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Race Day Info

Hello EX2 Off-Road Half Marathon Competitors,

In just under a week, you and close to 300 racers will compete in the fifth annual EX2 Off-Road Half Marathon.  I wish you the best of luck! 

Here are some details for race day (Sunday, May 17, 2009):

- NEW STAGING AREA IN 2009:  For this race and all of our 2009 races at Prince William Forest Park, we are staging near the Visitor Center, NOT Cabin Camp 1.  This is different than the past few years so please follow the directions below.  Please note the SPECIAL RACE DAY DIRECTIONS and use the ALTERNATIVE Entrance and Parking. We don’t want you to pay twice! Prince William Forest Park typically charges $5/vehicle, but your race fee already covers this. Avoid the park entrance fee by following the directions to our SPECIAL PARKING.

    * From I95, take Exit 150B, heading WEST on Joplin Road.
    * Take the FIRST Right onto Forestburg Ln.
    * Take the FIRST Left onto Williams Rd.
    * The entrance to the special race parking is about 1/4 mile down on your right.
    * Follow the signs to parking and check-in.

- Parking:  Parking is limited so we will be controlling the flow to maximize available space.  You can help by ARRIVING EARLY and CARPOOLING (if bringing family or friends). 

- Check-In:  Check-in opens at 6:30am.  At check-in you will sign a waiver and receive your race number and t-shirt.  Please wear your race number so it is visible from the front.  Please arrive early to help alleviate backups.  It takes time to park, check-in, use the restroom, warm up, and attend the pre-race brief.  Please arrive NO LATER THAN 7am. 

- Restrooms:  A combination of restroom facilities and porto-johns will be available near the Visitor Center.  PLEASE arrive and take your restroom break early.  There are enough restroom facilities for our anticipated numbers but if everyone tries to use the restroom 15 minutes before the race then we will have long lines. 

- Race Start:  The race begins at 8AM SHARP!   The pre-race brief will begin at 7:50am and take place near the entrance to the Visitor Center.       

- Weather Forecast:  As of Tuesday 5/12/09, the temperature is forecasted to be in the upper 60s with a 40% chance of showers.  I am sure this will change so please check the weather as we get closer to race day and plan accordingly.  

- Race Course Overview:  The 13.1 mile single loop race course is gorgeous and offers a mixture or forested fire roads, twisty streamside hiking trails, and very little pavement.  There are many challenging hill climbs strewn throughout but much of the course meanders along RELATIVELY flat stream valleys.  The views are very nice.  Most of the single-track sections are fun and moderately technical but please watch your footing, as there are plenty of roots, rocks, and slippery slopes!  To separate the field of runners, the race will start with .6 miles of road running then .2 miles of field running before diving into the trails. To view the map and course description, visit the following link:    http://www.ex2adventures.com/orm-schedule.php

- NO IPODS:  The use of IPODs or any device that restricts hearing is not permitted during any EX2 race.  This is for your own safety and for the safety of your fellow runners.  We have nothing against IPODs (in fact, we even give them away – see below) but they significantly reduce safety in a race environment.

- Course Marking:  The course will be marked with pink surveying tape.  Red or blue arrows will be posted at all trail intersections. Yellow caution tape will block off the trails that are not part of the course.  Course marking will be heavy before and after all trail intersections but light along the rest of the course.  There are several road crossings along the course.  Please look both ways before crossing the roads.

- Mile Markers:  Mile markers will be placed at each aid station.  Mile markers will also be located one mile from the finish and ½ mile from the finish.

- Aid Stations:  Remember to stay hydrated.  The 13.1 mile race course loop has six (6) aid stations stocked with water and Gatorade.  We will also provide limited supplies of GU at aid station #3 (mile marker 6.5).  All aid stations will be marked with mile markers and all aid stations are between 1.5-2.6 miles from each other.  First aid kits and emergency communication will be available at each aid station.

- Positively Chiropractic Recovery Tent:  Dr. Kathy Coutinho, local ‘chiropractor to the athletes’, and her staff from Positively Chiropractic will be on hand offering up their chiropractic, massage, active release therapy, and first aid services to all comers.  Stop by the ‘Recovery Tent’ to take advantage of these FREE services.  In addition, Dr. Kathy has offered to generously give away gift certificates for FREE massages and chiropractic exams.  Come see how Dr. Kathy can help you ‘always move forward’. 

- Post Race Food:  Water, Gatorade, food (pizza, bananas, granola bars, chips, candy, cookies, bagels, and peanut butter), and other beverages will be available at the finish line for all racers and volunteers. 

- Awards:  Immediately following the race, awards will be presented to the top five male and female age group finishers.  Prizes will also be awarded to the top three overall male and female finishers. 

- Sponsor Giveaways:  Below is a rundown of all our sponsor giveaways.  We will randomly select winners for the giveaways using a variety of different methods.  For most of our races, giveaways are reserved for racers and volunteers but at our Prince William Forest Park races, spectators are eligible for the giveaways as well.  We have a lot of swag to give away but you must be present at the awards ceremony to win.  So, please plan on sticking around to join in the fun.

- Baseball Bonanza:  Extra, Extra, Get Your Nats Tickets at EX2!  How cool is this?  All EX2 sponsors chipped in to buy tickets to the Washington Nationals - so we could give them way to you.  We have a pair of tickets to randomly give away at every race until October….that’s 17 races!       

- VA Runner Raffle:  Stop by the VA Runner table at our races to check out new running merchandise and sign up for the VA Runner Raffle.  You could win one of four (4) technical tees given away at every race.   

- ‘One String’ VA Runner Cash:  Everyone loves FREE money, right?  Well, participate in our races and receive a $10 gift certificate to the VA Runner store in Clifton or Woodbridge.  This ‘One String’ VA Runner Cash is good on anything in the store, even sale items.  The ‘One String’ – you can use only one certificate per day, simple as that.  A ‘One String’ VA Runner Cash certificate will be inserted into all race packets, given to all volunteers, and available to spectators who ask.

- The Bike Lane Gearhead Giveaway:  Get your gear at The Bike Lane!  Participate in the race this weekend and you are eligible to win one of two $25 Bike Lane gift certificates.  The Bike Lane is also giving away a very generous discount to all race participants, a $10 gift certificate on a $25 minimum purchase.  These gift certificates will be inserted into all race packets, given to all volunteers, and available to spectators who ask.  With locations in Burke, VA and Reston, VA, The Bike Lane is your one-stop-mom-and-pop-bike shop. 

- Baird Automotive $100 Benjamin Bash – Benjamin, C-note, Hundie, Charlie, 100 Clams, Big One…..call it what you will but it all means the same thing….$100 of cold hard cash.  Participate in the race this weekend and you could win a crisp $100 bill, generously furnished by Joey Baird of Baird Automotive.   

- The CDW IPOD Giveaway – You could win one of three IPOD shuffles given away at the race this weekend….NICE!  Trail running nut and CDW VP, Kevin Adams, will often help to randomly select the winners.        

- Volunteers:  Finally, we can always use the help of volunteers.  If any of your friends or family can help out, please ask them to sign up online at the following link:  http://www.ex2adventures.com/volunteer.php  After we receive their submission, we will contact them with all the details.  All volunteers receive a FREE race t-shirt, FREE food, a $15 discount coupon for a future EX2 race, and our sincere thanks.  Plus, volunteering at our races is fun!

Thanks for participating in the fifth annual EX2 Off-Road Half Marathon.  We are looking forward to a fantastic day.  Once again, good luck and see you on Sunday!

Jim Harman
Race Director
EX2 Adventures