31st Annual Lincoln National Guard Marathon & Half-Marathon 
presented by AquafinA

Sunday, May 4, 2008 Lincoln, Nebraska 7 a.m.

FEATURED GUEST: DEAN KARNAZES Come to the Embassy Suites Runners' Expo to: * Hear Dean speak at a 11am and 2pm at the Embassy Suites on Saturday, May 3rd. * Check out his book "Ultramarathon Man" at one of the booths. * Meet Dean as he mingles with runners throughout the day. In 2006 Dean Karnazes completed an amazing endeavor of running 50 marathons in 50 states in 50 days. The Lincoln Marathon course was his Nebraska stop on the 7th leg of this pursuit. Now he will return to participate in this year's weekend marathon festivities. Dean's running career accomplishments also have included: * Winning the Badwater Ultramarathon, a 135-mile run across Death Valley   in 130-degree temperatures. * Running a marathon to the South Pole in negative-40 degree temperatures   wearing conventional running shoes. * Completing a 200-mile relay solo. * Completing a nonstop 350-mile run. * Covering ultra distances over varied terrain, such as running from San Diego   to Long Beach, then paddling 30 miles on a surf board to Catalina Island in order to   compete and finish the Catalina Eco Marathon.

6,000 LIMIT -  Registration will be limited to 6000 entrants.  Registration will close once we receive 6000 entrants.

Online Registration is preferred.  However, you may download and send in an entry form for an additional $5.  Mailed registrations postmarked after April 14, 2008 will not be accepted.

Confirmations required at packet pickup.  You must bring your confirmation with you as proof of entry to packet pickup.  Online registrations receive an instant confirmation.  If you mail your entry, you’ll need the confirmation card.

Starting area narrowed.  (click here to view start area).  In an effort to try to alleviate the crowdedness on the bike path (after the 10K point), we will narrow the starting area.  This will create a slower start and hopefully spread runners out better than in the past.  Note:  Your time does not begin until you cross the start line.  Gun times only count for top 10 men and women in both races.  Only runners competing for a top 10 place should line up close to start line.

CHAMPIONCHIP TIMING:  We are pleased to provide a chip-timed event as we have contracted ChampionChip Minnesota, Inc. to time our event once again.  Participants will be provided a gun time, chip time, and split times.  Split times provided at check points of 10K, Half & 20M.  Runners missing check point may be disqualified.  Overall awards will be based on gun times, but age-group awards will be based on chip times.

REGISTRATION:  Online registration is through Active.com.  No transaction fees are charged.  Registration closes at 6000 entrants.  Otherwise, mailed entries will be accepted through April 14;  online registration will closes on April 28; in person registration will be at Runner's Expo (Sat, May 3, 9am-4pm) at Embassy Suites (10th & P Streets) - if limit is not met before May 3, 2008.  

PACKET PICKUP - On Saturday, May 3 at the Embassy Suites (10th & P Streets) from 9 am to 4 pm and 4:30 pm to 8:00 pm in the Coliseum.  On race day, packet pickup in the Coliseum - building adjacent to Start Line (14th & Vine area) from 5:45 am to 7 am.

COURSE - The Lincoln National Guard Marathon and Half-Marathon presented by Aquafina is run on a citywide course that starts and finishes on the campus of the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. Runners in both races share a common start and run a loop route past the Nebraska State Capitol, along Sheridan Boulevard, past Union College, along the Highway 2 bike path, past the Lincoln County-City Building and back to the Half-Marathon finish on the UNL Campus. Marathoners then follow an out-and-back route to Holmes Park passing the Sunken Gardens, Folsom Children's Zoo and Antelope Park.

Both courses have been nationally certified by and according to the standards adopted by the USA Track & Field / Road Runners of America Committee on Certification.  Certificates: Marathon=NE99004KU; Half-Marathon=NE99003KU.  Marathon times are acceptable for qualifying in the Boston Marathon.  Qualifying times will be automatically forwarded to Boston for entry verification.

Elevation graph

AID STATIONS - Aid stations along the course are never more than 2.5 miles apart.  Water, Gatorade, and ice are available at each station.  GU Gel and orange slices are provided on the last half of the Marathon route.

PARTICIPANTS RECEIVE:

• medal for finishers
• night-before pastathon
• dri-fit shirt to all entrants
• single-use souvenir chip
• food and beverages at finish
• runners' expo
• finisher highlight DVD
• finish time and place shortly after the race
• individual finisher photos (prints must be bought from photo company)
• post-race celebration and awards ceremony
• post-race massages available on a first come-first serve basis (marathoners only).

MASSAGES - Free massages will be available after the Lincoln Marathon to full-marathoners only.  Sports Massages are available to anyone for a fee in the days leading up to the marathon. If interested please contact one of these massage therapists (pdf). 

MARATHONERS' OPTION - Runners who enter the Marathon may switch to the Half-Marathon. Half-Marathon entrants may not switch to the Marathon.

MEDICAL - Medical assistance is available at each of the aid stations and at the finish. In order to provide as complete medical care as possible, we ask that you notify the medical director of any chronic medical condition you may have.  This includes any medical condition that you see a health practitioner for on a regular basis, any medication you are taking and, of course, any allergies you may have.  This information is kept confidential by medical personnel and is discarded after the race.  To insure your privacy please send this information directly to the Marathon Medical Director at 6232 So. 29th Circle, Lincoln NE 68516.

NATIONAL GUARD TRIALS - We are pleased to again host the National Guard Marathon Trials.  Army and Air Guard members representing each state and territory compete for positions on the National Guard Marathon Team.  Members of other military branches are eligible for the first place Armed Forces Team Division plaque.  For information and how to register your team, contact the Nebraska National Guard at 402-309-7359 or jack.murphy1@us.army.mil

POST RACE CELEBRATION & AWARDS CEREMONY - Join us after the race for food, drink and fun.  Refreshments at noon, followed by the Awards Ceremony.  Door prizes!

RESULTS - Results will be posted on the Internet even a couple times while the event is in progress at www.onlineraceresults.com.  Personalized results (certificates) can be printed from that site as well. 

SAFETY - For the safety of participants, volunteers and spectators, no unofficial bicycles, roller blades, roller skates, baby strollers, dogs or unregistered entrants are allowed on the race course.  Bicycles, skateboards, scooters, baby strollers, headphones, roller skates and roller blades are not permitted on the course.

VOLUNTEERING - If you are unable to run or are just coming along as a spectator, you can join the action by becoming a race volunteer!  All volunteers receive a T-shirt, refreshments and are eligible for random prizes.  Call 402-423-6150 for more information.

WEATHER - Average low at starting time is 45 degrees, average high at finish is 55-60 degrees.

Awards

Plaques are presented to the next nine men and women in the marathon and the first five men and women in the half-marathon.

Age Division Awards: Plaques will be presented to the first three men and women based upon chip time.  Age divisions: 19 & under and five-year increments thereafter (i.e. 20-24, 25-29, etc).   There will be no duplication of awards.

Lucky 13 Club: Any runner completing his/her 13th Lincoln Marathon will become a member of the "Lucky 13 Club".  A presentation will be held at the Awards Celebration.  Please indicate on your entry if you are eligible for this by entering the number of Lincoln Marathons that you've completed.

Nebraska Half-Marathon Championship

The USATF Nebraska Association has selected the Lincoln National Guard Half-Marathon presented by Aquafina to be their Half-Marathon Championship event. They will award $2,050 in prize money to the top 5 open men and women members, top 3 masters men and women members, and top 3 USATF Nebraska Association clubs.  Overall male & female athletes will be automatically selected for participation in USATF's Association Athlete Development Program (AADP). Open men & women: $250, 200, 150, 75, 50. Masters men & women: $75, 50, 25. Association Club: Male and female teams $75, 50, 25. USATF will be presenting the awards in these categories after the regular Marathon/Half-Marathon awards ceremony. Athletes will also be competing for points in the Nebraska Grand Prix Series with awards presented at the end of the year. A 2008 USATF membership is required for all entrants competing in Nebraska Association Grand Prix Series events.  Your current membership number must be included in the space provided if you wish to participate in this aspect of the race.  Memberships are available online at https://www.usatf.org/membership.  Only USATF Association clubs are eligible to compete for team titles. Team declarations must be submitted by the close of registration and are subject to the immediate verification process. All team members must submit an individual entry. Top 3 finishers per club team, male and female, cumulative time will score. A runner may only be declared on one team. Clubs may submit A, B, and C teams. For a team declaration form or for more information, call 402.895.1081 or email runguru@cox.net

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