The Marathon Relay Challenge was initiated 18 years ago in response to interest by corporations, schools, running clubs, and other groups who wanted to participate in the California International Marathon as a team. Relay categories are for male, female, or coed and the divisions within these categories include something for everyone: open, corporate, military, police/fire, fitness club, running club, family, high schools (high school teams may enter for only $50).
**** 2008 IMPORTANT NOTICES *****
• Only online entries will be accepted. NO mailed in entries will be accepted.
• Relay has an entry cap of 750.
• Entries will close when the 750 entry cap is achieved or on November 15, 2008 - whichever comes first.
• Absoultely no entries will be accepted in any form after November 15, 2008.
• THIS MEANS NO EXPO ENTRIES!
DATE, TIME & PLACE
The four-person relay will begin at 7 a.m. on Sunday, December 7, 2008, near the Folsom Dam in Folsom. The scenic 26-mile, 385-yard course runs from Folsom Dam to the State Capitol in Sacramento.
NUMBER OF RUNNERS AND DISTANCES
Each team consists of four runners. The approximate distance of each leg is as follows: #1 - 5.9 miles; #2 - 7.6 miles; #3 - 7.0 miles, #4 - 5.7 miles. The relay is held at the same time and on the same course as the individuals' marathon.
CHIP TIMING INFO FOR THE RELAY
• Each Relay Team is issued one timing chip and one velcro ANKLE strap.
• Chips strapped to wrists or anywhere else will NOT record a time!
• The Chip on its ankle velcro strap is exchanged at the end of a chute in the relay exchange area to the side of the main course.
• The best technique is for the runner with the Chip to stop and stand still; the new runner bends down, pulls the chip off and straps it around his/her own ankle, stands up, and takes off. That way, no face-plants ...
• Be sure to return the timing chip at the designated area just across the finish line.
TRANSPORTATION
1. The first runner can travel to the start with marathoners on a bus from the marathon hotels. Bus tickets are $10 and may be purchased when you enter or at the Expo. The buses depart 5 a.m. to 6 a.m. Private transportation may be used but there is no parking at the start and the runner drop-off is up to one mile from the start line. Give yourself plenty of time if you are going by private car due to traffic congestion.
2. The other three relay runners can use their own transportation -
3. Or they can take the CIM buses that depart from the host hotel to arrive at each relay exchange point. There is a $10 fee for this service and tickets may be purchased when you enter or at the Expo.
4. Although the course is closed to vehicles, parking and drop-off areas at the relay exchange points are accessible from side streets and parking will be available (except at the start - see above). There is no shuttle service back to the starting point of each leg. To help us with our planning, indicate on the entry form if any of your team's runners plan to use the CIM bus transportation to their exchange points.
PLEASE NOTE: The CIM provides transportation to the Marathon finish area for runners who have finished their relay leg. We will transport warm-up clothes from the start of each leg to the marathon finish line.
RELAY AWARDS AND RESULTS
Medallions will be presented to each team member at the completion of their relay leg on race day. The top three teams in each category (male, female, or coed) for each division (open, corporate, military, police/fire, fitness club, running club, family, high school, and high school teachers) may pick up their awards after results are posted at the Loyal CIM Runners booth, near the results posting area at the finish. Results will be published on this web site (www.RUNCIM.org) on December 2.
Relay Entry Information
Entry Fee and Registration (only online entries will be accepted - NO mailed in entries):
* Register on line for $100 per team by Oct. 31.
* Register on line for $140 per team Nov. 1 until the 750 team entry cap has been achieved or by Nov. 15, whichever comes first.
* High school teams register on line for $50 until Nov. 15 until the 750 team entry cap has been achieved or by Nov. 15, whichever comes first
* There is a $10 fee for each runner requiring a bus to the start of their leg.
* Corporations, schools, or other groups may enter as many teams as they wish. Also, corporations may sponsor high school teams.
* There is no race day registration or packet pick up.
* A link to a list of confirmed Relay Team entries and final relay instructions will be posted on the CIM Web site just before Thanksgiving.
* Race packets with bib numbers, T-shirts and other goodies must be picked up at the Marathon Sports & Fitness Expo, located in the Sacramento Convention Center, 13th & J Street, on Friday, December 5, 3-7 pm and Saturday, December 6, 9-5 pm.
For more information:
Use the search tool on the web site front page. If that doesn't find your answer
e-mail: julie@fittorun.com
or phone: 916/765-6021
or fax: 916/791-0631
or write: CIM Marathon Relay Challenge, 120 Pondersoa Ct., Folsom, CA 95630
Updated 12/29/07