Frequently Asked Questions [FAQ] 2010 Prairie du Chien Half Marathon May 1, 2010

What is a Half-Marathon?
A Half Marathon is a race consisting of 13.1 miles. A full marathon is 26.2 miles.

When and where will the race be held?
The race will be held Saturday, May 1, 2010, and will start and end on
St. Feriole Island. Half Marathon runners/walkers will start at 7:30 a.m., with
5K runners/walkers following at 7:45 a.m. The race will be held rain or shine.

Who can participate?
The race is open to runners and walkers of all ages, but we advise everyone
to check with their health care professional before entering. Strollers,
rollerblades, bicycles, and pets are not allowed. Written parental consent must be
provided for any participant under the age of eighteen, and we ask that a parent or guardian be present for the event in case of emergency.

How do I register?
You can register by visiting our website (www.pdchalfmarathon.com) and
printing out a registration form to mail in to P.O. Box 394, Prairie du Chien,
WI 53821. (Online website registration will be available in 2010. Check back for updates.) You
may also register online at www.Active.com. No refunds are allowed.

How do I train for a Half Marathon?
Training for a Half Marathon is simply done by building up your mileage
little by little over time. Whether you are a walker or a runner, you may
be able to accomplish more than you think you can! If you are regularly
walking and/or running, you may already be able to complete the course
easily. Training resources abound on the internet. Seek advice from your
health care professional and then research training plans to fit your level
of fitness. Some recommended sites include www.Active.com,
www.halhigdon.com, and www.runnersworld.com. Explore the websites
to learn how you can accomplish your goals. You will find advice for the novice or
experienced runner or walker. Feel free to do a run/walk combination, too. Set your
own personal goals and strive to reach them!

What if I cannot finish?
First of all, do not worry if you cannot finish. Even the best racers in the
world have days when they cannot finish a race. The victory is in the trying!
But, if for some reason you feel you cannot finish, there will be volunteers
all along the route to help you and/or to contact medical help. The local
police and EMS will be on hand so should an emergency arise, it will be
handled quickly and professionally.

Will there be aid stations along the route?
Yes, we have several aid stations planned, and there will be several rest
room locations along the course. Each aid station will provide a sports drink
and water. Race finishers will be provided with bagels,
bananas, sports drinks, and other light snacks after the race.

How do I volunteer?
Visit the Volunteer page on the website and sign up. You will be contacted about specific tasks needed. Please attend the Volunteer Training meeting to be held prior to the event. (Watch your emails and our website for date and time.) There are many opportunities for members of the community to support this exciting event as a volunteer. Volunteer tasks include, but are not limited to helping with registration,
data entry, course preparation and clean-up, traffic control, distributing refreshments, and packet preparation help. We also need musicians willing to volunteer their time along the race route to help serenade and encourage the runners and walkers.

Spectators are important volunteers!
Spectators are critical to the success of any race. People are needed to line
the race route and encourage race participants. Please come out and show
your support and cheer on the runners and walkers! Course maps will be available
at the race start and cheering spectators are an essential part of every race!

Will entrants receive race goodie bags and may I donate items for them?
Yes, entrants will receive race bags with t-shirts and various items. Any local
business is welcome to donate an item or a coupon to help promote their business.
We will need all donations by April 15.

For what is the entry fee used?
The entry fee helps cover the cost of the race. Any profits will be
put directly back into the race funds as seed money for the next year. We also are a sponsor of the Prairie du Chien Youth Track Team and, starting in 2010, we are donating a small portion of the race revenue to Ann’s Hope Foundation (www.annshope.org), a non-profit organization dedicated to education and research in the fight against Melanoma. The purpose of the event is to encourage personal fitness and to promote tourism to the Prairie du Chien area, and we are excited to be able to help both the Prairie du Chien Youth Track Team and Ann’s Hope Foundation as we expand the race.

Does the race have any sponsors?
Yes, the race has sponsors, but we are actively seeking more to help cover
costs and to help expand the event in the future so it can continue to grow
to become a premier event in Southwestern Wisconsin. All donations are
welcome. In-kind donations are also welcome and needed. Local businesses are also invited to sponsor aid stations and coordinate volunteers for their station. The race also received grants from the Prairie du Chien Tourism Council and was a recipient of the Ready-Set-Go grant from the state of Wisconsin. Support from the Prairie du Chien Community Foundation, Prairie du Chien Rotary Club, and the George Family Foundation has also helped the race to grow. Many other local businesses have shown their support in a variety of ways, as well. However, for successful long-term planning, it would be desirable to have one or two larger corporate sponsors who will invest in the race as a way to invest in the community. Please Click Here for information on sponsoring the race.

What about Registration and Packet Pick-Up?
Half Marathon registration is $45.00 before April 1 and $50.00 after April 1.
5K registration is $20.00 before April 1 and $25.00 after April 1. Race day
registrations are allowed. Racers may pick up race packets the evening
prior to the event. A Pre-Race Course Talk will be held the evening before the
race. Please watch the website for updates. Race day packet pickup and
registration will be available from 6:00 – 7:00 a.m. at the race start on
St. Feriole Island.

Will there be an Awards Ceremony?
Finisher medals will be given to all walkers and runners who complete the race.
An awards ceremony for runners will be held at 10:30 a.m. with medals awarded
to the 1st place male and female finishers overall. In addition, medals will be
awarded to the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place male and female finishers in each age
category. Age groups will be 19 and under, 20-24, 25-29, 30-34, etc.,
up to 60 and above.

Will there be any Post-Race events?
Post-race events will be announced as plans are finalized. Check back for details!
We also encourage race participants to explore local tourism opportunities.
For tourism information visit www.prairieduchien.org.

How do I obtain more information or offer to volunteer?
Please visit the website at www.pdchalfmarathon.com. You may also email info@pdchalfmarathon.com or call (608-412-0156) for current updates or information.