Thank you for entering 11.5th Potomac River Run Marathon on November 16, 2014 CLARIFICATION ABOUT RACE-DAY PACKET PICK-UP Race-day packet pick-up is open on Sunday, November 16, 7:15 AM to 8:45 AM, on-site at Carderock Recreation Area, one mile west of I-495 Capital Beltway Exit 41, south of Clara Barton Parkway. When you pick up your bib number, please review it for correct data: Name Gender - Age - City Start Time (7:00, 8:00, or 9:00) - Distance (Half or Full) - Shirt Size Saturday Course Tours? Saturday Dinner Tickets? Sunday Suv Rides? Sunday Taxi Rides? Please immediately report any changes to the registrar and make sure those changes are accurately recorded on the master list and on your bib tag. You may change your start time or distance before you start the race, and we will have clipboards at the start to record any changes, but much better practice is to report changes before or during packet pick-up. RACE RULES On race day, please wear your bib number visibly on the front of your shirt, not obscured in any way, not covered, not on your bag, not in your pocket, visibly on the front of your shirt. Please DO NOT REMOVE the name tag at the bottom of your bib number. Your name tag must be intact at the bottom of your bib number when you finish. Don't remove it, don't leave it in your car, don't attach it to your bag, don't put it in your pocket. We must be able to collect your tag immediately after you finish. THIS RACE DOES NOT USE ELECTRONIC TIMING. We use old-fashioned manual timing. If we can't read your bib number before you finish, or we can't receive your name tag after you finish, WE WON”T BE ABLE TO RECORD YOUR FINISH. If we have to chase after you after you finish, and 30 seconds elapse before we can record your bib number, those 30 seconds are included in your finish time, and YOU DON'T GET THEM BACK. COURSE DETAILS The course starts and finishes on the gravel ramp between the gate and C&O Canal Towpath. Immediately after you run under the START banner, you veer right onto the Towpath. For the safety of other users of the Towpath, always stay to the right-hand side (the Potomac River side) except when passing. You run under I-495 Capital Beltway; pass Locks 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, and 5; and cross under Chain Bridge. You turn around at 6.55 miles, midway between Chain Bridge and the trestle of Capital Crescent Trail over the Towpath. We call this “the turnaround.” Race officials are at Locks 10, 7, and 5 and at the turnaround. On the way back, you run under Chain Bridge; pass Locks 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, and 10; run under I-495 Capital Beltway; and back towards the start. Again always stay to the right-hand side (the C&O Canal side) except when passing. If you are finishing the HALF marathon, when you return to the start area, veer LEFT onto the gravel ramp and under the FINISH banner. After you finish, continue walking between the cones and flagging until we retrieve the name tag at the bottom of your bib number. If you are running the FULL marathon, do NOT veer left onto the gravel ramp. Instead, run through the black tent and past an aid station. We call this “the midpoint.” Then turn left around the cones and stay to your right for another tour of the course. After your second tour, as you approach the finish, THEN you veer left and under the FINISH banner. Don't go thru the black tent a second time. WE NEED YOU TO HEAR OUR INSTRUCTIONS We conduct this race under the rules of USA Track & Field. See page 54 of http://www.usatf.org/usatf/files/f1/f101f17f-1b8b-4f1b-ac9c-d9022155aa94.pdf Rule 144.3 (b) stares: “Competition under these Rules consists of self-propelled motion without assistance … The following shall be considered examples of assistance: The visible possession or use by athletes of video, audio, or communications devices in the competition area. The Games Committee for an Long Distance Running event may allow the use of portable listening devices not capable of receiving communication; however, those competing in championships for awards, medals, or prize money may not use such devices.” The Games Committee of this event adopted this strict policy: 1. You may NOT wear any portable listening device (like earphones) before or during the start. We have to provide important information to you, and we want you to hear what we say. 2. You may wear a portable listening device between aid stations and before the turnaround or the midpoint/ 3. You may NOT wear a portable listening device at the aid stations, at the turnaround, at the midpoint, or at the finish. 4. If you run the 9:00 AM marathon, and you are in contention for a top-three finish and therefore a cash prize, YOU MAY NOT WEAR a portable listening device AT ANY TIME during the race. We are not kidding about these rules. We adopted them for your safety, for the safety of others using C&O Canal Towpath, and for fairness. We also want you to know that we photograph you at the start, at the midpoint, and at the finish. We also record bib numbers of the leaders at the turnarounds on a clipboard. If someone challenges your apparent finish, we compare your first-half time with your second-half time, and we look up your performance at the turnaround. Comparing the elapsed times, if we determine that you cut the course short, we disqualify you, and we report that disqualification to Boston Athletic Association. A SHORT STORY At our Abebe Bikila Day International Peace Marathon on September 14, 2013, we determined that [name withheld] cut short the second half of the course by about one hour and thus apparently finished fourth among women in 3:13, a Boston-qualifying time. The true fourth-place woman reported that she did not see [name withheld] in front of her at any time. We checked her photographs at the midpoint and determined that she ran about 2:15 for the first half. We examined other times attributed to her in other races and found that her times were typically in the 4:30 range. We specifically sent her a notice of disqualification, with CC to BAA. A year later, in September 2014, she applied for the 2015 Boston Marathon. BAA's official contacted us to verify her disqualification. We re-affirmed that decision (including 27 8½ by 11 color glossy photographs with circles and arrows and a paragraph on the back of each one of them ... actually, just two photographs, but indeed with circles and arrows), and BAA rejected her. So, please conclude that, yes, we are a fun race, but yes, we are very serious about the rules of competition. BACK TO OUR REGULARLY-SCHEDULE PROGRAMMING ... On race day, Sunday, November 16, we set up at dawn, around 6:25 AM. If you are among the 15 registered for the 7:00 AM start (unsupported by aid stations until 8:00 AM), please pick up your packets at goodie bag assembly on Thursday, November 13, from 6:30 PM to 8:30 PM at Walter Reed Community Center, 2909 16th Street South, Arlington VA 22204; or on Saturday, November 15, from 3:00 PM to 6:00 PM at Georgetown Running Company, 3405 M Street NW, Washington DC 20007. For a route map from Key Bridge Marriott to Carderock Recreation Area, see https://www.google.com/maps/dir/1401+Lee+Hwy,+Arlington,+VA+22209/Carderock+Recreation+Area,+Chesapeake+and+Ohio+Canal+Towpath,+Potomac,+MD We gratefully thank our race-day announcer "Showtime Time" Mebreahtu. See http://mmebra2.wix.com/showtimemike Watch Showtime Mike do his thing on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KVKYunswais On race day. you may check your personal belongings in a plastic bag that we provide. Be sure your NAME and BIB NUMBER are written CLEARLY on the bag. We start the 8:00 AM starters exactly one hour after the 7:00 AM starters, soon after Naval Surface Warfare Center across Cara Barton Parkway plays the National Anthem over its loudspeaker. At 8:45 AM, SSG Martin H. Gold of United States Army Band plays the National Anthem. SSG Gold has served as clarinetist and bass clarinetist with The U.S. Army Band, "Pershing's Own," since 2004. See www.usarmyband.com/bios/BioID113.html Starting at 8:00 AM, we host four aid stations along the course: o Lock 10 at miles 1.1, 12.0, 14.2, 25.1, staffed by DC Capital Striders, featuring Carb BOOM! plus water. Gatorade, and Simone Super Energy (www.simonesuperenergy.com) Read Dr. Simone's warnings about running in hot weather at www.safetyandhealthfoundation.org/marathon/heat.html To join DC Capital Striders, see www.dccapitalstriders.com To read all about Carb BOOM! see www.safetyandhealthfoundation.org/marathon/2014CarbBoom.html AND NOW A WORD FROM OUR SPONSOR ... BOOM! Nutrition is proud to provide Carb BOOM! Energy Gels on-course at DC Capital Striders aid station at Potomac River Run Marathon (Lock 10). Go to www.BoomNutrition.com and use the coupon code “potomacmarathon” for 20% off your order of Carb Boom! Energy Gels. BOOM! Nutrition wishes you best of luck, and see you on race day! BOOM Nutrition, based in Cleveland, Ohio, is proud to support DC Capital Striders aid station at Potomac River Run Marathon. Endurance athletes love Carb Boom! Energy Gels for their great taste and unbeatable endurance performance. Made with real fruit concentrates and purees, Carb Boom! has no added sugar and does not contain any artificial flavors, colors or sweeteners. See Carb BOOM's Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/carbboom THE OTHER AID STATIONS o Lock 7 - Miles 3.3, 9.8, 16.4, 22.9 -- served by Buy A Brick Foundation www.TeamAfrica.com -- featuring water. Gatorade, and Simone Super Energy o Lock 5 - Miles 5.3, 7.8, 18.4, 20.9 -- served by Buy A Brick Foundation www.TeamAfrica.com (portable toilet across C&O Canal) -- featuring water, Gatorade, and Simone Super Energy SPECTATOR ACCESS The course is out'n'back twice. Watch the race and volunteer at these points: o Lock 10 - Miles 1.1, 12.0, 14.2, 25.1 - with aid station o Lock 9 - Miles 2.0, 11.1, 15.1, 24.2 o Lock 8 - Miles 3.0, 10.1, 16.1, 23.2 o Lock 7 - Miles 3.3, 9.8, 16.4, 22.9 - with aid station o Lock 6 - Miles 5.0, 8.1, 18.1, 21.2 o Lock 5 - Miles 5.3, 7.8, 18.4, 20.9 - with aid station and toilets o Chain Bridge - Mile 6.0, 7.1, 19.1, 20.2 o Turnaround point - Miles 6.55 and 19.65, accessible on foot from Chain Bridge or Fletcher's Cove, 4940 Canal Road NW, Washington DC RACE-DAY AMENITIES We thank Tony Estrada for race-day photography. To view and purchase photos, please go to www.backprint.com/tonyestradaphotography We present you a medal by Dan Kain Trophies immediately after you finish We offer refreshments courtesy of Dunkin' Donuts, Mario's Pizza House, The Runners Pantry (high-nutrition pancakes -- see www.runnerspantry.com), and Whole Foods Market of Arlington. If you are exhausted after you finish, we have chairs for you - imagine that! - and we offer you Simone Super Energy to restore you instantly. We offer post-race sports massage and myoskeletal alignment courtesy of Nicholas Ovel, Corrective Therapy & Fitness (nickyray1986@yahoo.com, 571-419-4548) We thank our sponsors -- RBC Wealth Management, Nomades Collection, Georgetown Running Company in Washington and Chevy Chase, Falls Road Running Store in Baltimore, and ArmPocket. We bring your personal belongings from not at the picnic shelter to the finish line and sort them by bib number so you can retrieve them quickly after you finish. Immediately after the FIRST men and women finish the 8:00 AM half marathon (around 9:20 AM), the 9:00 AM half marathon (around 10:20 AM), and the 8:00 AM full marathon (around 10:50 AM), we present Timex watches to them. Immediately after the first THREE men and women finish the 9:00 AM marathon, we present cash prizes to them -- $250, $150, and $100. As soon as possible after the TOP THREE men and women in each age group (19 & under, 20-29, 30-39, 40-49, 50-59, 60-69, 70 & over) finish, we present gift certificates or ArmPockets to them, usually within a few minutes of their finish. If you are a 9:00 AM marathoner and you think you're in the top 3 in your age group, please be alert when we call your name to present your award. You may choose your favorite award from our collection. RESULTS On race-day, we print results pages as quickly as possible. PLEASE review the preliminary unofficial results carefully and report any changes to your start time or distance. The preliminary unofficial results go online at www.safetyandhealthfoundation.org/20141116.html on Sunday, November 16, about 8:00 PM, sorted in order of finish time. We ask for corrections of start times and distances by Monday, November 17, at 8:00 PM, so we can sort and publish final official results by start time and distance later on Monday night. We send old-fashioned certificates of completion by mail, along with any awards unclaimed on race day, about two weeks after the race. We also send the full marathon results to Boston Athletic Association so you can use them to improve your qualifying time for 2015 Boston Marathon or to qualify for 2016 Boston Marathon. If you need us to send official results to any other marathon that requires qualifying times, such as Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, or Olympic Trials, please let us know. AND IN CLOSING … BuyABrickFoundation was one of Dean Shulman's favorite charities, and its founder, Gib Leonard, was one of his best friends. Dean assisted Safety And Health Foundation in many ways as one of its five founding directors in 2011. Among other accomplishments, he wrote SHF's articles of incorporation and by-laws. When Dean died suddenly two days after our 9th Potomac River Run Marathon in May 2012, we decided to hold a second, half-numbered Potomac River Run Marathon in his memory and to benefit his friend's charity. Using SHF's donations, BuyABrickFoundation has built a model clinic in Zimbabwe (formerly Rhodesia) and created a Stomp Out Malaria campaign that will be the centerpiece of their work henceforth. Your t-shirt is the FIRST public usage of their new Stomp Out Malaria logo. Their Zimbabwe Agriculture Malaria Treatment and Education Farms (ZAMTEF) program intends to establish farms raising the malaria curative plant Artemisia Annua at every school and village in the areas of Victoria Falls and the Hwange District. The public health practices they are putting in place for malaria may serve as models of best practices for other diseases plaguing Africa and mankind. BuyABrickFoundation thanks SHF for its help at http://buyabrickfoundation.org/partners, and we thank you for your support. -- Thank you -- Jay Jacob Wind, director -- Safety And Health Foundation -- 703-927-4833