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Do you have a great training story? Are you running for a cause? What's your motivation? Let us know! Every tale needs to be told, so we want you to share your Marathon or Half Marathon story. Who knows, your story may be featured on our website or even be part of the race day television coverage.
Submit your story to: jcarcich@gwsportsalliance.com
If you do not see the FAQ you are looking for, then
please contact Marathon Information
1) What races are eligible for qualifying purposes?
2) Do you have a military discount?
3) I haven't qualified yet but I know I can meet the standard, can I sign up now and qualify later?
4) Will the Metro open early enough on race day to get me to the Start Line on time?
5) Is there a cap for the amount of accepted registrants?
6) Is the National Marathon a Boston qualifier?
7) If I enter the half marathon can I continue on and finish the marathon? Or vice-versa?
9) Is there a minimum age requirement? And why?
10) What makes this the 'Fastest Looped Course in the Country'?
11) When does registration begin and when does it end?
12) Can I register at the Expo?
14) Can someone else pick up my number?
15) Can I receive my packet by mail? Or, can I pick my packet up on the day of the race?
16) Can I switch my registration between the half marathon and the full?
17) Are there starting corrals? How do they work?
18) Will there be a finisher medal for the marathon and half marathon?
19) Is there a wheelchair division?
20) Can entrants wear headphones during the race?
21) Where is the Runner's Village?
22) How do I sign up to volunteer for the 2010 SunTrust National Marathon?
23) What is the course like? Is it flat? Are there any hills?
24) Can I use a split time from a marathon to qualify for the event?
26) How does the Team Relay work?
27.) Can I receive a refund, transfer my number, or get a deferment to next year?
28) How long is the course open for the marathon and the half marathon?
29.) Are there awards for race winners?
30.) What sport drink is provided on course?
31.) Is there GU provided on course?
1) What races are eligible for qualifying purposes?
Any race that records and publishes your time will serve as a SunTrust National Marathon & Half Marathon qualifier - as long as that race distance meets our qualifying parameters. The qualifying window is from January 1st, 2004 to March 20, 2010.
2) Do you have a military discount?
We do offer amilitary discount of 15% off registration for both active and retired military personnel. This offer is not extended to any family or friends of the active or retired military individual. Contact Marathon Info BEFORE YOU REGISTER for more information. We cannot retroactively apply the discount. Discount is only available for online registration.
3) I haven't qualified yet, but I know I can meet the standard. Can I sign up now and qualify later?
No. Your entry will be denied if the date of the qualifying race has not occurred in the qualifying window which is January 1st, 2004 to the present day.
4.) Will the Metro open early enough on race day to get me to the Start Line on time?
Yes, the Metro System opens at 5AM on Race Day and will be able to get you to the Start Line in plenty of time.
5) Is there a cap for the amount of accepted registrants?
Yes. We are accepting 12,000 total registrants in the 2010 event. We have 8,000 spots for the half marathon and 4,000 spots for the full marathon. We do not know when we will fill up, but we will announce when we have less than 1,000 registration spots left for the half marathon and/or 500 spots left for the full marathon.
6) Is the National Marathon a Boston qualifier?
Yes. The 2010 SunTrust National Marathon will be a USATF certified course and serves as both a 2010 and 2011 Boston qualifier.
7) If I enter the half marathon can I continue on and finish the marathon? Or vice-versa?
No. Each race has its own bib color and spotters will be set up just past the break point to ensure the half marathoners are heading the right direction. Half marathoners that try to continue the marathon or marathoners that attempt to finish the half marathon will not be included in the official results and will be disqualified from our competition.
No. The Greater Washington Sports Alliance is a separate management group. As the region's sports commission, the Greater Washington Sports Alliance mission is to increase the visibility of the region's assets, attract and promote local events, provide funding for youth sports initiatives, and build hometown passion, pride and loyalty.
9) Is there a minimum age requirement? And why?
Yes, you must be 18 years of age on race day in order to run the marathon, half marathon, or relay team. Our insurance policy with the District of Columbia stipulates that all participants be over 18 years of age on race day. We cannot accept participants under the age of 18 even with parent’s permission. There are no exceptions.
10.) What makes this the 'Fastest Looped Course in the Country'?
A looped course is one that starts and finishes at the same location, opposed to a point to point course which starts and finishes in different locations. Our course has the fastest average time of any looped course in the country (according to Running USA/RRIC Annual Report), thus where we derived the claim.
11) When does registration begin and when does it end?
Registration begins for the 2010 SunTrust National Marathon & CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield National Half Marathon at 12:01AM EST on July 4th, 2009. The final day of registration is March 14th, 2010 at 11:59 PM EST OR when we reach our cap of 12,000 runners (or when we fill our individual events; 8,000 for the half and/or 4,000 for the full).
Online Registration ends at 11:59pm EST on March 14th, 2010.
Offline Registrations must be posted marked by March 13th, 2010.
Late Registration will be available at the Health and Fitness Expo, if available.
12) Can I register at the Expo?
Registration for the both the full marathon and half marathon will be available during the Health and Fitness Expo if spots are not sold out.
There is NO race day registration! No exceptions.
Packet Pick-Up is at the Health & Fitness Expo at the DC Armory. The DC Armory is conveniently located at the Metro Stadium/Armory Stop off of the Orange/Blue Line. Visit WMATA for more information.
Driving Directions to Armory, please visit: http://mappoint.msn.com/ and enter the Armory address for the best directions from your starting point.
14) Can someone else pick up our number?
Yes. However, for security reasons, the proxy must bring a photo copy of the registrant's driver license or other valid photo identification to the packet pick up location. The proxy will also be asked to sign the photo copy.
15) Can I receive my packet by mail? Or, can I pick my packet up on the day of the race?
No, on both accounts. All packets MUST be picked up at the Health and Fitness Expo. There is no Race Day packet pick-up.
16) Can I switch between the half marathon and the full?
You may switch between races until March 4th.
If you are making a change between races, there is a difference in entry fee if you move from the half marathon to the full marathon of $15.00 plus a $20.00 administrative fee ($35.00 total for half-to-full switch). There is no refund for switching from the marathon down to the half marathon in addition to the $20.00 administrative fee ($20.00 total for full-to-half switch). Please contact Marathon Info if you wish to make an edit to your registration.
17) Are there starting corrals? How do they work?
Yes. You will be assigned the corral that corresponds to the estimated pace per mile that you indicated on your registration form. Marathoners and half marathoners will be corralled together, since both the full and half marathon start at 7:00 AM.
18) Will there be a finisher medal for the marathon and half marathon?
Yes. There will be a finisher medal for both the marathon and the half marathons.
19) Is there a wheelchair division?
Yes. There is a wheelchair division in the marathon event only. All wheelchair athletes must be entered by March 6, 2010. Handcrank wheelchair athletes are not permitted this year.
20) Can entrants wear headphones during the race?
Yes! For the first time in our short history we are allowing our participants to wear headphones, so make sure you purchase the Official Headphones of the National Marathon, yurbudsTM, headphones personally sized to your ear! They fit comfortably for hours, stay in place securely, and provide increased sound quality while allowinng users to listen at lower volumes. All for only $20!
This amazing product can be purchased by clicking HERE or by visiting the yurbudsTM booth at our Health and Fitness Expo!
21) Where is the Runner's Village?
The Runner's Village will be located at the DC Armory Mall just west of RFK Stadium. This is the Start and Finish area for the Marathon and Half Marathon. The address for RFK Stadium is 2400 East Capitol Street, S.E., Washington, D.C. 20003. We will also have a bag-check area for all race participants, provided by Interstate Worldwide Relocation, to store your warm-up/warm-down gear. We encourage you to leave your valuables at home on race morning.
22) How do I sign up to volunteer for the 2010 SunTrust National Marathon?
Simply go to THIS LINK!
23) What is the course like? Is it flat? Are there any hills?
The course is relatively flat. The first 5 miles are through the base city streets of downtown Washington, DC. There is an elevation rise from miles 5 through 7, but then there is an equal downgrade from miles 9 through 11. Until mile 23, you are back on the flat and fast city streets of the District. From miles 23 to 25, you will have a couple of rolling hills to contend with; with a nice flat final 1.2 miles!
24) Can I use a split time from a marathon to qualify for the event?
You may only use your 13.1 mile split from a marathon time to qualify for our half marathon. You may NOT use a split time from a marathon to qualify for our full marathon.
25) Is there a host hotel? There is absolutely a "No Refund/Transfer/Deferment" Policy for this event. There are no exceptions. WARNING!!! Do not attempt to sell or give away your bib number/registration. The SunTrust National Marathon maintains a very strict NO TRANSFER policy. Particular participant information is attached to each bib number, and marathon staff cannot be held responsible for medical liability or other errors should a runner participate under another individual's predetermined bib number.
Yes. The Official Host Hotel is the Renaissance Washington, D.C. Dupont Circle Hotel (formerly the M Street Hotel) located at 1143 New Hampshire Avenue, N.W. The Renaissance Washington, D.C. Dupont Circle is located ideally next to Dupont Circle and near Georgetown. Please visit our "Visiting DC" section of the website to make reservations or for additional hotels and discount rates.
26) How does the Team Relay work?
The Team Relay will be a 13.1 mile 3-person team race. The individual legs are 5 miles, 5 miles, and 3.1 miles. The Team Relay, Half Marathon, and Full Marathon will start simultaniously at 7:00 AM on March 20th adjacent to RFK Stadium. All Team Relay runners must complete the race within the 3 hour Half Marathon time limit.
27.) Can I receive a refund, transfer my number, or get a deferment to next year?
28) How long the course is open for the marathon and the half marathon?
Our course is open 6 hours (7:00am - 1:00pm) for the marathon, and 3 hours (7:00am - 10:00am) for the half marathon and team relay. Despite these course hours, you still must qualify for the Full Marathon (5 hour qualifying time) and the Half Marathon (2.5 hour qualifying time).
The Team Relay does not have to submit any qualifying times but please ensure that your team's finish time will be within the 2.5 hour Half Marathon limit.
29.) Are there awards for race winners?
Yes. Cash prizes in addition to sponsor provided items will be awarded to male and female overall winners. Please visit our RACE INFORMATION PAGE for more details.
30.) What sport drink is provided on course?
Powerade is the exlusive sport drink of the event and will be provided on course and at the Finish Line. Fruit Punch will be the flavor provided on course and Mixed Berry will be the flavor provided at the Finish Line.
31.) Is there GU provided on course?
Yes Vanilla GU gel packets will be provided at five (5) water stations along the course.
