36th Skagit Flats Marathon & Half Marathon

Date of Event: Sunday, September 8, 2013

Starting Time: 8:00 am

Location: Burlington-Edison High School, 301 N Burlington Blvd, Burlington, WA 98233
Mapquest directions

Directions to the starting area:
From I-5, take exit 231 and go south (you will be on Burlington Boulevard). Burlington-Edison High School is about 1/3 of a mile on the right. Turn right and park in the main parking lot. We ask that all participants park in the main high school parking lot.

Facebook Page:
Check out the latest Skagit Flats news on Facebook.

Volunteers:
We will be in need of volunteers to work out on the course for Skagit Flats. If you are available please contact the race director.

Directions to the packet pickup location (Hampton Inn in Burlington):
From I-5 Northbound - Take Exit 229-George Hopper Rd. and turn right. Drive .2 mile and turn right onto Burlington Blvd. Go half a block and the hotel parking lot is on the left.

From I-5 Southbound - Take Exit 229-George Hopper Rd. and turn left over freeway. Drive .2 mile and turn right onto Burlington Blvd. Go half a block and turn left into the hotel parking lot.

Registration:
Online at Databar Events (closes at midnight on 9/4/2013)
In store at Skagit Running Company in Mount Vernon and Fairhaven Runners in Bellingham
Print out and mail in registration form by 8/15/2013
Register at packet pickup at the Hampton Inn on Burlington Blvd. on Saturday, 9/7/2013 from 1 pm to 6 pm until the race reaches 1000 participants.

Entry Fees & Deadlines (fees include a mandatory 8.2% sales tax):
Full Marathon (6 hour limit):
Received by 6/29/2013 - $76
Received by 8/15/2013 - $87
8/16/2013 until packet pickup on 9/7/2013 - $103 (8/16-9/4 online)
There is no day of race registration!

Half Marathon (Run or walk):
Received by 6/29/2013 - $50
Received by 8/15/2013 - $55
8/16/2013 until packet pickup on 9/7/2013 - $65 (8/16-9/4 online)
There is no day of race registration!

$17- Extra shirt (Preregistered only)

Please note that all entry fees are non-refundable. There is a limit of 1000 participants total. Once we reach the limit we will no longer accept any registrations.

Race T-Shirts:
All participants will receive a high quality technical T-shirt. Shirt sizes are not guaranteed if registering after July 31 and ladies' sizes will not be available after that date.

Official Marathon Lodging:
Burlington Hampton Inn & Suites
1860 S. Burlington Blvd.
Burlington, WA 98233-3226
(360) 757-7100

Packet Pickup:
Registration will be accepted during the packet pickup at the Hampton Inn (1860 S. Burlington Blvd) in Burlington, on Saturday, September 7, from 1 pm to 6 pm. You can pick up race packets from 1 pm to 6 pm on Saturday. From I-5 use exit 229 (George Hopper Exit) and drive east to Burlington Blvd. Turn right on Burlington Blvd. Go about a half block and the hotel parking lot will be on the left. Packets can also be picked up the morning of the marathon at Burlington-Edison High School starting at 6:30 am. Please pick up your packet the day prior to the race to avoid long lines the morning of the race.

Day of Race Packet Pickup:
Race packets can be picked up on the morning of the race at Burlington-Edison High School from 6:30 am until 7:45 am.

Switching Races:
Race switches from the full marathon to the half marathon must be completed before the end of Saturday packet pickup at the latest. If you cannot make it to Saturday packet pickup, email us before Friday so that we can make a new bib number and assign a new chip. Switches from the half marathon to the full marathon will need to be made at Saturday packet pickup since the difference in race fees will need to be paid. Race switches of any kind ARE NOT ALLOWED the morning of the race and will result in a disqualification. If you know you are going to need to switch races, please let us know as soon as possible to reduce the amount of work needed to prepare race packets.

Course:
Flat and fast rural course through the Skagit Valley. The marathon is a Boston qualifier with a certification course number of USATF # WA08030MW. The half marathon is also certified with a course number of USATF # WA08029MW. Race start is on Victoria Street on the south side of Burlington Edison High School. The marathon and 1/2 marathon are run on rural roads through the Skagit Valley farmlands to the entrance of Samish Island (see course map for exact route) and finishes on the Burlington-Edison High School track. The course will be clearly marked and monitors will be at all intersections. Due to course restrictions, participants must finish within 6 hours. The course closes at 2:00 pm.

Course Narrative and Map:
Start on Victoria Street just west of the gym and make a left on Norris street. Continue under I-5. At the stop sign take a right and then in about 1 mile take a right on Pulver. Go straight through the next stop sign at Josh Wilson and then make a left on Maiben. Right on Avon-Allen, then a left on Benson. The turn around for the half marathon is about 2 miles down Benson. The marathon continues towards Samish Island via T-Loop Road, D'Arcy Road and Bay View-Edison Road. The turn around for the marathon is on Samish Island Road. After you turn around you will follow the course back the way you came. When you get back to the starting line, you will make a left and run between the gym and track and onto the track. Please see the course map for more details. Another map and elevation profile is available at the USATF web site.

Course Closure:
The course will be open for 6 hours. All participants must finish the race in 6 hours. Runners and walkers who have not finished by 2:00 pm will be responsible for their own saftey. Early starts are not allowed. Participants receiving support from bicyclists, unregistered runners or unofficial vehicles will be disqualified.

Chip Timing:
All registrants will receive an IPICO timing chip that must be worn in order to be timed. NO CHIP NO TIME! The timing chip must be properly secured to either shoe. If the runner carries the timing chip in his/her hand, fanny pack, etc. the timing chip will not record a time. Fasten the timing chip with the tie-wrap provided securely to the shoe. Timing chips are non-transferable and must be worn only by the participant to whom it is assigned. Do not cross the finish line more than once. Do not lose your timing chip. Return the timing chip at the finish line. If you are not going to run the race and just pick up your packet, give the timing chip to the registration volunteers. A $30 replacement fee will be charged to participants who fail to return their timing chips. For pictures that demonstrate attaching a timing chip to your shoe, refer to our chip timing system instructions.

Personal Gear:
We recommend that any personal items be stored in your vehicle. If you do not have a vehicle to store your personal items, contact a race volunteer. We will not be responsible for any lost or stolen items.

Official Race Photography:
Official race photography will be provided by Jon Brunk Photography from Bellingham. Photos will be available to be purchased from the Brunk Photo website soon after the race.

Weather:
The temperature on race day is usually mild. The average low is 48 degrees Fahrenheit, the average high is 70 degrees Fahrenheit. We had rain and cool temparatures in 2010 and hot temperatures in 2011 so the weather can vary at this time of year.

Aid Stations:
There will be 8 manned water stations, with 7 of them serving runners out and back (for a total of 15 stops for the entire marathon course). There will be an extra aid station near the end of the marathon course at mile 25.5 that will only be open on the return for marathoners. The stations will be manned by local cross country teams. Water, Gu Brew, pretzels, oranges, kettle chips, watermelon and Succeed S-Caps will be available at all stations. Gu Energy Gel will be available at aid stations 4 and 6 (marathon mile markers 6, 9.75, 16.25 and 20).

The approximate positions of the aid stations for the marathon course are as follows: 1.5 miles, 2.25 miles, 3.75 miles, 6 miles (Gu gel available), 8.25 miles, 9.75 miles (Gu gel available), 11.75 miles, 14.25 miles, 16.25 miles (Gu gel available), 17.75 miles, 20 miles (Gu gel available), 22.25 miles, 23.75 miles, 24.5 miles, 25.5 miles.

Porta Potties:
We will have a porta potty at all 7 aid stations, except for the new aid station at mile 25.5.

Medical:
Two EMTs and ten volunteers with blister kits will be riding the course with cell phones. Cell phones will be located at every water station.

Race Results:
Results will be placed near the finish line as soon as they are available. Complete results will be posted online at marathonguide.com, skagitrunners.org and printed in Northwest Runner magazine.

Post Race:
Water will be available at the finish line along with lots of food for ALL finishers. The high school locker rooms will be open for showers and changing.

Where The Money Goes:
Some of the proceeds of this event benefit local high school sports programs and Skagit Search and Rescue.

Finisher Medallions:
All Marathon and Half Marathon finishers receive a finisher's medallion.
2012 medal

Awards:
Gift certificates will be given to the top three male and female overall in each race.

The top 3 overall finishers (male and female) in the marathon will receive gift certificates to Skagit Running Company in the amounts of $100 (1st), $75 (2nd) and $50 (3rd).

The top 3 overall finishers (male and female) in the half marathon will receive gift certificates to Skagit Running Company in the amounts of $75 (1st), $50 (2nd) and $25 (3rd).

Awards will also be given to the top three male and female finishers in the following 10-year age groups: 19 and under, 20-29, 30-39, 40-49, 50-59, 60-69, 70 and over. Awards will not be mailed. You must claim your award on race day.

Awards will be based on gun time, not chip time. Chip time is recorded by an electronic chip that is attached to a runner's shoe. Your chip records the time at which you cross the start line and the finish line. Chip time is often usually faster than gun time because chip time begins when a runner crosses the start line while gun time starts when the gun is fired; many runners don't cross the start line until several minutes after their official gun time has begun.

Random Prizes:
There will be random prizes awarded to pre-registered runners. The list of award winners will be chosen before packet pickup on Saturday, so register early if you want to win!

Marathon Pacers:
Pacers in the marathon are available for the following times:
3:15:00 - (7:26 pace)
3:25:00 - (7:49 pace)
3:30:00 - (8:00 pace)
3:35:00 - (8:12 pace)
3:40:00 - (8:23 pace)
3:45:00 - (8:34 pace)
3:55:00 - (8:57 pace)
4:00:00 - (9:09 pace)
4:10:00 - (9:32 pace)
4:25:00 - (10:06 pace)
4:40:00 - (10:40 pace)
4:55:00 - (11:15 pace)
5:10:00 - (11:49 pace)

Rules and Regulations:

You must be able to complete the marathon in 6 hours.
You must be in good health and physically prepared to undertake the challenges of a marathon or half marathon.
Event bib numbers are required for participation. Participants must fasten their bibs to the front of their shirts. A timing chip must be worn on one of your shoes in order to receive a time and be included in the results.
All participants must be registered in order to participate.
No strollers, skateboards, dogs or inline skates will be allowed on the course. Please do not force us to disqualify and remove you from the course for violating these rules.
Headphones or I-pods are discouraged during the race. Participants must be able to hear oncoming vehicles, other runners and course officials. If you cannot hear directions from course officials because you are wearing headphones you will be disqualified.
Participants must run no more than 2 abreast and stay to the right side of the road. Remember cars, trucks, and farm tractors are bigger than you!
Marathon and half marathon participants must give vehicle traffic the right away.

Walkers and slower participants: The Skagit Flats Marathon and Half Marathon welcomes walkers. Walkers and individuals with a 16+ minute pace are recommended to consider using a fanny pack that accommodates a water bottle. If you plan on participating at a 16+ minute pace per mile or slower, be aware that the course closes 6 hours from the start.

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