Contacts

Packet Pickup, Sponsored by The Good Earth Natural Foods Co.

2:00 to 6:00 p.m., Paul Hall Center, Harry Lundeberg School of Seamanship

Pick up a Clif® or Luna® bar, compliments of The Good Earth Natural Foods Company, Clif Shot® Bloks®, courtesy of Clif® and Active.com, and an energy gel, courtesy of Chesapeake Bay Running Club, at pre-race packet pickup, Saturday, March 8, from 2:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. at the Paul Hall Center, then take the opportunity to drive over St. George Island and Lighthouse Road to familiarize yourself with the course. You might catch a beautiful sunset! Please observe the posted speed limits.

Note: Please do not bring pets inside the Paul Hall Center.

If you can’t attend packet pickup on Saturday, you may pick up your packet at the venue on race morning from 6:00 to 7:00 a.m.

Drop-in Pasta Dinner

6:30 – 8:00 p.m., Nicolletti’s Restaurant, Lexington Park, MD

Join us for an informal pasta dinner starting at 6:30 p.m. at Nicolletti's, on Rte 235 Southbound at Chancellor's Run Road, about 1-1/2 miles north of Hampton Inn in the Hickory Hills Shopping Center. It's a sit-down restaurant, but order your food at the counter as soon as you enter, and they'll give you a numbered marker to place on your table. Go to your left to the party room and meet other runners, volunteers and supporters. Pasta dishes are in the $7.95 to $9.95 range, and the menu also includes pizza, calzones, salad bar, etc.

Directions:

From Hampton Inn, Fairfield by Marriott, and Days Inn: Head north on Rte 235. From Hampton Inn, it's about 1.5 miles to Chancellor's Run Road (Sheetz gas station on the left corner), turn left, then right at the driveway of Hickory Hills Shopping Center.
From Patuxent Inn and Super 8 Motel: Go south on 235 for about 1/4 mile to Hickory Hills Shopping Center.
From Packet Pickup: Go north on 249 to Rte 5; turn right on Rte 5 and continue to Chancellor’s Run Rd. (traffic light just past Great Mills High School); turn left on Chancellor’s Run Rd. and proceed to the end at Rte 235. Make a U-turn and turn right at the first driveway into the shopping center.

DON’T’ FORGET TO SET YOUR CLOCK ONE HOUR AHEAD ON SATURDAY NIGHT!

SUNDAY, MARCH 9, 2008

Race Morning Packet Pickup and Special Needs Check-In

6:00 – 7:00 a.m., Paul Hall Center, Harry Lundeberg School of Seamanship

If you have a special item to be placed at either the Cedar Cove Marina aid station or Happyland Road aid station, please bring it to the Special Needs Check-In table. The Special Needs staff will assist you in bagging and labeling your item for pickup at the designated aid station.

Race Start

7:15 a.m., near the anchor on the driveway running west between the pond and grass field.

Please, absolutely no portable listening devices, strollers, pets, non-volunteer cyclists, roller blades/skates, or Sherpas allowed on the course. The race staff reserves the right to disqualify any runner found to be using a portable listening device while in the race (including via post-race photos). This is a safety issue – please comply.

After a short briefing, Captain Jack Russell of the Chesapeake Bay Field Lab will sound the conch to signal the start of the race.

Runners must maintain pace to finish by 1:00 p.m. (13:10/mile pace). Runners not reaching the turnaround point at the top of Rte 249 by 11:30 a.m. will be swept from the course and provided transportation back to the Paul Hall Center.

"Immediate replenishment" snacks (drinks, pretzels, fruit) will be available at the finish line, but save your appetite for the...

Post-Race Luncheon

Dining Room, Paul Hall Center, 11:30 a.m.

The culinary staff at the Paul Hall Center serves a sumptuous buffet in the well-appointed waterside dining room. This is a restaurant setting, so swap your singlet for a shirt, or put a shirt on over it. Showers are available at the Paul Hall Center.

Awards Ceremony with Featured Speaker

12:00 noon, during the luncheon

This year we're honored to host Brian Boyle as a guest speaker and awards presenter. Many of you are familiar with Brian's amazing story of recovery from a near-fatal car accident to compete in the Ford Ironman World Championship in Kona, Hawaii last fall. We're delighted he's joining us, and we're sure he'll inspire and motivate you.

Book Signing – The Marine Corps Marathon: A Running Tradition

Many of you on the DC running scene know George Banker, photographer and journalist for numerous running publications including Washington Running Report, and accomplished long-distance runner. George will be running the marathon and will be delighted to autograph your copy of his book, The Marine Corps Marathon: A Running Tradition.

George Banker's book captures the spirit of "The People's Marathon" through heartfelt stories from those who have a personal connection with the race, from the organizers to the runners. The stories are enhanced by a collection of photos dating back to 1976.

You can obtain copies of The Marine Corps Marathon: A Running Tradition at www.mcmhistory.com.