Faqs

1. What do I get for my entry fee?
First of all, you get to come to Birmingham, Alabama!!!! You will receive a race bag with goodies inside of it (like a water bottle and gloves, for example). You will also get a technical race shirt up front (long sleeved for the full and short sleeved for the half – shirts are gender specific). When you finish the race you will get a Mercedes “hood ornament” medal and a finisher’s running cap (race specific) and we will have fruit and water and PowerAde waiting for you. Just a few short steps away from the finish line is our Post Race Party with all the Jim ‘N Nick’s Bar-B-Q and beer you desire. We may even have some post race massages going on!
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2. Is this race a Boston Qualifier?
Yes, the 2013 Mercedes Marathon is a certified course, therefore, a Boston Marathon qualifier.
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3. Are there participant limits?
Yes! We will close the full marathon at 1,500 participants and the half will close at 4,000 runners. We will close the relay at 250 teams.
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4. Does the Marathon have pace groups?
Yes. Pacers will be provided for the following finishing times: 3:45, 4:00, 4:15, 4:30, and 4:45 and 5:00. Send an email to runningwithal@yahoo.com for more information.
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5. Do the races have corrals?
Corrals will be posted in the starting chute. We ask you to be considerate of others and line up according to your pace.
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6. How do I register for the races?
Go to www.mercedesmarathon.com and click on the Active.com link or the “Registration” link. Registration will close on February 11, 2013. After that, we will offer registration at the Expo on Friday and Saturday. THERE IS NO RACE DAY REGISTRATION!!!!
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7. How much does the race cost?

Mercedes Marathon –	through October 31, 2012 - $70 through December 31, 2012 - $80 through February 11, 2013 - $90 Expo Registration - $110

Mercedes Half Marathon –	through October 31, 2012 - $65 through December 31, 2012 - $75 through February 11, 2013 - $85 Expo Registration - $100

8. How do I know for sure if I am registered?
Go to our website at www.mercedesmarathon.com and click on Check Entry.
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9. Will I receive a confirmation card?
No, we will send out email confirmations through Active.com. Also, add info@mercedesmarathon.com to your address book to ensure you receive our emails! You can also go to our website at www.mercedesmarathon.com to confirm your registration.
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10. How close is the Sheraton Birmingham (host hotel) to the race activities?
The Sheraton Birmingham is located a block from the Expo, Start/Finish line and the Post Race Party. Their address is 2101 Richard Arrington, Jr. Blvd. North, Birmingham, AL 35203.
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11. How far is the Sheraton Birmingham from the Birmingham International Airport?
It is less than 5 miles away – a short 10 minute or so drive.
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12. What is the Expo?
The St. Vincent’s Health Systems Health and Fitness Expo and Packet Pickup is held on Friday and Saturday the 15th and 16th of February. This is where you will come to pick up your race packet, peruse the vendors, purchase Mercedes Marathon merchandise and in general have a good time while hanging out with other runners. You must pick up your race packet at the Expo. Your race packet contains your race bib and timing device which you must have to run!!
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13. Where is the Expo and what are the hours?
The Expo will be held at Boutwell Auditorium located at 1930 8th Avenue North, Birmingham, AL 35203. The hours are Friday, February 15th - 12:00 Noon – 7:00 p.m. and Saturday, February 16th - 8:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.
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14. How do I get my race packet?
Race packets will not be mailed. You must come to the Expo in order to get your race packet. You must have your race packet in order to run on Sunday morning. The race packet will have your race number and timing device which you need to run. It is okay if someone else picks up your packet – just make sure that person knows you are picking it up in case they come to get it and it is not there.
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15. Can I pick my race packet up on race morning, Sunday the 17th?
NO!! THERE WILL BE NO RACE DAY PACKET PICK UP! Please make sure you pick up your packet at the Expo on Friday or Saturday. There is also NO RACE DAY REGISTRATION!
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16. Can someone else pick up my packet for me?
Yes – we don’t have a problem with that. Just make sure everyone is wearing the correct timing chip if you are picking up multiple packets.
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17. What is in my race packet?
Your race bib, timing device and bag check tag attached to your race bib and final instructions along with other goodies from vendors and businesses will be in your race bag. You MUST have your race bib and timing device in order to run the race.
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18. What happens if I lose my timing device?
All participants will be issued timing devices that will be distributed during packet pickup. You will need to contact the timer and give them your approximate finishing time and they will be able to cross reference their manual timing.
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19. Where can we park for the races?
Try this website – www.bhamparking.com – for a map of all parking decks available in downtown Birmingham. There is some street parking around the facilities just make sure that you don’t park on the course on Sunday.
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20. Where does the race start and finish?
The race starts and finishes right in front of Boutwell Auditorium located at 1930 8th Avenue North, Birmingham, AL 35203.
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21. Can I register on race day?
No! There is no race day registration!
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22. Can I switch from the Marathon to the Half Marathon or from the Half Marathon to the Marathon?
Yes. Please send an email to info@mercedesmarathon.com and let us know what changes to make to your registration. If switching from the half to the full you must pay the difference in registration fees. No changes can be made after February 11th except at the Expo on February 15th and 16th..
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23. Do you take credit cards for registration at the Expo?
Yes. We take Visa, MasterCard, Discover and American Express. We will also accept checks and cash.
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24. What are the event start times?

Saturday:	Superhero 5K – 8:00 a.m. The Bell Center Children EIP Run – 10:00 a.m. (subject to change) The Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Alabama Kids Mercedes Marathon – 11:00 a.m. Fifth graders will begin at 11:00 a.m. followed by each descending grade in 10 minute increments.

Sunday:	Mercedes Marathon – 7:03 a.m. Mercedes Half Marathon – 7:03 a.m. Mercedes Marathon 5 Person Relay – 7:03 a.m

25. What sports drinks and gels will be available on the course?
We will be serving lemon-lime PowerAde at every water stop on the course. GU will be the gel of choice.
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26. Is there a Pasta Dinner?
Yes. A “Carbs for a Cause” pasta dinner will be held on Saturday evening February 16th. Please see the home page of our website for more details.
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27. How do I get a refund if I cannot attend?
Our policy states that we do not offer refunds and your registration cannot be transferred to another runner. We will however, offer to defer your registration until next years race. Your deferment is good for one year only. All deferments must be made by January 31st otherwise we will not offer a deferment as an option. Please email info@mercedesmarathon.com if you would like to defer.
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28. What is NOT allowed on the course?
Baby joggers, in-line skates, bicycles, unauthorized vehicles and unregistered runners are prohibited on the course. No pets or smoking on the course PLEASE! Any participant breaking one of these rules will be removed from the course, disqualified and will not receive finisher’s amenities. These rules are mandated by our insurance policy and board of directors and are for your safety and the safety of the thousands of other runners on the course.
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29. Is there a “Bag Check” available?
Bag check is available for all participants who want to leave their clothing or other items in a secure, checked area during the race. Bag check is located on the side entrance of Boutwell Auditorium between the Auditorium and the Birmingham Museum of Art. You will see volunteers ready to help you. Bag Check will close promptly at 2 p.m. All items not picked up will be left with Boutwell Auditorium’s Lost and Found.
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30. What if I lose something at the race?
Lost and Found will be at the Boutwell Auditorium. You can check after the race or you can call Boutwell Auditorium at 205-254-2820. Items that are discarded along the race route will NOT be returned to the Lost and Found. They will be donated to local charities.
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31. Why haven’t I received a confirmation email?
In most cases the culprit is your spam filter that blocks our emails. Please add info@mercedesmarathon.com to your email address book.
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32. What does my registration fee go to?
Registration fees help cover the cost of the event expenses. Race proceeds help the children at The Bell Center for Early Intervention Programs and other local children’s charities.
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33. What will the weather be like on race day? What if it is raining or snowing?
No predictions from us – just averages.
Normal High: 58
Normal Low: 35
Normal Average: 47
The race will take place if it is raining. The race will only be cancelled/delayed if weather conditions pose imminent danger to our participants. In eleven years this has never happened! Check out www.myfoxal.com for race weekend weather info.
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34. What time should I arrive on race morning?
We recommend arriving at the Boutwell Auditorium no later than 6:00 a.m. This will give you plenty of time for parking, checking your belongings in at Bag Check, stretching and taking care of personal needs.
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35. Is there a time limit? Why?
The marathon time limit is 6 hours and the half marathon time limit is 4 hours. This is to ensure the safety of our runners and because the Birmingham Police will only close the roads for the course for a certain number of hours. If running the marathon make sure you stay in front of our “balloon lady” who keeps a 6 hour pace (13:44 minutes per mile). If running/walking the half you will need to keep an 18:30 minute per mile pace. The Marathon Relay follows the same rules as the Marathon.
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36. Where will the water stations, medical aid stations and portalets be located on the course?
Please see our course map located on our web site for all of these locations.
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37. Is chip time or gun time used to determine awards?
Gun time is used for the determination of cash awards. Chip time is used to determine age group awards.
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38. What are the age groups for awards?
Awards will be given to the top three male and female finishers in each of the following age divisions: 12-14 (half marathon only), 15-19, 20-24, 25-29, 30-34, 35-39, 40-44, 45-49, 50-54, 55-59, 60-64, 65-69, 70-74, and 75 and over.
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39. Will there be an awards ceremony?
Yes. The awards ceremony for the half marathon will take place around 11:15a.m. at the Post Race Party. The awards ceremony for the full marathon and 5 person relay will take place around 1:15 at the Post Race Party. Participants of the 3N3 Alabama Marathon Challenge may also pick up their medals during the full marathon awards time. You must pick up your award at the awards ceremony. We do not mail out awards after the race. Please make travel plans accordingly.
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40. What are the best places to watch the race?
The course is VERY spectator friendly as it is a double loop course for the full marathon. Some of the best places that we have found for watching are:

America’s First Federal Credit Union: 1200 4th Avenue North, 35203
Civil Rights Institute: 520 16th Street North, 35203
McWane Center: 200 19th Street North, 35203
B & A Warehouse: 1531 1st Avenue South, 35233
University of Alabama, Birmingham Arena: 617 13th Street South
Western Supermarket: 2230 Highland Avenue, 35205
South Highland Presbyterian Church, Highland Avenue
Caldwell Park: Highland Avenue and Niazuma
Rushton Park
Avondale Park
Marconi Park
5 Points South district (Jim ‘N Nick’s Bar-B-Q restaurant, Starbucks and the Original Pancake House)

Mercedes Marathon is a Boston Marathon qualifier and your results will automatically be sent to Boston

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