RACE BRIEFING

Race Briefing

Are you ready for race weekend? The long term weather forecast is looking great as we look forward to hosting you at our 22nd annual fall race. In this briefing you will find the key information for race weekend

Bib Number

Canadian Registrant bib number search

U.S./International Registrant bib number search

APP & Athlete Tracking

DOWNLOAD THE APP NOW

For the Marathon, Relay, Half Marathon and 10k. The “Search for an athlete” function will be available the day before the race, Saturday, Oct. 19th. You do not need to carry a gps device. Our mats on course will facilitate tracking

EXPO/Race Kit Pickup

Marathon & Buffalo-start-Relay runners

Must attend Customs clearance at the expo on Saturday, Oct. 19th from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.Bring either your passport/NEXUS/enhanced driver’s license for Customs clearance

All other runners/walkers

Option to pickup bibs at expo on Saturday Oct. 19th

Option to pickup bibs morning-of race starting at 7:30 a.m. at race start line at Rapidsview

YES! you CAN pickup your friend’s bib at the expo. Please leave the registrar with a note that states your name + bib number and the names and bib numbers of friends whose bibs you are picking up

Shuttles & Start Times

Marathon & Buffalo-start-Relay runners

START – Shuttles run from in front of Crowne Plaza at 5685 Falls Ave in Niagara Falls, Canada from 7 a.m. to 7:30 a.m. sharp

FINISH – Shuttles run all day long from the Finish Line back to Crowne Plaza. Note that we do NOT offer shuttle services from the finish line back to Buffalo

*Note that shuttles are for runners only to Buffalo

Actual race start time in Buffalo is 9 a.m.

*You MUST have your bib and passport (or NEXUS or enhanced driver’s license) to board the shuttle

Half Marathon/10k/5k

10k – 9 a.m. start, 5k – 9:40 a.m. start, Wheelchair Half – 9:58 a.m. start, Half Marathon – 10 a.m. start

START – You can drive to the start at Rapidsview Parking Lot & park for free. The City of Niagara Falls provides a complimentary WEGO shuttle from Sheraton on the Falls at 5875 Falls Ave. to Rapidsview for those that haven’t made other arrangements starting at 8 a.m. on race morning

FINISH – Shuttles run all day long from the Finish Line back to Rapidsview and to Sheraton on the Falls

*WEGO shuttles from Rapidsview and Sheraton on the Falls can be used by both runners/walkers AND family/friends

*Wheelchair parking & paved access to the bib pickup tents is located behind the WEGO buildings in Rapidsview (these are the only buildings at Rapidsview)

Relay

START – Relay shuttles will be waiting in the adjoining parking lot to bib pickup at Rapidsview. We have two scheduled leave times to the 21.1 km exchange point:

1. 9:30 a.m. departure for Buffalo team members expected to finish at the 21.1 km mark 2 hours or under

2. 10 a.m. departure for Buffalo team members expected to finish at the 21.1 km mark in over 2 hours

FINISH – Shuttles will take Buffalo-start relay runners back to the Finish Line

Friend/Family Spectating

Finish Line

Option to park for free at Rapidsview & take the complimentary WEGO shuttles to the Finish Line. Shuttles run from 8 a.m. on race morning

Option for paid parking across from the Finish Line

On Course

OPTION 1: Download our APP & view locations on the map

OPTION 2: Pickup a map at the expo to view locations

Wheelchair access to start line

Please look for the blue “WHEELCHAIR STAGING” signs by the baggage buses. Meet at these signs by 9:40 a.m. for a bike escort on the roads to the start line

Baggage Buses

A standard-issue clear plastic bag with your bib number on it will be the ONLY bag that can be used as a baggage bag for transport on our baggage buses. These are available at race kit pickup

Marathon & Relay-Buffalo-Start

You have the OPTION to either run with your passport or leave it on our secured buses. You retrieve your bags at the Finish Line

10k/Half Marathon

Baggage buses for the Half Marathon & 10k will be located in the lot adjoining bib pickup on race morning

Relay-Canada Start

You can either check your bag into the Half Marathon baggage bus or leave it on the shuttle. If left on the shuttle, your bags will be transferred to the Half Marathon Baggage Buses at the Finish Line

Relay Ankle Bracelets

In addition to your bib, Buffalo-start runners must pickup a chip-timed ankle bracelet to wear & pass off to their Canadian-start counterpart. You MUST turn in this ankle bracelet at the finish line

Canadian-start relay runners pickup their bib from the Half Marathon bib table

Breakfast Run

Runners/walkers that have signed up for the Breakfast Run will receive a reminder email with run details next week

Everything about Running Expo

Saturday October 19th

9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Scotiabank Convention Centre, Niagara Falls

Parking: $10/car

Vendors

Aussie Trace Minerals, CBD Brand Products, EH Canada, Incrediwear, Mama Misfit’s Cheesecakery, Medal Hangers, Moss Berry Farm Nolaa Granolaa, Runners’ Edge, Run Girl Run, Some Time For Me Bath Bombs, SweetLegs, Spider Tech, Utopia Therapy, VOXXLIFE\p>

What’s there to Experience?

  • Strength training demos/warmup (spin bikes, kettle bells etc.)
  • Massage Area
  • Kinesiology taping
  • Yoga for runners demos/warmups
  • Virtual Reality Games
  • Injury Prevention Workshops-10 a.m., 11:30 a.m., 1 p.m.
  • Pro Panel on endurance nutrition-10:45 a.m., 12:15 p.m., 1:45 p.m. (keto, whole food plant-based, carb periodization)
  • Keynote Speaker: Ray Zahab 2:30 p.m.

Nutrition on Course

Marathon Runners

Electrolyte/Carbohydrates – nuun Endurance at every water stop (~2.5 km apart)

Water every ~2.5 km

CLIF Bloks – 10k, 21.1k, 31k

Half Marathon Runners/Walkers

Electrolyte/Carbohydrates – nuun Endurance at every water stop (~2.5 km apart)

Water every ~2.5 km

CLIF Bloks – 10k

10k/5k Runners/Walkers

Electrolyte/Carbohydrates nuun Endurance at every water stop (~2.5 km apart)

Water every ~2.5 km

Missing a corral start assignment?

When you pickup your bib & notice that you are missing a corral assignment in the purple box on the front of your bib, or you need to change your corral position, please see the “Registration Help Desk”

Cutoff Times/Sag Wagon

Marathon – cutoff of 12:30 p.m. at the 21.1 km mark. Runners that arrive after the cutoff time will not be allowed to continue but will be given a Half Marathon medal & shuttled back to the Finish Line

Marathon Relay – no cutoff at the 21.1 km mark, but a course cutoff time of 4 p.m./7 hours at the Finish Line

All other races – Course cutoff time of 4 p.m. at the Finish Line. If you cannot finish your race, please report to a Water Station & they will call Dispatch to send out the SAG wagon to bring you to the Finish Line. Note that due to road closures for the race, you may have a significant wait for the SAG wagon at the water station

Awards

1st/2nd/3rd male/female

Presented onsite once 1st/2nd/3rd place runners have crossed the Finish Line

1st in each 5 year age category

Mailed out ~2 weeks post event

2020 Date

The tentative date for 2020 is Sunday, October 25th

Thank you, enjoy your last days of training, rest well & we look forward to hosting you on race weekend!