While the SaskCentral QCM does not currently ban the use of portable headphone devices (iPods, MP3 players, Walkmans, CD players, etc.), the use of such items is discouraged - for your safety and the safety of others.
The wearing of headphones in our event has not become a problem - yet. And we don't want to be forced to be the bad guy and ban headphones outright, as many races are starting to do across North America. However, we must constantly consider the safety of all our participants, volunteers and spectators.
Only you can help us prevent an outright ban on headphones...by being aware of your surroundings at all times and - if you do choose to wear headphones - by wearing your headphones in a responsible, courteous and safety-conscious manner (eg. wearing just one earphone or having the volume really low).
If the wearing of headphones at our event becomes a problem, they will be banned. And we won't enjoy that any more than you will. So please: be responsible, be aware and be safe.
TO READ OUR COURSE RULES, CLICK HERE.
In the hour leading up to the start, always pay attention to announcements from the race organizer. Things may change at the last minute and the pre-race announcements are the only way we can communicate that important information to you. Your attention is appreciated and may save you from un-needed stress and and confusion.
Please DO NOT hang around the actual starting line and, if at all possible, DO NOT cross back and forth across the timing mats. This can cause false times on the timing computers and ruin your official time. Don’t worry…we will announce when it’s time to start lining up and direct you where you should go.
Try and plan your visits to the toilets carefully and well in advance, if you can. As the starting time approaches, there are likely to be big line-ups, so the sooner you act the better! You don’t want to be caught “going” when we say: “Go!”
When you're warming up always consider others nearby. Hundreds of people stretching their arms and legs and running in all directions beforehand can be potentially hazardous so choose your area carefully and watch out for others.
Please remember to check that your race number is pinned to the front of your outfit and will be clearly visible to race officials and photographers.
Please check that your ChampionChip timing chip is securely fastened to your shoelaces (with the main "barrel" of the chip pointing to your toes) - either using the supplied "zip-strip" fastener or by actually threading your shoelaces through the chip. If you are running the first leg of the Relay, please make sure the velcro strap is securely fastened around your ankle.
About 10 minutes before the race begins, our race announcer will call the following participants to the starting line:
If you don't fit into one of these categories (and we trust you to know if you do or don't), please DO NOT crowd up to the front of the starting line.
Once the previous participant categories have been lined up close to the starting line, we will ask the Running Room Pace Rabbits to line up behind these participants. Each Running Room Pace Rabbit should be holding a sign that indicates their finishing time for both the full marathon and half marathon (run or walk) events.
Please assemble near the sign that is closest to your projected finishing time. It will make everyone's life less stressful if you stick to this. There's nothing more frustrating for the quicker-paced runners than to be dodging slower-paced people at the start…and nothing more annoying for the slower-paced runners (including your humble race director) than to be overtaken by hundreds of quicker-paced runners! When in doubt, go towards the back of the pack. It's much more fun overtaking than being overtaken!
All Half Marathon Walkers are asked to please assemble at the very rear of the starting pack, to avoid any runner-versus-walker collisions at the start. Trust us, you'll catch up to a lot of the runners later when they're out of steam and gasping for breath at the side of the road.
Special Note to Participants in the Half Marathon Walk:
Because it is virtually impossible to police it and ensure that 100% of the walkers are walking 100% of the time throughout 100% of the course, the Half Marathon Walk is a non-competitive event. You will receive separate Half Marathon Walk timing results. However, no walk-only prizes will be awarded. There are no course officials looking to see if you are walking all the way or “cheating” by running for parts of it, so we're leaving it to your honour as to how "true" your official walking finish time will be.
Participants in the Super Masters Mini Marathon event and the McDonald’s Mini Marathon event DO NOT line up at the starting line with the main pack.
The McDonald’s Mini Marathon participants will be called to the starting line shortly before their race begins at 8:45 a.m.
Participants in the Super Masters Mini Marathon will be called to the starting line immediately after the McDonald’s Mini Marathon participants have left the starting line.
Please DO NOT allow friends who aren't registered in the event to run/walk/cycle/skateboard/roller-blade/drive alongside you. Not only could it get you disqualified, it is unfair on those who have paid to enter and could also can cause dangerous over-crowding on the course.
Away from the official SaskCentral QCM aid stations, please use your own best judgement when accepting food and drink from strangers along the course. While it's great when spectators want to support our participants, the SaskCentral QCM does not assume any responsibility for anyone handing out food or liquids on the course other than at our official aid stations. If you do decide to take a big swig of whatever the crazy guy in the bathrobe and bunny slippers is serving from that unlabelled mason jar at the side of the road, you do so at your own risk.
Always be aware of your surroundings, including any unexpected traffic, announcements or warnings made by SaskCentral QCM officials or instructions issued by the Regina City Police members assisting with traffic control. Always be aware of those behind you who might be trying to get past. Don't run or walk lined up across the width of the course. Try to be in single file as much as possible. If you hear someone trying to get past, move aside as soon as you can and let him or her go.
If you are attempting to pass a slower runner or walker, please call out “passing on your left” or “passing on your right”, so that the person ahead of you is aware you are going to pass, and also knows on what side you will be overtaking them.
When you overtake someone, don't cut straight in front of them. Give it a few meters before you try and take your original line. Similarly, do your best to let faster runners get past you. This is especially true for walkers being overtaken by runners. Please be courteous, move over if you have to and let them have the quickest way past. We're all out for a fun time and a good experience, and courtesy and patience make everything go a little smoother for all.
There will be some spots on the course where the slower-paced, outward-bound runners and walkers will meet the faster-paced, inward-bound runners – including the lead runners and their pace cyclists. When you see the lead cyclists and lead runners heading towards you, please be courteous and give them room to move past you. Please give them a cheer and some applause, too, because someday you will be leading the marathon and you’ll want the other runners to cheer you on, right?
Don't suddenly stop in the middle of the race. That’s a sure way to get into a big pile of scraped and bruised runners. If you feel you need to tighten your shoelaces, or you've got a stone in your shoe, or you dropped your water bottle or whatever, move across to the side of the road first and take whatever action is needed. Chaos will result if you suddenly stop without warning! (I learned this the hard way with a dropped water bottle, believe me!)
Aid stations are often the place where most damage can be done. Don't suddenly veer in front of another runner or walker to grab a cup of water or Gatorade. Take your turn and remember that often the far end of the station will be less crowded. Don't take more than you need and remember there will probably be plenty of people behind you whose requirements may be greater than yours.
As you approach an aid station, the aid station volunteers will be calling out “Water!” and “Gatorade!” and, at some stations, “Gels!”
It’s very helpful to both you and the aid station volunteers if you catch the eye of one particular aid station volunteer. Point to them. If you can get enough breath to talk, say: “I’m coming to you.” Let them know by your body language that you are coming directly to them to get your water or Gatorade or PowerGel. That way, the volunteers will be prepared to pass you your drink, and therefore reduce the chances of giving you an accidental Gatorade shower.
Oh, and if you’re going to dump some liquid over your head to cool yourself off, please make sure you use water, not Gatorade. Sticky is not fun. Besides, studies show that your body gets much more cooling and hydration benefit if you pour the fluids IN you, not ON you.
As you're leaving an aid station, don't just drop your cup on the ground where it could be tripped over by another runner. Toss it to the side of the road or path – or, if garbage containers are available, toss it in the bin.
If you're in need of a toilet while at an aid station or relay exchange point, please remember not to line up in the way of other runners.
Speaking of having to go to the bathroom, please remember that you are running through public parks and streets. Please treat those parks and neighbourhoods as if they were your own. Please use the portable toilets. This note is not meant to insult your intelligence or hygiene, but trust us when we say that we wouldn’t need to put this information in here if not for some previous experiences that reflected poorly on our event and our participants.
Always obey instructions given to you by police officers, medical personnel and course marshals throughout the race. Although you might not always agree with them, they are there to look after your safety. Always be polite and say thanks to them whenever you can. All the course marshals and aid station workers are volunteers who have generously given their time for your benefit. They keep the SaskCentral Queen City Marathon – and you – running and walking.
When you are coming to the finish line, you may hear the race announcer reminding the walkers to move to the right side of the course.
Please understand that these reminders are not done out of disrespect for the worthy efforts of our Half Marathon Walk participants. The reason behind it is simply one of safety. We have several thousand people crossing the finish line during the race - sometimes in large bunches - and those bunches consist of participants travelling at quite different velocities. These announcements are made for YOUR safety - to prevent a runner from accidentally running into the back of a walker, and prevent a walker from accidentally moving in front of a runner coming up quickly from behind.
The announcer is in no way minimizing the efforts or achievements of our Half Marathon Walk participants...we're just trying to avoid any finish-line crashes. We want everyone crossing the finish line with their arms raised in triumph, not tangled in some bruised pile. We kindly ask for your patience and understanding.
As you approach the finish line, and immediately afterwards, please follow the instructions of the race announcer and the finish line volunteers. If you feel faint or ill, tell a finish line volunteer immediately so that our medical personnel can attend to you.
When you cross the finish line, don’t immediately stop, because you’ll probably get run over by the person coming up behind you. Keep walking and head towards the volunteers who will give you your medal and polymer blanket and remove your ChampionChip timing chip from your shoe.
When you're given your medal and blanket, thank those who have given their time to make the day a successful one. A few well-chosen words can make all the difference to those volunteers who may have been doing the same job for eight hours or more!
For EMS safety reasons, you MUST exit the finish line area as quickly as possible, and wait for any friends or family in the main infield area. Friends, family and previously-finished participants are NOT allowed in the finish-line area.
As is the case from the start of your day at the SaskCentral Queen City Marathon to the end, please don't leave any rubbish lying around the Start/Finish area. It's always a huge job to get the venue back to its pre-race state and you can help us by either putting your trash in the bins provided or take everything home with you.
And most importantly, as you approach the finish line you may be feeling and looking like something the cat coughed up at your feet – but paste on a GREAT BIG SMILE, because there’s a photographer there to catch your Big Finish!
Special Note to Relay Teams:
Some teams like to reconnect near the finish line and run across the finish line together holding hands. We currently allow this, but your team must not block or interfere with any other participants as they approach the finish line.
You must allow individual runners to go past and then, once your team has crossed the timing mats, please clear the finish line area quickly because runners may be coming up right behind you.
There is a spot on the course about 300 meters from the finish line, on Memorial Way just north of the T.C. Douglas Building and before “Heartbreak Hump”. There is a wide, flat grass area next to a large metal sculpture. This is a good spot for the team members who are finished to wait for the last member of the team.
Any closer to the finish line than that and things become far too congested between teams and spectators and other runners. Please be aware of the other participants as they make their way to the finish line. Your team must not block or interfere with any other participants or, unfortunately, we may be forced to prohibit teams from crossing the finish line together at future events.
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