General
When will future La Crosse Fitness Festivals be held?
The La Crosse Marathon and the St. Clare Health Mission Half-Marathon will be held on the first Sunday in May. The Fitness Expo, the Three Rivers 5K Run and 5K Walk, and the youth races will be held on the preceding Friday and Saturday. In 2010, the LFF weekend will be May 1 and May 2.
Do you limit the number of runners in each race?
There is a combined cap for the Half Marathon and Marathon of 3,000 participants. There is not a cap for other races and events.
Are the Marathon and the Half-Marathon open to walkers? What are the time limits for these races?
Although neither the Marathon nor the Half-Marathon have a walking division, walkers are welcome to register for either event. Walkers are not distinguished from runners, and will receive the same timing chips, finisher’s t-shirts and commemorative medals. The Half-Marathon has a time limit of 4 hours (an average pace of 18 minutes, 27 seconds per mile); the marathon has a time limit of 7 hours (an average of 16 minutes per mile).
How hilly are the Marathon and Half Marathon courses?
Both courses are fairly flat. The courses cross the Cass Street bridge that spans the Mississippi River which is the largest "hill" of the course. There are a few viaducts later in the course, but the remainder of the course is mostly flat.
Can I have cell phones, headphones, iPods, MP3 players, or similar devices on the course?
For reasons of safety, we strongly discourage runners from using any such devices during the race. If you feel that you must have one with you, please keep the volume low so that you can hear vehicular traffic, instructions from police or course marshals, and comments from nearby runners.
Are bicycles allowed on the course?
No. For the safety of all participants and spectators, bicycles, skateboards, roller blades, dogs, and other animals are not permitted on the course.
Can I switch from one race to another?
Switching between races is allowed, prior to the closing of registration for a $10 fee and payment of the difference, if any, between the fees of the two races.
Why is there a difference in entry fees for the 5K Run and the 5K Walk?
Because it is a competitive, timed event participants in the 5K Run will need to wear a timing chip and be eligible for age-group awards. The additional costs to provide these things is the reason for the difference.
Will there be a Lost-and-Found?
On Saturday, a Lost-and-Found will be located at the Expo in the La Crosse Center. On Sunday, a Lost-and-Found will be located near the runners’ gear pickup site. After marathon weekend, items will be available at Parks & Recreation Department at City Hall (400 La Crosse St.) for two weeks. Clothing items discarded along the race course will not be taken to lost-and-found, but donated to charity.
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Registration
When does registration open?
Registration for all events opens on August 15, 2009.
When does registration close?
Registration for the Marathon and the Half-Marathon closes at 11:59PM on Friday, April 23, 2010. Registration for only the 5K Walk is available on Saturday, May 1, 2010, from 7:00AM - 9:00AM in Riverside Park.
How do I register for an event?
How can I verify that I'm registered?
If you registered by mail, you can confirm your registration by searching our registrants database:
Registration Verifcation. If you registered online, please log into your
Active.com account.
I am injured, pregnant or unexpectedly out of town, can I get a refund or transfer my entry to someone else?
Entry fees for all the races are non-refundable and entries are non-transferable. This means once you have registered as a competitor, you will not receive a refund if you cannot participate, and you may not give or sell your number to anyone else. You also may not defer your entry to the next year.
Note that entry fees in the non-competitive 5K Walk are non-refundable, but the bib number issued to a registered walker can be transferred to another person without penalty.
Where does my registration fee go?
Your registration fees help to pay for the necessary permits, supplies, and personnel to put on the marathon and the other events. The La Crosse Fitness Festival is a non-profit organization. Any additional profit earned once the necessary costs are covered will be donated to the designated charities.
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Prizes and Awards
Are there awards for overall top finishers?
Yes, the first three male and female finishers in each race will receive special awards or trophies.
What kind of award will I receive if I place in my age group?
Age group awards will be items of merchandise, rather than medals or trophies, that runners should find useful.
How many awards are there in each age group?
Awards will be made to the top three finishers in each age group, based on chip times.
Are there cash awards for top finishers?
No, our limited budget does not permit cash awards.
When are the award ceremonies?
The Half Marathon award ceremony is at 10:30AM the day of the race. The Marathon award ceremony is at 12:30PM the day of the race. Both events will take place near the finish line in Myrick Park.
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Packet Pick-Up
When is packet pick-up?
Packet pick-up for the Marathon and Half Marathon will be held Friday, April 30 from 5:00-8:00PM, and on Saturday, May 1 from 11:00-7:00PM at the La Crosse Center (300 Harborivew Plaza) in downtown La Crosse. Race day packet pick-up is
not available for the Marathon or Half-Marathon.
Packet pick-up for the 5K Run and the 5K Walk will be held Friday, April 30, from 5:00-8:00PM at the La Crosse Center (300 Harborivew Plaza) in downtown La Crosse. Packets for the 5K events may also be picked up on race day, Saturday, May 1, near the start line in Riverside Park, from 7:00-9:00AM.
What do I need to bring with me to pick up my packet?
Every participant in the Marathon, the Half-Marathon, and the 5K Run should bring a photo ID to pick up his or her packet. An ID is not necessary to pick up the packet for the 5K Walk.
Can I authorize another person to pick up my race packet?
There is absolutely no race day pick-up available for the Marathon or the Half-Marathon. So, if you are unable to get your packet prior to race day, you may have a friend pick up your packet. To do so, download the
Packet Pick-Up Authorization Form. Complete and sign this form and give it to your friend. The person authorized to pick up your packet must present the signed form and his/her own photo ID.
Where can I park at packet pick-up?
Downtown La Crosse offers ample parking near the La Crosse Center (300 Harborview Plaza).
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Chip Timing
Do I need to purchase a timing chip?
No, a chip will already be provided in your race packet for use on Race Day. Volunteers will collect it from you in the finish area. If you own a chip and wish to use it in the race, indicate your chip number on your registration and be sure to bring it to Chip Check at the Expo.
How do I make sure I have the right chip?
There is a Chip Check station located near the exit of the packet pickup area at the Expo. When you swipe your chip over the scanner, your name will appear on the screen. There will be volunteers at the Chip Check station to help you make sure that you have the right chip and help correct any errors in your information.
Which counts in determining my place--gun time or chip time?
"Gun time" is the time from when the gun (or horn) starts the race until you cross the finish timing mats. Gun time will be used to determine the overall place winners for men and for women. "Chip time" is the time from when you cross the starting line mats until you cross the finish timing mats. Chip time will be used to determine the age group winners at the La Crosse Fitness Festival. Your chip time is generally accepted by most races as a qualifying time, including the Boston Marathon.
Will the 5K Walk use chip timing?
No. The 5K Walk is a non-competitive fitness event and times will not be recorded or reported for this event. For walkers who wish to know their time, a large finishing clock will be displaying the elapsed time at the finish line.
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Sweat Check
Is there a place to drop sweat bags at the start line?
Yes. There will be trucks near both the Marathon and Half-Marathon starting line to check your sweat bags. Please see the detailed start area map in your Participant Guide for exact locations. A retrieval area is available near the finish line. Although the 5K Run and the 5K Walk start and finish in the same location, a secure location will be made available to check your sweat clothes if you like.
What happens to my bag if I forget to claim it after the race?
Sweat bag pick-up for the Marathon and Half-Marathon closes at 3:00PM on race day and all bags must be picked up before that time. The La Crosse Fitness Festival is not responsible for sweat bags not picked up by that time. However, remaining bags can be picked up at the La Crosse City Hall (400 La Crosse St.) in the Parks & Recreation Department for up to two weeks after the race. After two weeks, anything remaining is discarded or donated to charity.
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Parking
Where should I park for the Expo?
Ample parking is available in the public parking lots or city streets near Riverside Park and the La Crosse Center. To view a map of the area near the La Crosse Center and parking facilities,
click here.
Where should I park on Race Day?
For runners in the Marathon and Half-Marathon who plan to take the shuttle busses to the start, we recommend parking across the street from Myrick Park (2000 La Crosse St.) in the commuter lots at the University of Wisconsin – La Crosse. To view a map of the area near the Myrick Park and UW-L,
click here. Or, you can park in a downtown La Crosse parking lot and walk over the Cass St. bridge to the start line. There will be no parking near the start by Petibone Park on the morning of the race.
For participants in the 5K Run, the 5K Walk and the youth races, ample parking is available in the public parking lots or city streets near Riverside Park and the La Crosse Center.
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