning experience, including live animals. Along the RiverWalk is the Civil War Naval Museum and Coca-Cola Space Science Center that you will find very interesting. And our latest and biggest attraction is Whitewater along the Chattahoochee. Beginning in 2013 the world’s longest urban whitewater course (2 ½ miles long) will be open in Uptown Columbus featuring the awesome category 5 “Cutbait” rapids. A video of Whitewater will be showing in the lobby of the Museum.