This page provides answers to many common questions about the marathon on the following topics:
Is Hartford a qualifier for the Boston Marathon?
Yes and we send marathon results directly to the BAA (the time sent to the BAA is your chip time). Boston Marathon Qualifying Times.
Deadline:
When is the deadline for registration?
There is no deadline but there are ENTRY LIMITS. You may register for the marathon through race day provided limits haven’t been reached. We do advise registration by September 28, 2008 so you can promptly get the final confirmation package and instructions. Also, registration fees increase the closer it gets to race day. If we have to close the marathon due to unusually large entries, we will provide plenty of notice on this web site.
Capacity:
Is there a maximum number that can race and does Hartford usually hit capacity? I was also wondering how many people raced the marathon last year, and how many you are expecting this year?
There are ENTRY LIMITS for the 3 races: Marathon, Half Marathon, Five-K. The Marathon is limited to 3,500 runners, the Half Marathon is limited to 3,500 runners and the 5K limit is 2,000 runners.If we have to close the marathon or half marathon due to unusually large entries, we will provide plenty of notice on this web site.
In 2006 and 2007, we had over 1,700 finishers in the marathon and in the Half Marathon over 2,100 and 2,500, respectively . We are expecting over 10,000 participants this year (total for all events).
Confirmation:
How will I know if I am registered?
Confirmation and final details are posted on this website by October 1. If you register online, you will receive a confirmation email immediately from our online registration provider.
You can confirm you registration here.
Express Pass
What do I do if I don’t have an Express Pass?
Express Passes are issued by email nine days before the Marathon. If you lose or forget to bring your Express Pass to packet pick-up and don’t remember your assigned bib number, you can look up your bib number in person. All packets are organized by event and then by bib number.
Course Time Limits:
What are the course limits and what happens if I can not finish within that time?
The full marathon course is open for 6 hours from 8 a.m. - 2 p.m. After this 6-hour limit, all roads will reopen to vehicular traffic and race services removed as the race moves by on a 13-minute mile pace. In order to finish the marathon within this time frame, runners should be able to maintain a pace of approximately 13- minutes per mile .
All runners must pass the 16-Mile mark by 11:30 a.m. Race officials will post signs at time limit to advise those runner maintaining a pace more than 13 minutes on upcoming road openings at Mile 14, Mile 18, Mile 20, Mile 23 and Mile 25 on the marathon and Mile 10 on the half marathon. At the time of advisement, runners will be required to run at their own risk on sidewalks or on roads open to traffic. We will stay at the finish line until the last runner crosses the line. All marathon and half marathon finishers will be awarded a finishers medal regardless of their finish time.
Distance and Age:
I’m 15 and I’m really into running. Would you advise doing the half marathon or the 5k?
The ING Hartford Marathon (26.2 miles) is open to anyone 16 and over. The ING Half Marathon (13 miles) is open to anyone 12 and over. The 5K is open to all ages.
Drive Course:
Is it possible to drive the marathon course?
Most of the ING Hartford Marathon course is driveable. However, the portions of the course along the riverfront are not driveable. You can park and walk across the Founders Bridge to view the course along the river.
There is the new walkway adjacent to the lanes of traffic over the Founders Bridges that can be walked or bicycled. The Hartford side involves stairs or an elevator trip to return to street level. Everything else should be driveable.
Energy Drink and Gel:
What is the energy drink and gel that will be available on the course and where can I purchase some to train with?
Ultima Replenisher and GU Energy Gel will be available. Ultimate Replenisher is available at Whole Foods Market and GU Energy Gel is available at msot athletic retail locations including Dick's Sporting Goods.
Finish Line:
Will there be finish line photos?
Island Photography posts proofs of runners who finished on their web site.
Gun Time:
Why The Gun Time is Official Time?
By Bob Teschek, Granite State Timing Service, official timing service of the ING Hartford Marathon
The reason net times aren’t used for the top finishers is that the top runners need to know they are going head-to-head so there is no doubt as to the order of finish. It would be sad to see a winner crossing the line with arms upraised only to find that he or she was beaten by someone back behind them who started a
few seconds later. This would take a lot away from the sport. A runner who has a shot at a front position in the race or who may place well in an age division should still start near the front for this reason.
Prize money awards are based on official "gun" time, the time elapsed from the official start signal to your chip recording at the finish. Age group awards in the marathon and half marathon are based on “net" time. Your net time starts as you leave the start line and your ChampionChip is noted, so this time shows your actual time on the course. Marathon finishers can use this "net" time for qualifying for the 2008 and 2009 Boston Marathons.
Helpers:
I have read that it sometimes helps if a friend joins you to run for a few miles at the end of the marathon (i.e. miles 22-24) for moral support. What are the marathon rules about this?
Friends are great to get you through the last few miles and that’s fine with us as long as they don’t break these 2 rules:
1. DO NOT cross the finish line.
2. DO NOT enter the finish zone which begins at the Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Arch 1/10 mile before the finish.
Layering:
How to I dress (layers?) for a Hartford race in October?
"Could be cold at 8AM. Bring gloves, a hat and long sleeve shirt. By 9AM, you might have to shed some clothes. Don’t wear anything too nice in case you want to throw them away."
"If you’re used to warmer weather, check the CT forecast - anything below 60 degrees and you might want leggings instead of shorts. If it’s drizzling rain, a light t-shirt over your sports bra would be better than no t-shirt. Bring a sweatshirt for after the race."
"I ran Hartford on a warmer than normal October day in 1995 and started out in a midriff length tee shirt (cut off) over a singlet. Once I got too warm, I took the tee shirt off and used it to wipe my face from time to time."
Mile Markers:
Will there be mile markers and/or kilometer markers?
Yes, there are mile markers every mile of the marathon and kilometers are painted on the road every 5K.
Race Bib:
Can a race bib be transferred to someone else?
No. Bibs are not transferable. If you wear another runner’s bib, you will not be timed under your own name.
Split Times:
What split times will be given?
Split time clocks are placed at strategic points on all courses. 5K clocks at mile 1 & 2. Half Marathon clocks at miles 5, 10, 15 and 5K mark. Marathon clocks at miles 10, 13.1, 20, 24 and 5K & 10K marks. Also, full marathon split times are recorded by chip mats at miles 6.2, 10 and 20.
Switch Events:
If I sign up for the marathon and on race day I decide that I’m better off running the half-marathon, can I switch events? Is there an additional cost? How can I change my status prior to race day?
You may change races right up to race day provided that the race you’re switching to hasn’t reached its ENTRY LIMITS. If you switch from marathon to half or the half to the 5K, there is no additional fee and the difference will not be refunded. If you switch from half to full marathon or the 5K to the half, there is an additional fee. Click the link to review the entire HMF Cancellation Policy
Until 8am on September 28, 2008, you may change your status from marathon to half by contacting the race office at registration@hartfordmarathon.com. After that you must make any changes at packet pick-up or on race day--come early!
Awards:
If I won an award, when can I pick it up?
Awards can be picked up at the Post Race Party in Bushnell Park on race day. After the race, awards can be picked up at the office of the Hartford Marathon Foundation in Glastonbury. Call to make an appointment.
Awards wil be mailed only upon receipt of $8 to cover shipping and handling.
Headphones:
Can I wear a headphone while running in the marathon?
Keeping runners safe is a priorty concern. For this reason, the use of headphones is strongly discouraged.
Strollers:
Are strollers allowed on the marathon course?
No, strollers are not allowed on the marathon course for the Full Marathon, Half Marathon, Team Relay or 5K. However, strollers are allowed in the Kids K if lined up in the back.
Walkers:
Are walkers allowed in the marathon as long as they can finish the course by the 6 hour time limit? How long is the half-marathon course open?
Absolutely! Walkers are welcome on the course through the 6 hour limit. In order to finish the marathon within this time frame, walkers should be able to maintain a pace of approximately 15 minutes per mile. If walkers need longer, we encourage them to start a slightly different course for the first 2 miles and move to sidewalks after the 6 hour limit.
The half marathon course is open for 3 hours. Half marathoners must reach mile 10 by 11:00 am.
Pets
Can I bring my dog to the marathon?
No dogs are allowed on the course.
Spectators - Please hold animals on a short leash.
Keep them away from runners and be considerate of others.
Our priority concern is keeping runners safe. Thank you for your cooperation.