General
When will future Festival Foods La Crosse Fitness Festivals be held?
The La Crosse Marathon, St. Clare Health Mission Half-Marathon and Cycling Criterium will be held on the first Sunday in May. The Three Rivers 5K Run/Walk, YEA Youth Races, Coulee Region Bike Tour and Cycling Time Trial will be held on the preceding Saturday. In 2012, the Festival Foods La Crosse Fitness Festival weekend will be May 5-6.
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 6.5 hours (an average of 14 minutes, 52 seconds per mile).
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 on April 30, 2012 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 are the reason for the difference.
Will there be a Lost-and-Found?
On Saturday, a Lost-and-Found will be located at the Registration tent in Riverside Park near the band shell. 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.
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. The Half Marathon course has two viaducts and some smaller hills. The Full Marathon has two viaducts, a moderate hill near mile 16 and again some smaller hills.
La Crosse Marathon
St. Claire Health Mission Half Marathon
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Registration
When does registration open?
Registration for all events opens on Friday, October 1, 2011.
When does registration close?
Online registration closes at 11:59pm on April 30, 2012. There will be limited registration for the Three Rivers 5K Run/Walk and Coulee Region Bike Tour Saturday morning in Riverside Park from 7am-9am. Riverside Youth Races will have registration in Riverside Park at 11:00AM on Saturday. Registration for the Cycling Time Trial will be available at the start line, at the bottom of Grandad’s Bluff on Main St at 4:00pm. Registration for Sunday’s events, will be available only at the Packet Pickup Friday night from 5:00pm-8:00pm and Saturday from 11:00am-6:00pm.
How do I register for an event?
- Register Online through our partner, Active.com.
- Not all events have online registration. Check out each event’s individual page for more information
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 entry for 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 Festival Foods 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.
How can I verify that I am registered?
If you registered by mail, you can confirm your registration by searching our registrant’s database here. If you registered online, please log into your Active.com account.
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Prizes and Awards
Are there awards for overall top finishers in running events?
Yes, the first three male and female finishers in the 5K Run, Half Marathon, Marathon and Marathon Relay will receive special awards or trophies, based on gun time.
What kind of award will I receive if I place in my age group?
Age group awards for the 5K Run will be finisher medals. Age group awards for the Half Marathon & Marathon will receive 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 given to the top three finishers in each age group of the 5K Run, Half Marathon & Marathon, 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 Three Rivers 5K Run awards will be 11:00AM on Saturday, at the band shell in Riverside Park. The St. Clare Health Mission Half Marathon award ceremony is at 10:00AM, with the La Crosse Marathon awards ceremony at 12:00PM the day of the race, in Myrick Park.
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Packet Pick-Up
When is packet pick-up?
Packet pick-up for the La Crosse Marathon and St. Clare Health Mission Half Marathon will be held Friday, May 4 from 5:00-8:00PM, and on Saturday, May 5 from 11:00-6:00PM at Riverside Park (100 block of State St) 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, May 4, from 5:00-8:00PM at Riverside Park (100 block of State St) in downtown La Crosse. Packets for the 5K events may also be picked up on race day, Saturday, May 5, 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 La Crosse Marathon, St. Clare Health Mission 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 Riverside Park (100 block of State St).
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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.
How do I make sure I have the right chip?
When you claim your packet during packet pickup, it is your responsibility to confirm personal information on the label. Volunteers will be available to assist if changes need to be made.
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 Festival Foods 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 La Crosse Marathon and St. Clare Health Mission 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 2:30PM on race day and all bags must be picked up before that time. The Festival Foods 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 events in Riverside Park?
Parking is available at public lots and street sides in the downtown area of La Crosse. There is a parking ramp located at the corner of 3rd and State Streets and another is located at 3rd and Jay Streets. To view a map of the area near Riverside Park and parking facilities, click here.
Where should I park for the Full & Half Marathon & Marathon Relay?
Participants can park at any of the public lots or ramps as well as street sides in downtown La Crosse. Parking is available at commuter lots on the UW-L campus, near the finish line. Limited parking is also available in Pettibone Park, but please note that vehicle access to the park will be closed at 6:30am.
Where do the shuttles run for the Full & Half Marathon & Marathon Relay?
Shuttle busses to the starting line are available at the intersection of 3rd and State Street in downtown La Crosse and from the finish area at Mitchell Hall (1820 Pine St.) on the UW-La Crosse campus. Busses will begin running at 5:15 a.m. and leave when filled. The last bus will leave from Mitchell Hall at 6:15a.m. and from the downtown location at 6:20a.m. 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 extremely limited parking near the start by Pettibone Park on the morning of the race. From the finish area, busses will shuttle runners from UWL’s Mitchell Hall to the start area of the marathon (Pettibone Park), stopping at 3rd and State Streets along the way. The shuttle will run from 9:30am and continuing until 3:00pm. To view a map of the area near the Myrick Park and UW-L, click here.
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