On the behalf of the Marshall University Marathon event staff we would like to thank you for your interest in the Marshall Marathon. It is our objective to exceed your expectations in hosting this wonderful event.
We have tried to anticipate many of the questions you may have concerning the Marshall University Marathon. These questions and answers can be located in the FAQ section. If we have not answered your questions please feel free to direct your questions to the director of the Marshall Marathon. We will attempt to answer your questions within 24 hours.
The 2013 Marshall University -St. Mary’s Marathon will be on November 10th. Packet Pickup is on November 9th at the St. Mary’s Conference Center. Registration is now open on our website Healthytristate.org. If you experience any difficulty in registration please contact tptrack@comcast.net. Please come and celebrate the 10th Marshall University Marathon. You have only one 10th birthday. We plan to make it a special day. Direct your comments to director@healthytristate.org
There will be no refunds or deferrals. Marshall University-St. Mary’s Marathon and Half-Marathon will be held on November 10th at 7:00 a.m.
The marathon is now 2 loops. This will allow spectators and family to follow the race more readily.
***NOTE: We are very proud this year to have donations to the Wounded Warrior Project as the awards. Some of the overall winners will also receive awards from world famous Blenko Glass.
OVERVIEW
Healthy Tri-State.org, inc. is dedicated to bringing the HealthierUS Initiative to the area. Exercise is a key component of this and we want everyone to take part in this event either as a runner, walker, or volunteer.
RACE EVENTS:
- Marathon
- Half-marathon run (this may be walked)
- Half-marathon relay run
- Marshall Challenge
- 5K Competitive Run/Walk
ENTRY REQUIREMENTS
No restrictions except entrants must be 16 years of age or older to participate in the marathon. There is no age restriction on the other events.
START TIMES/LOCATION
Start time for all events with the exception of the 5k Run/Walk is 7:00. Start time for the 5k is 7:30
The start location for the Marathon and all other related events is in front of the stadium on 3rd Avenue, 19th Street.
MARATHON COMMENTS
Click here to read what people had to say about past marathons.
COURSE
The course is flat and fast and USATF certified. It is a perfect course to run to qualify for Boston. Runners start on 3rd Avenue next to Cam Henderson Center and run through downtown Huntington past Pullman Square, next to the Ohio River, and through Ritter Park among other places. The highlight is to run through Marshall University campus on their way to a goal-line finish in Marshall Football Stadium. Footballs will be available to carry in the final 100 yards if desired! A race map is available online. This course is also very spectator friendly and we will have race maps available with city maps for your friends and family to follow. NOTE – this was just re-certified. The new course has about 3 miles of crushed limestone on it around Ritter Park. It is very fine and packed very well so that the course remains fast. There is no need for trail shoes, etc because of this.
THE FLOWER
We have a limited amount of flowers that are handed out as you enter campus (at Old Main on Hal Greer Blvd. and 4th Avenue, just beyond the 25 mile mark). This is a memorial for the plane crash victims from November 14th, 1970 (for which the movie We are Marshall was made). Those taking the flower are asked to put this in a basket 200 yards away at Memorial Fountain.
TIME LIMIT
6 hours for all events. For safety and insurance reasons there are no early starts. Those participants who feel they will take longer than 6 hours should be prepared that police support and aid stations may not be available past this pace (approximately 13:45 min/mile).
AMENITIES
All full marathon registrants (those participating in the full 26.2 mile race) who enter by September 2nd will get a full-zip jacket made by Brooks!! Women who pre-register prior to September 2nd will receive a woman’s size t-shirt. All entries after September 2nd will receive unisex shirts. Everyone also gets a unique finisher’s medal, which is specially designed for the event in a 3D format. Half-marathoners who register prior to September 2nd will be allowed to register for a zip-up jacket for a surcharge of $20.00.
RELAY INFORMATION
Two or three people may do the half-marathon relay in any order they wish. The legs will be 2.3, 6.7 and 4.1 miles. You must indicate your team name and team member’s names on the application and you must sign up together. If any changes are made, they must be made at least one week before race time. An award will be given to the team with the best name, with the race committee being the judges. Go to the separate RELAY INFORMATION section for more details.
5K COMPETITIVE RUN/WALK
Start line for 5k is in front of Science Bldg. on 3rd Avenue.
Start time for 5k is 7:30 a.m.
MARSHALL CHALLENGE
When 26.2 miles isn’t enough. This event will have a distance of 39.3 miles. Finish time must be 6 hours or less and start time is at 7:00a.m. Finisher’s of the Marshall Challenge will receive a special t-shirt commemorating the event. Must pre-register by September 2 to receive special t-shirt.
AWARDS
Awards are given to the first 3 finishers/ teams overall in all races. In the relays there will be awards in each category of all male, all female and mixed. Age group awards are <20, 20-24, 25-29, 30-34, 35-39, 40-44, 45-49, 50-54, 55-59, 60-64, 65-69 and over 70 in both half and full marathons for both male and female. Armed forces awards will be in addition to the overall (i.e. 2 awards are possible in this group) and are top 3 male, female in the half and full marathon and the top 1 relay.
Awards this year will be donations in your name to the Wounded Warrior Project which is tax deductible. There will also be Blenko Glass to the first place male and female in the half marathon and the full marathon as well as first place master’s (40 and over age group) as well as the first place relay overall.
The event staff of the Marshall University Marathon are runner friendly. We will do everything we can to make this a memorable experience for you and your loved one. We are runners as well and we know the sacrifice and dedication entailed for you to reach and cross the finish line. In the past runners have failed to pick up their hard earned awards and have later asked the event staff to mail these awards to them. We have tried to accommodate these requests in the past but because the event staff is comprised of volunteers and the logistical efforts we will be unable to accommodate such requests in the future. Awards must be picked up by the conclusion of event day or otherwise forfeited.
TIMING
The race will be timed using ChronoTrack disposable tags attached to their bibs. You must wear your bib number on the front of your clothing so that we can see and record your number as you cross the finish line. The race bibs should be unaltered and not covered by any garment. Check the information on your packet label to make sure it is correct. If not, notify a race official at packet pickup on Saturday. There will be timing mats at the start, seven, eighteen mile markers as well as at the finish line. We realize that for BQ every second counts.
WALKERS
We welcome and encourage all walkers and runners to participate in our events. We have incorporated the 5k Run/Walk in our list of events and it is a competitive run/walk. 5k runners and walkers will start in front of the Science Building at 7:30. They will finish in the Marshall University Stadium. There will be prizes and official timing for this event.
Lodging
A book of rooms have been reserved at the Holiday Inn and Suites for participants of the Marshall University Marathon. This location is less than two miles from the start and finish line. Transportation and late check-out upon requested. Room rates for King or Double $99 per night. (T) 304.523.8880 (F) 304.525.0372 “Cut-off date for accepting reservations into this room block is 10/08/13. Please request Marshall University Marathon rate upon making reservations.
There is no bag check for the Marshall University Marathon due to liability concerns. The start and finish line are separated by mere yards. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause you. The parking lot is next to both start and finish lines.
