5-Person Marathon Relay

2009 Relay Race Instructions

If you’re not quite ready for the marathon or half-marathon, then join your coworkers, friends or family and participate in The First Commercial Bank 5-Person Marathon Relay! The race will start at the same time as the Mercedes Marathon & Half-Marathon. Each relay team will consist of 5 people, all being at least 12 years of age on race day. All relay team members will receive the same amenities as the half-marathon participants, including a race t-shirt and smaller version of the Mercedes Marathon finisher’s medal. Team members must submit all five entries together and must designate one team captain. You must have four members to call it a team and participate, but only teams with 5 members are eligible for awards.

Awards will be presented to the winning relay in each of these categories at the awards ceremony at Boutwell Auditorium.

• Men’s Team
• Women’s Team
• Middle School Team (must include at least 2 females)
• High School Team (must include at least 2 females)
• Mixed Open (must include at least 2 females)
• Masters Open (all at least 40 years old on race day-at least 2 females)

Registration

Click here to download the 2009 First Commercial Bank 5 Person Relay Entry

Relay entry fee is $200 per team. High School and Middle School Team entry fee is $150. Entry forms must be postmarked NO LATER than January 31, 2009 and received NO LATER than February 4, 2009. After January 31, 2009, registration will be available online until February 7, 2009. After that date, registration will be at the Expo only. All adult relay team entry fees at the Expo are $225 and school teams are $175. Expo registrants are not guaranteed a finisher's shirt or medal. Entry fee is non-refundable. There is NO race day registration. Make check(s) payable to Birmingham Marathon, Inc., and drop it off at The Trak Shak in Homewood or mail with the completed entry form to:

Mercedes Marathon
P.O. Box 59260
Birmingham, AL 35259

DATE, TIME, PLACE

The five-person Relay Event will begin with the Mercedes Marathon and Half-Marathon at 7:03 a.m. on Sunday, February 15th in front of Boutwell Auditorium in Downtown Birmingham.

NUMBER OF RUNNERS AND DISTANCES

Each team will consist of five runners. The relay is held on the same course as the individual marathon and run at the same time. Each Relay time is assigned a single timing chip that is attached to an ankle strap. This device must be worn in turn by each relay member. Details about the chip exchange are covered later in this document. The distances for each leg are approximately 10k (6.2 miles), 5k (3.1 miles), 10k, 5k, and 12k (7.6 miles) approximately.

Should the first leg of the relay wish to also continue running in the Mercedes Marathon or Mercedes Half-Marathon that runner must complete, including payment, an individual entry form. This person will wear the relay team number and ankle strap as well as their own individual number and chip. Your relay chip will be on an ankle strap and your complete race chip will be attached to one of your shoes.

RELAY EXCHANGE AREAS -

The Relay Exchange Areas are as follows:

Relay Exchange # 1 – In the area of Glen Iris Elementary School – (exact address to be determined) – from the start to Relay Exchange #1 is a 10k – from Relay Exchange #1 to Relay Exchange #2 is a 5k

Relay Exchange # 2 – Clairmont Avenue and 39th Street South – from Relay Exchange #2 to Relay Exchange #3 is a 10k

Relay Exchange #3 - Kelly Ingram Park across from the Civil Rights Institute – 4th Avenue North and 17th Street – from Relay Exchange #3 to Relay Exchange #4 is a 5k

Relay Exchange # 4 – In the area of Glen Iris Elementary School – (exact address to be determined) - from Relay Exchange #4 to the Finish Line is a 12k

The Championchip timing device is attached to a Velcro ankle strap provided in the race packet. The first runner will attach this strap around the ankle (wearing a sock under this strap may protect against chafing). The first runner will then remove this strap after crossing over the timing mat at the first relay exchange zone. If the first runner plans to continue running as an individual in either the marathon or half-marathon, he/she will leave their second timing chip attached to their shoe and continue running. The second runner will then place the relay timing strap around their ankle and begin their leg of the relay. This will continue until the last runner crosses the finish line. At the finish area, the timing chip must be turned in to the volunteers that are designated to collect the transponders. Each relay must return the chip or pay a $35 replacement fee.

Relay runners will need to be alert for their upcoming exchange zone. This area will be designated by signs and will be to the side of the marathon course after crossing over the timing mat allowing for room to remove and attach the timing strap and to not be in the way of other runners. Please be considerate of other runners during the transition.

TIME LIMITS

The Marathon, Half-Marathon and Relay are open to runners and walkers of all abilities. However, a six-hour time limit has been set. This means a participant or team must maintain consistent pace of at least 13:44 per mile. Relay teams need to keep this in mind and may need to alternate slower runners with faster runners to keep within the time limits.

TRANSPORTATION

1. The first runner will need to arrive at the start line in plenty of time to park the car, warm-up, check in gear, etc.
2. All other relay runners will need to be at their designated relay exchange areas in plenty of time to allow them to check in their warm-up gear, warm-up, etc. Although transportation is provided to each exchange point, it is the responsibility of each runner to be on time and ready to run the next leg of the relay.
3. While some runners will want to provide their own transportation to their exchange areas, many others will need transportation. For those relays runners, transportation will be provided from the starting area to their respective relay exchange area via passenger vans. Each van will be marked #1, #2, #3, #4 to designate which van to ride on to get to your exchange area. Please remember that many roads along the course will be closed, so you are encouraged to use the transportation provided.
4. All relay runners using the transportation vans to get to their exchange zones will need to be aware of the van schedule to get to the relay exchange zones. Volunteers will be available at the Relay tent at the starting line to help direct you to your van. Vans will depart for the back of the start line area beginning at 6:30 a.m. until 8:45 a.m. The last van leaving the start for each exchange area is as follows:
   1. 7:15 a.m.
   2. 7:30 a.m.
   3. 8:15 a.m.
   4. 8:45 a.m.
5. If you are providing your own transportation to your relay exchange area, remember that the marathon course will be closed off to traffic. However, access to these areas will be available via side streets, etc. You will not be able to drive on the actual course once runners start arriving in that area. Please use common sense and DO NOT PARK DIRECTLY ON THE COURSE! Please plan ahead.
6. When runners have completed their leg of the race, there will be transportation available back to the finish line area. Look for the van at the exchange area for your ride back.

WARM-UP GEAR (CHECK-IN AND PICK-UP)

Warm-up gear may be checked in the designated RELAY SWEAT CHECK area just near the starting line. Tags will be available to attach to your bag at the sweat check area. If you want to make something available for yourself to put on after your relay leg, then you will need to work that out with your team member running the leg after you. Any gear not claimed will be turned over to Boutwell Auditorium Lost & Found.

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 relay form for the Brave in Blue Challenge, click here.

RELAY AWARDS AND RESULTS

FOUR MEMBERS TO RACE, FIVE MEMBERS TO BE ELIGIBLE FOR AWARDS

Relay Finishers Shirts and Medals will be given as a single package for each team. Each team's finisher package will be signed for by one member of the team in Boutwell Auditorium AFTER the race. Each team is then responsible for distributing shirts and medals to their team. Please be sure each relay team member is aware of this so no one is looking for a medal at the finish line or at a relay exchange point. Awards will be presented to the winning relay team in each category at the awards ceremony at Boutwell Auditorium at 1:00 p.m. All team results will be posted on the Mercedes Marathon web site, http://mercedesmarathon.com, after the race.

NOTICE: Due to insurance regulations, unregistered runners, unauthorized vehicles, bicycles, skateboards, roller blades, strollers, baby joggers and other wheeled devices, animals, and the wearing of headphones are prohibited in the race. NO SMOKING ALLOWED ON COURSE. IF YOU ARE CAUGHT SMOKING YOU WILL BE PULLED FROM THE COURSE AND DISQUALIFIED! NO EXCEPTIONS.