Welcome
Runners and Walkers!
The American River Parkway Half
Marathon returns for its sixth year and continues
its distinction as the only half
marathon in the world for both runners and walkers!
Not just one course for both disciplines mind you. We're
talkin'
two separate, fully supported, USATF certified courses - one just for
runners and one just for walkers!
Both courses feature scenic routes that wind their way through forests
of majestic old-growth oaks teeming with wildlife, pass
through meadows bursting with golden poppies, and traverse isolated
dells and wide open fields carpeted with greenery as far as the eye can
see. (Take a look at the side bar and you'll see what we mean!)
And the best part of all is, the
race is a fundraising event for the American River Parkway - the
nation's longest, continuous wild and scenic riparian
parkway in a major metropolitan area - and the jewel of
the Sacramento region.
CLICK
HERE TO REGISTER ONLINE
2011 Race
Highlights - A Reflection
150,000 -That's
the total amount of dollars donated to the Parkway for our first five
year's of races! The
donations have gone to a number of improvements along the
Parkway
including, tree and indigenous vegetation restoration, trail
maintenance, and wildlife habitat enhancements - all of which
contribute toward preserving and protecting
the beauty and
experience we all enjoy along the Parkway. Additional portions of the
proceeds have also gone toward providing ongoing
year-round
portables along the Parkway. After all, we all need a "rest" sometimes!
80,000
- The number of recycled water bottles used to create the race shirts
for our first five years! Not sure if that's a number that could wrap
around our planet, but it is a lot! This year, we continue
with the centerpiece of our race
event tradition - an environmentally friendly race with significant and
meaningful "green theme"
elements. We are proud to note that the Parkway Half Marathon was the
first among regional races to introduce 100%
recycled fabric for our shirts, which feel so soft and
luxurious you'd
swear it was pure
silk! We were also the first to provide fully
bio-degradable elements for all of our aid stations supplies.
12,000 -The total number of entrants
for... how many years....anyone, anyone... five years. As many of you
know, the race has become so popular, we had to establish a cap last
year. Congratulations to everyone for making the Parkway Half
Marathon the
most popular Sacramento Springtime community event!
2012 Race
Features - Building on Tradition!
Earlier
Start Times are Back by Popular Demand
The earlier start times were well
recevied last year, so why not keep 'em? To recap those times:
- Walkers'
Half Marathon - 7:15AM
- Runner's
Half Marathon - 7:45AM
Race Cap
Raised (A Little More) - 4200 Entrant Limit
As many of you know, the Parkway
Half
Marathon has become the fastest growing race in the region. And while
growth is great, our primary concern is keeping the integrity and
character of the race intact. Last year we capped the race at 4000 and
that seemed to work well. But we think a slight adjustment up could
work just as well, so we're adding 200 more spots. Truth be told, it
was hard turning away those who wanted to register after the race was
closed. But even the additional spots, we project the race to be sold
out long before the day of the
event. So sign up early and don't miss out! CLICK
HERE TO REGISTER ONLINE
Start Line Processional - Bagpipes and more!
- This
year, we will continue with the bagpipes and add a few more
surprises! Last year, a certain meteorogical circumstance prevented one
of the pre-race elements from happening. We're going to try it again
this year, plus add a few more. More later...
Keeping
Green -
Here's a short list of some "green"
features we're continuing for this year's race:
1. Eco-friendly tech-fiber T-Shirt
2. Cups made of corn by-product that are composted
3. Eco-runner and walker opportunity
4. 100% removal and recycling of event trash
5. EXPANDED Shuttle-bus service to relieve traffic congestion
6. Bike check-in so you can ride your bike to the event
7. Personal Water bottle fill-up at all aid stations
Safety Elements
-We're
pretty sure we are now safest race in the area, if not the
country. Why? Well, we are continuing to partner with a great local
outfit - CERT - and will
have a EMT team for each and every aid station with Nextel
communication, as well as mobile EMTs on bikes monitoring the course.
Okay, you've probably seen that before in other races, or something
close. So how about having these safety features operative
until every
last participant crosses the finish line? Hmmm...now
that's a level of safety
attention and personnel no other race can boast,
and we are very proud to continue this feature!
Our
Usual First-Rate Amenities - In addition to the
new amenities, we still offer the usual amenities (which are not the
usual elsewhere!) you've come to expect
and enjoy including:
1. A bling-worthy medal for every entrant upon finishing. And
we
mean every
entrant!
2. A T-shirt for every entrant. Did we mention both men's
and women's
sizes? Oh, and did we also mention that the
womens' shirts
are V-neck and fitted?
NEW RACE
FEATURE FOR SHIRTS: To ensure everyone gets the right
technical
T-shirt size, we
have a shirt sizing chart. Click
Here for the T-shirt sizing chart.
3. Post-race lunch for all entrants.
4. Ice-cold bottled sport drink or bottled water after the
race.
5. Live music along the course and at the finish line.
6. Ice cold water and electrolyte drink at aid stations.
With all these amenities, and the 4200 entrant cap this year, we are
expecting the Parkway Half Marathon to fill up before race day. We
recommend
early
registration to not only ensure yourself a spot in this fun
and unique
race, but also to afford yourself the most competitive entry
fee
for any half marathon around.
Sold yet?
CLICK
HERE TO REGISTER ONLINE. Or CLICK
HERE to print and
mail.
The
Runners' Course
During your race, you'll be
running downstream, parallel to
the American River, as you pass through riparian forests and beautiful
meadows, including the Avenue of the Poppies.
But don't be fooled by the beauty -
this course is fast! We're talkin' PR fast!
No rolling hills, no city streets, no
traffic, no crocodiles. (Still checking to see if
you're reading!)
The course is a flat and continuously paved path for the surest footing
from start to finish. The
only thing that would make it
faster is if we sneaked in a... hmmm, what this year? How about a
motorized rickshaw!
To view the runners' course, CLICK
HERE
The
Walkers'
Course
During your race, you'll be walking upstream on a continuously
paved path that weaves in and
out of endless meadows and runs through countless forests of giant
oaks,
including the Enchanted Forest.
This
out-and-back loop course is designed for the full range of walkers -
from casual strollers to speedy race-walkers and
everyone in between - and includes two very important
highlights:
Aid stations approximately every
mile and course time-limit that considers even the most
leisurely of paces!
That's right. No more thirsty miles and no more having to worry about
the course closing. This course is open until
everyone finishes - and that includes the post-race festivities. In
this race, nobody is forgotten and nobody is left behind! Is this
a walker friendly race or what?
Finally, because the course is entirely on the American River Parkway,
you'll never have to worry about car traffic. Heck, you many never even
see
or hear a car!
To view the walkers' course, CLICK
HERE
5K
Race for Runners and Walkers
For
those wanting to enjoy the Parkway course, but not run or walk so long,
there is a 5K component as well.
Date, Time,
Location and other stuff
Saturday,
April 28, 2012
Start
times:
WALKERS:
7:15 a.m.
RUNNERS:
7:45a.m.
5K
RACE: 8:00 a.m.
Start
and Finish at William Pond
Park Click
here for Map and Directions
7:00
a.m. - 51 degrees
8:00
a..m - 53 degrees
10:00
a.m. - 60 degrees
11:00
a.m. - 64 degrees
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