Bank of America Chicago Marathon October 12, 2014
2014 Bank of America Chicago Marathon Thank you for registering for the 2014 Bank of America Chicago Marathon and congratulations on qualifying for our American Development Program. The American Development Program is a very important part of our event as we recognize the effort and passion that you put in to your training and racing. We strive to provide you with the best possible opportunity to achieve your performance goals and we wish you the best of luck on race day. American Development Program packet pick-up All American Development Program participants must pick up their own participant packet (which includes the event-issued bib number and timing device), participant bag, and Nike technical shirt at the Abbott Health & Fitness Expo during regularly scheduled hours (Friday, October 10, 9 a.m. 8 p.m., and Saturday, October 11, 9 a.m. 6 p.m.). Individuals must show a photo ID and may not pick up participant packets on behalf of others. Accessing the American Development Tent As a part of the American Development Program, you will have access to a secure start and finish tent in Grant Park where you can check your gear during the race and have access to private toilet facilities. New location: The American Development Tent is located on the east side of Columbus Dr. north of Jackson Blvd. adjacent to the main massage tent in Butler Field (map is included as a separate PDF attachment). Hours of operation are 5:30 a.m. to 12 noon. You must show your American Development bib to gain access to the American Development Tent. Friends, family, coaches, managers, etc., will not have access to the American Development Tent. No exceptions. You must pass through security upon entering Grant Park on race day. There will be four designated security and bag screening checkpoints located off of Michigan Avenue. You will only be able to access Grant Park through one of these designated entrances. American Development Program participants should use Gate #1 located on Jackson Boulevard east of Michigan Avenue. Your event-issued bib number will serve as your personal identifier; it must be fastened to the front of your running attire and visible to security personnel to gain entry into the Park. All bags will be screened by security personnel. All gear must be placed in the clear plastic event-issued participant bag you will receive at the Expo. Participants who opt not to carry bags can access Grant Park through express security lanes. We recommend arriving early to Grant Park on race morning to account for the additional time it will take to pass through security. Grant Park will open to participants at 5:30 a.m. 2
Gear check You will be able to check your gear within the American Development Tent prior to the race. Please fasten your gear check tag (attached to your bib number) to your bag prior to checking your gear and deposit your bag in one of the brown gear check bins prior to exiting the tent. All gear entering Grant Park and being checked at the American Development Tent must be placed in your clear plastic event-issued participant bag. Your gear will remain at the American Development Tent throughout the race. You must return to the American Development Tent after your race to collect your gear. Any bags left in the tent after 12 p.m. will be transferred to Red Gear Check. Do not check your gear in the Red, Blue or Gray Gear Check areas. Gear checked outside of the American Development Tent will not be transferred to the American Development Tent. Other amenities In addition to gear check, you will have access to private toilet facilities within the American Development compound. The event will also provide water, Gatorade and light snacks prior to and after the race. Please note that quantities of water, Gatorade and snacks will be limited, so it is advised that you arrive with whatever food and drink supplies you will need prior to and after your race. Accessing the American Development Start Corral Event staff will escort you to the American Development Start Corral beginning at 6:45 a.m. All runners must report to the American Development Start Corral by 7:15 a.m. New access: You will be accessing the corral through the same entrance as the elite athletes. You must be in the corral no later than 7:15 a.m. There will be no admittance to the American Development Start Corral after 7:15 a.m. when the elite athletes begin to enter their corral. The American Development Start Corral is located directly behind the Elite Start Corral. Once you enter the American Development Start Corral you cannot exit. Please note that there is no room to do stride-outs once you have entered the American Development Start Corral. It is advised that you do all necessary stride-outs/shake-outs outside the American Development Tent during your warm-up process. 7:30 a.m. start time The race will begin promptly at 7:30 a.m. There will not be a separate elite start. All marathon runners will start together at 7:30 a.m. 3
Timing Clock time (Gun time) is official for all runners in the American Development Program. The official times will be recorded from the start of the race by the air horn to the point where the participant crosses the finish line. Times will be rounded to the next highest second. Net times ("tag" times) will not be used for any purpose regarding American Development participants. Course fluids Athletes in the American Development Program do not have access to, nor can they utilize, the on-course elite fluid tables. American Development athletes must utilize the fluids (lemon-lime Gatorade Endurance Formula and water) offered at the 20 standard aid stations. Race courtesy Some runners in the American Development Program may find themselves near the elite female runners. We respect your right to run freely and achieve your maximum performance on race day. Please note, however, that interference with any elite women including, but not limited to, crowding, blocking, drafting or tripping, whether accidentally or intentionally, are grounds for disqualification. In addition, elite women must be given clear access to their bottles at the elite fluid stations located at each 5K. TV vehicles will be covering the elite women for the live TV broadcast. It is important that cameras have a clear view of the elite women s race for the TV audience. Therefore, we ask that you allow for the cameras to focus on the women s competition during the race. American Development participants may not intentionally position themselves in plain sight lines between the elite women and the live TV coverage crews at any time. Failure to move out of the way for the cameras is grounds for disqualification. If your actions on the course ignore either of these points, you will receive a warning from a race official positioned on the lead women s vehicle. A second warning from a race official will disqualify you from the race. No personal musical devices will be allowed in the American Development Start Corral or are to be worn while you are competing. If your actions on the course ignore this point, you will receive a warning from a race official. A second warning from a race official will disqualify you from the race. Drop-out procedures In the event that you are unable to complete the race, Runner Transportation shuttles are located at each of the 20 on-course Aid Stations. The Runner Transportation shuttle will return you to Grant Park. Please note that these shuttles run approximately every 20+ minutes and are for the use of all participants. American Development runners are not privy to their own transportation shuttles back to Grant Park. 4
Prize Money Athletes in the American Development Program are eligible for Overall/Open prize money. U.S. citizens are eligible for American Development prize money. Additional prize money categories include Masters (40 years or older on race day) and Illinois (current Illinois residents). American Development Time Bonus: As part of the Bank of America Chicago Marathon's effort to support marathon running in the U.S., the event will offer a $2,500 time bonus to American men who run a gun time faster than 2:18:00 and American women who run a gun time faster than 2:43:00. American time bonuses will be paid to eligible athletes regardless of finish place, and in addition to Overall, American Development, Masters and Illinois prize money. American time bonuses will be awarded based on Clock time (Gun time), not Net time ( chip time). American Division (M/W) Masters Division (M/W) 1 st Place $10,000 1 st Place $2,000 2 nd Place $7,500 2 nd Place $1,750 3 rd Place $5,000 3 rd Place $1,500 4 th Place $2,500 4 th Place $1,250 5 th Place $1,000 5 th Place $1,000 American Development Time Bonus Illinois Open Division (M/W) Men: Sub 2:18:00 $2,500 1 st Place $3,000 Women: Sub 2:43:00 $2,500 2 nd Place $2,500 3 rd Place $2,000 4 th Place $1,500 5 th Place $1,000 Post-race You must return to the American Development Tent to collect your checked gear. The American Development Tent will close at 12 p.m.. All gear not claimed by 12 p.m. will be transported to the Red Gear Check under the appropriate bib number. Red Gear Check closes at 3 p.m. We look forward to seeing you on Sunday, October 12, for the 37 th running of the Bank of America Chicago Marathon. 5