Q. If I register for the marathon and change my mind, can I run the 50K?
A. Yes if you get to the lake by the cut off time for the 50-K
Q. What if I register for the 50-K and cannot make the Lake cut off for the
50-K, can I then run the marathon? Will my score be recorded as if I ran the
marathon?
A. Double Yes
Q. Can my family and friends come and watch along the course?
A. Yes, just check out the parking directions and be sure to only park in
legal spaces and do not ask the aide station volunteers for food and/or
drinks.
Q. Can my family and friends come to the picnic at the end?
A. Yes, but it is hard enough to plan food for 200 runners, 50 to 100
volunteers so please let someone know how many are coming and consider
bringing some extra food and drinks.
Q. Why not use electronic/online registration?
A. Why pay an additional $2.00 per head when that money can go to the aide
stations, port o potties and keeping the registration cheap?
Q. I cannot help on race day, can I help in some other way.
A. Absolutely, there are many pre race and post race opportunities. Runners
can also thank both park authorities for being so nice and supportive of
this race: Maryland National Capital Park and Planning Commission-
Montgomery County (MNCPPC-MC) and the Maryland State Department of Natural
Resources (MD DNR) stationed out of Seneca Creek State Park.
Q. What happens if the sweepers catch me? Will they really pull me from the
race?
A. Yes and please do not argue with them. Argue with the Race Director. It
is not fair to the race management and volunteers to work any longer than
they are scheduled as it is.
Q. Why is the race sweeper team so big?
A. They mean business.
Q. Can I get hurt, lost, cold, wet, or muddy?
A. Of course.
Q. Is it easy to get lost/off course?
A. Not really. There are no guarantees but the trail should be flagged
(green and yellow engineering ribbons tied on branches ever so often); the
trail is blazed blue from Damascus to Riley's Lock, a course description is
provided, there are four training runs to help familiarize runners with the
trail, unless you are in the top five, odds are you are following a group
that knows the trail and the race management is tracking runners. Still it
is possible to get lost.
Q. Why can't the volunteers stop traffic when runners approach one of the
rural road crossings?
A. It is against the law. The police have told us absolutely under no
circumstances stop traffic.
Q. I never ran a trail marathon before, can I do this?
A. Who knows? If you have done a road marathon (or marathons), and can do so
under four and half hours, are trained and are comfortable on trails,
probably
Q. What are the hazards?
A. If it is snowy, icy or has just rained, the creek crossings can be
tricky. Probably the biggest hazards on the trail are the wooden bridges
which can accumulate some green like slimy slippery stuff on the surface. It
is best to walk across these bridges. There are rocks and roots that
sometimes cannot be seen. There are no big animals to worry about.
Q. I thought trail runners were slow, tired, old, road runners that had
burned out. Can any of them run fast?
A. Try to catch Rob Magin.
Q. Can someone please remove the leaves and rocks from the trail so we can
race better?
A. Try the B & A trail marathon.
Q. Why can't the course be measured and used as an USATF certified Boston
Qualifier?
A. Try the B & A Trail Marathon.
Q. Seriously, why not measure it?
A. Seriously, the trail changes every single year. It is our best estimate
that both the marathon and 50-K exceed 26 and 31 + miles.
Q. If I have to drop will I get a ride back to my car at the finish?
A. Yes.
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