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
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!