Download 2009 Marathon/Half Marathon Entry

GENERAL INFORMATION

Entry Requirements

• You must be 16 years of age or older on race day, February 15, 2009, to register for marathon.
• You must be 12 years of age or older on race day, February 15, 2009, to register for half marathon.
• If you are under 18 years of age, you must have a parent or legal guardian sign the Entry Form in order to participate.
• You must show ID to receive your race number and timing chip.
• Race numbers and timing chips are required to participate.
• Participants have six hours, based on clock time, to complete the marathon course and four hours to complete the half marathon. You must be able to complete the marathon/half marathon in this time frame.
• Baby joggers, in-line skates, bicycles and other non-official wheeled vehicles and headphones of any kind are prohibited on the course. No pets or smoking on course PLEASE! Any participant breaking one of these rules will be removed from the course, disqualified and will not receive the finishers’ amenities.
• The field will be limited, register early so you won't be left out!
• Entry fees can be paid by check (personal, cashier's or certified), money order or credit card with mail-in registration. Please do not send cash.
• Mail-in applications MUST be postmarked by January 31, 2009. Entries received after February 4, 2009 will not be accepted and you will need to register at the EXPO.
• Entry fees must be paid by credit card only with online registration. Online registration through Active.com will be available through February 7, 2009. After this date registration will only be available at the Expo.
• Registration over the phone will NOT be accepted.
• Anyone registering at the Expo will be given a red race bib so folks at the finish line will know you are a late registrant. Expo registrants who complete the marathon or half marathon are not guaranteed a finisher's shirt or medal but will receive undated versions of the shirt and medal if they are available. In past years, we have had so many people register on race weekend (which is a great thing), that we have run out of certain sizes of finishers shirts and medals and were unable to give the runners that registered early the size that they had requested.
• THERE WILL BE NO RACE DAY REGISTRATION OR PACKET PICK-UP. YOU MUST PICK UP YOUR RACE PACKET AT THE EXPO. RACE PACKETS CONTAIN BIBS AND TIMING CHIPS. YOU MUST HAVE A BIB AND TIMING CHIP TO PARTICIPATE IN THE RACE!!

Entry Form: Please print neatly and complete entire form. Photocopies of current race year form are accepted. Be sure to include your email address for confirmation to be sent. In order to receive updates and race results please add info@mercedesmarathon.com to your address book. (Click here for help on how to do this)

Mail completed entry form and fee to:

Mercedes Marathon>br> P.O. Box 59260
Birmingham, AL 35259
Fax: 205-870-7729

Confirmation
Mercedes Marathon, Mercedes Half-Marathon, Mercedes Kids Marathon and Relay entries received by December 31, 2008, will be confirmed by e-mail. Final instructions will be e-mailed approximately 3-4 weeks prior to the event and again 2-3 days prior to the event. Registration Entry fees are non-refundable and non-transferable. All events take place rain or shine. All race packets must be picked up at the Expo on Friday or Saturday.

Six-Hour Time Limit for Marathon
Four-Hour Time Limit for Half Marathon
The Mercedes Marathon and Half-Marathon is open to runners and walkers of all abilities. Wheelchair athletes are limited to Half-Marathon only.

• A 6-hour time limit has been set, which means a participant must maintain a consistent pace of approximately 13:44 minutes per mile. The Marathon finish line will close at exactly 1:03 p.m.
• The famous "Balloon Lady" will be on the course as the "official last finisher" of the full marathon and will be walking at a 6-hour pace. Any full marathoner who is behind her when the course splits just before mile 13 (20th Street and 5th Avenue North) will be directed onto the half marathon course and will receive a half marathon medal and finishers shirt; and relay teams will be disqualified. Staying in front of our “Balloon Lady” is extremely important to ensure the safety of all our participants. If you are behind her at about mile 20 in Five Points South our security/police officers must remove you from the course due to the course closing. The Birmingham Police are adamant about this rule with no exceptions.
• Half Marathon participants have a 4-hour time limit. The Half Marathon finish line will close exactly at 11:03 a.m.

• All registered participants will receive an official Mercedes-Benz Marathon Weekend long sleeve t-shirt and lots more in their cool race bags.
• Marathon finishers will receive an additional long-sleeve technical running shirt and all half-marathon finishers will receive a short-sleeve technical shirt. Anyone registering at the Expo will be given a red race bib so folks at the finish line will know you are a late registrant. Expo registrants who complete the marathon or half marathon are not guaranteed a finisher's shirt or medal but will receive undated versions of the shirt and medal if they are available. In past years we have had so many people register on race weekend (which is a great thing), that we have run out of certain sizes of finishers shirts and were unable to give the runners that registered early the size that they had requested.
• All race finishers will receive a commemorative Mercedes Marathon or Mercedes Half-Marathon finisher’s medal that resembles a large, heavy hood ornament. Expo registrants will receive an undated ribbon on their medal.
• The Post Race Party features two live bands, lots of juicy southern barbeque from Jim ‘N Nick’s Restaurants, plenty of cold beer from Michelob Ultra, endless Cokes, Dasani and PowerAde and massages. Race merchandise will still be available for your shopping pleasure as well. All food and festivities are included in your race entry fee. Race finishers will also be eligible to win valuable door prizes as race numbers will be drawn randomly throughout the course of the party for these prizes. You must be present to win so stay and party with us to the end. Meal tickets may be purchased for $5 per person for family and friends not participating in the race. It’s a good time for all! Ask your friends, we take our parties seriously!
• If you would like to take a shower before the post race party showers are available a the Birmingham Metro YMCA just a few blocks away at 2101 4th Avenue North. Thanks to the YMCA for their generous welcome throughout the race’s history.

Do You Know About The Brave in Blue Challenge?

This rapidly-growing challenge is taken up by some of Alabama’s finest—our firefighters, police officers and EMS. The Brave In Blue compete for the best time individually or as a relay. Winners in each category win a trophy to proudly display. As you see them on the courses, tip your hat to our Brave In Blue in thanks for all that they do! If you are one of Alabama’s finest, please go to www.kidone.org for more information. To download a marathon/half marathon registration form for the Brave in Blue Challenge, click here.

PowerAde / Water Stations & Course Support

Eight fully staffed and equipped fluid stations will be on our new double loop course. PowerAde and water will be available at each stop. Clearly marked miles and digital clocks will be at the beginning of each mile. Portalets will be plentiful along the course, as will petroleum jelly, ibuprofen, fruit, cookies, cheerleaders, live entertainment and more. Gu will be provided at 2-3 sites on the course.

Medical

Emergency personnel with the city of Birmingham and St. Vincent’s Health Systems will be on call. Medical stations will be available throughout the course and at the start and finish line. If you have medical concerns related to the courses or to your personal situation, please inform the race staff by writing any necessary medical information on the back of your race number and leaving an emergency contact number on your entry form.

Awards / Age Divisions- Mercedes Marathon

Awards will given to the top three male and female finishers in each of the following age divisions: 16-19, 20-24, 25-29, 30-34, 35-39, 40-44, 45-49, 50-54, 55-59, 60-64, 65-69, 70 & over.

2009 Prize Structure

• Overall cash winners are not eligible for age division awards.
• Age division awards will be scored and determined based on Marathon Chip Time.
• Gun time is used to determine all cash prizes.
• The prize purse for the first, second and third place finishers (male and female) is as follows: Marathon-$2000/$1000/$500 - Half marathon- $750/$500/$250
• Masters first, second and third (male and female) - $600/$400/$200 - Half marathon-$300/$200/$100.
• Grand Masters first place only (male and female) - Marathon - $100 and half marathon $50
• First Alabamian (male and female) - Marathon - $250 and Half marathon $100.