RUNNERS & WALKERS INSTRUCTIONS WELCOME TO THE 2016 NEUSE RIVER BRIDGE RUN! PRE-RACE DAY PACKET PICK-UP: Publix BeActive, Be Healthy Expo on Friday, March 10 Arrive at New Bern Riverfront Convention Center between 4:00-8:00pm to claim your race bib and goodies. The Publix Be Active! Be Healthy! Expo will also be taking place giving all an opportunity to visit with Bridge Run sponsors and to grab last minute items you desire for your race. ARRIVAL TIME Arrive at the New Bern Riverfront Convention Center between 6:00-6:45am if you re registering for any race on Saturday. If you ve registered but haven t already picked up your race packet, then report to the pre-registration area on the waterfront side of the New Bern Riverfront Convention Center. If you re running the half marathon arrive at 6am, no later than 6:15am if you re doing the 10K, or 7:30am if you re doing the 5K. If you have all you need to head to the start line, then you naturally may be safe to arrive later. COURSE All three courses are USATF certified as point-to-point footraces. The starting line(s) are just outside Union Point Park. Listen for announcements to be escorted to the start line for your event. Please note the timers equipment and power cords on the sidewalk on East Front Street. The half marathon starts at 7:00am at the East Front and South Front Street traffic light. The 10K starts at 7:30am while the 5K starts at 8:15am just outside of Union Point Park. Courses are well-marked and course monitors will be posted at each turn. REVIEW COURSE MAPS IN RACE PACKET, ONLINE at www.bridgerun.org, or at the CONVENTION CENTER. Mile markers will be placed on each course. As routes overlap, please look for the appropriate marker for your race: Mile markers for the half marathon have a GREEN Carolina East Half Marathon logo; mile markers for the 10K route have the YELLOW WCTI 12 & Fox 8/14 10K logo; and the markers for the Lamar 5K route have the BLUE square with 5K. Please take a moment to study your race route before your run to ensure you will follow the correct course. The routes are contained herein and will be posted at the Baggage Storage area in the New Bern Riverfront Convention Center the morning of the race. We will have signage and volunteers assisting in directing you during the race, but ultimately you are responsible for following the correct route. COFFEE Coffee will be available at the Convention Center on race morning. In addition, there are several local coffee shops. The Galley Store, the Trent River Coffee Shop, Baker s Kitchen (offering full breakfast) and Sweet Pea s. PARKING Parking is available all around the downtown area with streetside parking and municipal lots. Please simply note that South Front Street between Middle and East Front Street will be closed to ALL VEHICULAR TRAFFIC FROM 5am UNTIL NOON as is outward bound traffic on East Front Street between Pollock and South Front Street after 5am. The Alfred A. Cunningham bridge is closed to vehicular and marine traffic from 6:30am - 9:30am. All participants should allow for walking time to the New Bern Riverfront Convention Center and then to the start at the entrance of Union Point Park. CHIP TIMING FOR ALL PARTICIPANTS Timing provided by Precision Race, using the Innovative Timing Systems Jaguar RFID timing system. Chips have been attached to your bib and must be present at all times to ensure accurate timing. Do NOT fold or bend chip (rectangle) on the back of your bib. Wear your bib on your front as close to your stomach area as possible and please ensure the number is visible. We will utilize radar guns for a second read at the finish line. BATHROOM FACILITIES Bathroom facilities are available at the New Bern Riverfront Convention Center and Union Point Park for the start and finish. Port-o-johns are also available at approximately mile 6 and bathrooms are at approximately mile 8 in Fort Totten Park and mile 10 in Lawson s Creek Park for the half marathon course. ID CHECK Arm bands are necessary to drink the official beer of the Neuse River Bridge Run, Michelob Ultra and other RA Jeffrey s distributed beers. All who partake must be 21 or older. A photo ID with birthdate is required to receive an armband. Racers receive complimentary beverages and food. Beer tickets are easily detachable from your bib. WATER STATIONS There are five (5) water stations throughout the three courses, and each will be amply supplied with water and the last two on the Half Marathon route will have Powerade provided by Coca Cola.
RACE START The half marathon starts promptly at 7:00am. The 10K race starts at 7:30am. The 5K race begins at 8:15am. Participants will walk independently to their start lines. Wheelchair participants will start approximately 5 minutes prior to the other participants. Listen for announcements in the convention center to go to your start line. DO NOT BEGIN WALKING TO THE 5K START UNTIL TOLD TO DO SO. 5K RACERS / WALKERS MUST STAY ON THE RIGHT-HAND SIDE OF THE CUNNINGHAM BRIDGE. Walkers line up in the back of the starting chute, please. The 10K & Half Marathon racers must be off of the Neuse River Bridge exit ramp by 8:10am. This means that you must run or complete nearly the first 4 miles of these races within 70 minutes for the half participants and within 55 minutes for the 10K participants. THANK YOU in advance for your compliance. Otherwise you will intersect with the faster 5K runners as they make their turn on the Cunningham bridge. AWARDS CEREMONY All runners must be chip-timed to be eligible for an award. Awards will be given based on gun times to the top 3 overall 5K, 10K, and half-marathon male and female finishers, along with the top 3 male and female in the following age categories: 14&Under, 15-19, 20-24, 25-29, 30-34, 35-39, 40-44, 45-49, 50-54, 55-59, 60-64, 65-69, 70&Over. The awards ceremonies will begin at the convention center no later than 10:00 am (to allow time for any disputes and corrections.) Awards cannot be mailed. Winners who cannot stay may pick up their awards at CarolinaEast Foundation on Neuse Boulevard. SUPERKIDS FUN RUN SuperKids Fun Run--This event will take place in Union Point Park on Friday, March 10 at approximately 6:00 pm and is open to kids 10 and under. Children must be registered to participate and should report to the warmup area on the waterfront (rear) of the convention center at 5:30pm. Kids will warm-up and then will be escorted by race officials to the Fun Run start line. Ages 3&4 will run one loop (approx 0.2 miles); ages 5&6 will run two loops (approx 0.4 miles); Ages 7 & 8 will run three loops (0.6 miles) and 9 & 10 will run 5 loops (approx 1 mile). Each will run only with their respective age group, to receive a first-place award, the child must finish behind the designated lead runner, and will be lead by volunteers from the Basic Law Enforcement & Training class of Craven Community College. Each racer receives a medal at the finish line. RESULTS Results will be posted on www.precisionrace.com, www.bridgerun.org, and www.itsyourrace.com. Times will also be submitted to USATF. BAGGAGE AREA A table will be set up inside the New Bern Riverfront Convention Center s coat closet. Runners will retrieve their items from the same location. The Neuse River Bridge Run and its affiliates will not be responsible for lost, stolen, or damaged items. Place your photo ID with your car keys in the runners baggage and storage. RUNNERS & BRIDGE SAFETY For safety purposes, only bibbed runners and officials are allowed on the bridges. No baby strollers, joggers, bicycles, or animals are allowed on the bridges. NOTE THAT ALL BRIDGES MUST BE CLEARED BY THE HALF AND 10K RUNNERS BY 8:20. Wheelchair participants will start approximately 5 minutes prior to the other participants. BE ALERT FOR TRAFFIC ON COURSE. Although we have police officers and other monitors on the course, we cannot guarantee that traffic will not cross our pedestrians paths. Participants are asked not to wear headsets. RUNNERS' CELEBRATION All runners, paid-in-advance guests, and volunteers are invited to celebrate the runners accomplishments during and after the awards ceremony on the Trent River waterfront as well as inside the New Bern Riverfront Convention Center. Music, food, and beverages will be provided. ID required to drink Michelob Ultra, the official beer of the Neuse River Bridge Run and other alcoholic offerings. Coca Cola will provide many wonderful nonalcoholic options as well and Publix will provide post race snacks. FIRST AID There is a first aid tent at the finish line chute (Front sidewalk of the New Bern Riverfront Convention Center). Local EMS will be on hand throughout the area as well. CONFUSED?LOST? Look for race volunteers in and around the New Bern Riverfront Convention Center (They are wearing safety vests and or white Bridge Run Tshirts), or visit the VOLUNTEER table inside the center for assistance. HOW DID WE DO? No matter how hard we try, there may be better ways to do things. Your suggestions are welcome! Please do not pick on the event volunteers. They are unpaid help who have been here since before 5:00 am. There will be a postrace survey sent to you following the race - please respond. We will be glad to hear your ideas. We want to make this race bigger and better with your input. Thank You!!!