Roanoke Canal Half Marathon

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Check out the Finisher's Medal. Sign up before we sell out!

REGISTRATION IS NOW OPEN!

The Tar River Running Company thanks you for running the 2nd annual Roanoke Canal Half Marathon and 8k. The 2012 race is scheduled for March 10. Please let us know if you would like to become a sponsor.

This unique race will take runners on the Roanoke Canal Trail taking great views of the Roanoke Rapids Lake, the historic bulkhead, the old canal, the aqueduct, and the Roanoke River.

Minutes off of I-95, the central location of Roanoke Rapids will draw a large, fun, and competitive group of runners. Roanoke Rapids is only 90 minutes from Richmond, Raleigh, Greenville, and Suffolk. All four cities are known for their base of runners.

We believe in providing "big city quality" with "small town charm." We hope you will join us on race day. We will bend over backwards to give you the best race experience possible.

Images

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Volunteer:

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We are looking for volunteers to help host the inaugural Roanoke Canal Half Marathon and 8k. No experience is required! If you, your club, your friends, or your business would like to help with the race events please sign up below and select "Be a Volunteer!" to submit your name and shirt size.

Volunteers are required to accept the same wavier as runners, but you will be asked specific questions about what you would like to do to help. There are no guarantees, but this will assist our race committee when assigning responsibilities. All volunteers will receive food, and be given a race t-shirt!

We are looking for volunteers to assist with: Course Control, Parking, Water Stations, Timing, Awards, and more.

Large Groups:

If you have a group our business that would like to volunteer, please email us at TarRiverRunningCo@gmail.com. We would be happy to arrange volunteer positions that could ensure your group can work together at the event.

Travel:

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Roanoke Rapids is 90 minutes from everything! Well not exactly. . . but runners from all over Virginia and North Carolina can easily drive in for a great race! Runners in Raleigh, Richmond, Greenville, and Suffolk can make a day trip, or spend the night in one of the many great hotel options in Roanoke Rapids.

The Address of the Race Starting Location is:

145 Oakwood Avenue

Roanoke Rapids, NC 27870

Click here for driving directions. Plan to arrive early, and please carpool. Parking is VERY LIMITED. The first to arrive will be parked at the race start/finish area. Once these spots are filled, we will use an overflow lot that is .6 miles away. We will have two shuttle vans running to transport runners.

Official Hotel: Hampton Inn Roanoke Rapids

Hampton Inn - Roanoke Rapids

The Hampton Inn at Roanoke Rapids is the official host hotel for the 2011 race. A special rate is available to runners. Please call 252-537-7555 and request the Canal Race rate.

Hampton Inn Roanoke Rapids

85 Hampton Boulevard
Roanoke Rapids, NC 27870

Tel: 1-252-537-7555 Fax: 1-252-537-9852

Race Packets will be available at the hotel from 4:00 pm to 9:00 pm in the hotel lobby area. Also be sure to grab some breakfast before you head at the door for the race. As with all Hampton Inns, breakfast is included with your stay!

Other Hotel Options:

For additional hotel options, please check out the Visit Halifax site, and then click on the "Stay" link at the top of the page. While you are there be sure to check out all of the other activities available around the greater Roanoke Rapids area.

Course Photos

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To view a collection of over 80 race course photos now, visit our Facebook group.

FAQs

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Q: Where is Roanoke Rapids?
A: Roanoke Rapids is located in North Carolina about 10 miles over the Virginia border on I-95. It is easily reached and only 90 minutes from Richmond, Raleigh, Greenville, or Suffolk. The short drive sets us up for a large competitive field of runners.

Q: Where does the race start?
A: The race start is at Roanoke Rapids Lake Park. The address is 145 Oakwood Avenue, Roanoke Rapids, NC 27870. Please plan to arrive early, and please carpool. Parking is VERY LIMITED. The first to arrive will be parked at the race start/finish area. Once these spots are filled, we will use an overflow lot that is .7 miles away. We will have two shuttle vans running to transport runners.

Q: Where can I pick up my race packet?
A: There are three chances to pick up your packet early.

Friday: 10:00 am - 3:00 pm @ Roanoke Canal Museum
Friday: 4:00 pm - 9:00 pm @ Hampton Inn, Roanoke Rapids
Saturday: 6:30 am - 7:30 am @ Roanoke Rapids Lake Park

Q: Will Half Marathon runners receive a medal?
A: Yes. All finisher's will receive custom finisher's medals that are in the mold of the original Roanoke Navigation Company design.

Q: Can I walk this event?
A: Walkers are invited to participate in the 8k event. This will allow ample time for you to finish the event without the pressure of a cut-off time, and still allow you to experience the beauty of Roanoke Canal Trail.

Q: What time do the races start?
A: The half marathon will begin at 8:00 a.m. The 8k will begin at 8:30 a.m. We wanted each race to have their own start so runners are not crowded on the trail. This also prevents a large gap in between awards ceremonies after the race.

Q: Is there a cut of time?
A: Half Marathon runners should be able to finish the race in a 14:00 pace. This is a 3:03 half marathon time. Having a cut off time allows us to release the volunteers at a reasonable hour.

Q: Can I train on the Roanoke Canal Trail?
A: Absolutely. In fact we hope you will! The Roanoke Canal Museum and Trail invite you to come out often to prepare for the race, and see all that Roanoke Rapids has to offer. Once you run the trail once, you are sure to come back for more.

Q: Can I register the morning of the race?A: This depends. We are expecting a sell out, so registering on race day is a gamble. To ensure a safe and fun race for everyone involved the number of entries are limited. If you register after February 28th your shirt size will not be guaranteed. We anticipate this will be a popular event, so early registration is encouraged.

Q: Do the 8k and Half Marathon start together?
A: No. We want to ensure a clean start for both races. The Half Marathon will begin at 8:00 am, and the 8k will begin at 8:30 a.m. These start times should eliminate any overlap on the race course, allowing us to maximize the amount of runners we can accept.

Q: Will my GPS work on the Roanoke Canal Trail?
A: Not with great accuracy. Virtually the entire race you run beside trees, and frequently the path takes you through the woods. In addition there are many gentle zig zags, and a GPS may not accurately pick up every detail. We will have mile markers on the course. We recommend leaving the GPS at home.

Q: Will the course be clearly marked?
A: Yes. The out and back course will be clearly marked. In the few places where you make turns, or encounter traffic we will have volunteers to direct you where to go. We will also have mile makers for both races.

Q: What is the terrain like?
A: Don't be intimidated by the Roanoke Canal Trail. Although it is off road, the vast majority of the trail runs parallel to the Roanoke Canal and the Roanoke River. This makes for a trail that is primarily flat. There are some brief dips and "rollers" but no major climbs. The footing is great, even if you are brand new to trails. Don't be surprised if you set a half marathon PR on the course!

Q: Will there be food after the race?
A: Yes. Runners will have drinks and snacks after the finish provided by Halifax County.

Q: Where do I park?
A: Parking is limited, so we encourage carpooling. Runners will park in the Roanoke Rapids Lake parking lot, and on the road that leads to the lake. Volunteers will direct you when you arrive. Please follow their instructions. You are strongly encouraged to arrive early to help with the parking situation.

Q: Will there be starting corrals?
A: Yes. We will use a "mini wave start" to avoid congestion when entering the paths. We used this same approach in 2008 and it worked very well. It ensures a safe start and because of our chip timing, does not impact the results.

Q: What happens if it rains?
A: We will still run in the rain. If there is lightning we will delay the start. If we do not foresee a large enough time window to execute the race, the race will be canceled. A rain date will be considered, but it is not guaranteed. Rescheduling is very challenging because of several fixed costs that are non refundable.

Q: Will there be awards?A: Yes. We will have awards for the the first-third overall Male and Female, first place Master's winners, and first-third for age groups.

Rules and Awards

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The Awards:

All Half Marathon runners will receive a custom finisher's medal. The medal will be a piece of history, as they will be replicas of the original Roanoke River Navigation Company seal. These will be anything but a generic award. They will be custom made only for the Roanoke Canal Half Marathon. Click here for a preview.

Overall awards will be given in both the Half Marathon and 8k races. Awards are planned three deep in the following categories for both men and women:

Overall;
Masters (Top Master only)
12 and under (8k only)
13-19;
20-29;
30-39;
40-49;
50-59;
60 and over.

Awards will begin at the conclusion of the Half Marathon. Yes, you may need to wait a bit for the awards to occur, but please stick around and enjoy the friendship with the other runners. Runners will only receive one award (i.e. overall winners do not also receive age group awards.)

As we add sponsors, there may be opportunities to add additional prizes and incentives. Stay tuned!

The Rules:

1) All race entries are final. No refunds will be provided should you have to cancel.

2) Race Director, the Race Committee, and The Roanoke Canal Museum and Trail staff reserve the right to reject an application or remove any participant from the course at our discretion.

3) Runners should stay on the right side of the trail whenever possible. This is especially important between miles six and nine when runners will be traveling in both directions.

4) Cutoff Time: Runners must be able to complete the half marathon race course in a 14:00 pace (3:03 total time). This allows for us to release out volunteers on time.

5) We do not allow dogs, skates, bikes or baby joggers on the race course.

6) Transfer of race numbers is strictly prohibited. Anytime a runner uses another person's number, it causes concern for a race director. For your safety, we need to know who is in the race, and who should be contacted in the event of an emergency. In addition race results are adversely affected from this, which can cause awards errors in a small race. Please help us enforce this rule, by not giving your number away.

7) There are no pacers or bandits allowed in the race. Any runner found on the course without a number will be removed. Any extra runners entering the race takes away from those that paid to run.

8) Once you cross the finish line, runners must proceed towards the chip removal area, and get a bottle of water. This is important as we need to have a clear area for all runners to finish. Please respect this rule. Even if your friend is just a few minutes behind you, please head towards the post race area and meet them there.

9) Share the trail. The canal trail is wide for most of the course, and frequently allow for 3-4 runners wide, but we still request runners to not block the trails by running three runners across. There are portions of the trail between mile six and nine where it becomes very narrow. Show courtesy to runners when passing. When getting passed, move to the right side of the path to allow the faster runner by. This will help ensure a safe race for everyone.

Final Runner Instructions

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Hello Runners! We hope this email finds you well. The Roanoke Canal Half Marathon & 8k presented by Wal-Mart is finally here! We are very excited to bring you this inaugural race event, and hope you will enjoy every moment of it. Below is some valuable information about the upcoming race. Please take some time to read though these details to help ensure a successful race for everyone.

RACE LOCATION AND PARKING: The race will start at Roanoke Rapids Lake Park. The address is 145 Oakwood Avenue, Roanoke Rapids, NC 27870. Please plan to arrive early, and please carpool. Parking is VERY LIMITED. The first to arrive will be parked at the race start/finish area. Once these spots are filled, we will use an overflow lot at Belmont Elementary School that is .6 miles away. We will have two shuttle vans to transport runners if you prefer not to walk. There will be volunteers to direct you to your parking.

PACKET PICKUP: Early packet pickup is strongly encouraged. With 400 runners expected at the race, we would like to avoid long lines at packet pickup. Please bring an ID to the pick up. We will allow runners to pick up packets for friends. Race packets can be picked up at the locations listed below:

Friday (10-3 pm) at the Roanoke Canal Museum
Friday (4-10 pm) at the Hilton Garden Inn
Saturday (6:30-7:45 am) at the Roanoke Rapids Lake Park.

HOTEL: If you have not reserved your hotel room for the race, we recommend booking at the official host hotel, the Hilton Garden Inn. This new hotel will give you a great night of sleep before the race. Not only that, you can pick up your packet there on Friday, enjoy a social on Friday evening, get a discounted runner rate, and even request a late check out (must be requested upon arrival). Call them today at 252-519-2333 and be sure to request the Roanoke Canal Race rate. The Roanoke Canal Park is 10-15 minutes from the hotel, so be sure to allow time to get to the race start.

RACE START TIMES: The Half Marathon will start promptly at 8:00 am. The 8k will start at 8:30 am. We do ask that all 8k runners arrive before the half marathon so they can pick up their packets, and not interfere with the half marathon start. It is your responsibility to get to the race on time. Plan to arrive early to avoid traffic, and know where you are going.

RACE COURSE: The course for both races is entirely on the Roanoke Canal Trail and is an out and back race. We remind all runners to share the trail so we can make it enjoyable for everyone involved. Close to the turn around points it becomes important for runners to stay to their right to ensure everyone can have their fastest race possible. All turns and miles will be clearly marked.

TIMING AND RESULTS: Both races will be chip timed be East Carolina Road Racing (ECRUN) using the IPICO timing system. IPICO Sports is the official timing system vendor for the Road Runners Club of America. These chips must be picked up on race morning. NO CHIP = NO TIME. Chips should be hooked to your shoes using the supplied zip ties. Results and Awards will be based on chip time.

MINI WAVES: Because the race course quickly enters the Canal Trail, the half marathon will have three mini-waves to start the race. This will ensure there is not a bottle neck in the race. Each wave will have roughly 100 runners and will start one minute apart. Your wave will be listed in your race packet and based on your predicted time. Because awards are based on chip time the waves will not impact your results. Please help us by starting with your correct wave. The 8k will have one single start.

AID STATIONS: There will be four aid stations for the half marathon, and one for the 8k. Runners will hit each of these twice. This mean there will be eight opportunities to stay hydrated on the half marathon. We will have water and Gatorade at the aid stations. The aid station at mile 6/7 will have GU energy gel available for the runners. Please respect the trail, and throw your cups and trash in the trash cans that follow the aid stations.

BATHROOMS: In addition to the park restrooms that are on site, there will be three additional porta-potties at the start/finish area. Please don't wait until the last second to visit the restrooms. There will also be a porta-potty at mile 6/7 of the race and if needed runners can use the restroom inside the Roanoke Canal Museum at mile 2/11 as well.

RACE DAY REGISTRATION: There will not be race day registration for the half marathon as only four spots currently remain. There are currently 20 spots left in the 8k. If the race does not sell out in advance your friends can sign up on race day, but they will be taking a chance that we could sell out.

RACE PERKS: Even though we are a small town race, we try to give runners the best experience possible.

Bibs - Personalized numbers with your name and state
Shirts - Technical shirts for the half, and cotton for the 8k
Custom Race Medals - Replicas of the old Roanoke Navigation Seal
Sling Pack Race Bags - Reusable bags for all runners

AWARDS: In addition to the half marathon finisher's medals, the top three overall and in each age group will win a custom pint glass with the race logo on one side, and the Roanoke Navigation Company seal on the other. Local Vineyard, Ventosa Plantation will also provide bottles of wine to the top 3 overall, and each each group winner. We anticipate the 8k awards will begin around 10:15 am, and the half marathon awards will be around 10:45. Please try to stay around and cheer on your fellow runners while you wait. If you are not able to pick up your award at the race, we will be unable to mail them out.

We look forward to seeing all of you at the race. Please travel safely.

Charity Slots

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We are very pleased to once again sell out the Roanoke Canal Half Marathon. Because of parking restrictions and the nature of the race course, we are forced limit the number of runners who can enter. We do not want to allow in more runners if it takes away from the overall race experience.

We do have 10 Charity Slots that are available if you still would like to run. Charity slots are $100, and 100% of that entry fee goes directly to the Roanoke Canal Commission. By selling all 10 of these slots we will add an additional $1000 to our fund raising efforts.

Your $100 contribution gets you the following:

Race Entry fee
Long Sleeve Technical Race Shirt
Race sling pack draw string bag
Personalized Race number (register by 03/02)
RR Parks & Rec Backpack (exclusive gift to Charity runners)
Pride knowing you helped to support the Roanoke Canal Trail and Museum

So please consider joining 400 other runners on March 12 at the 2nd Annual Roanoke Canal Half Marathon and 8k. Thank you!

About the Fees: The Roanoke Canal Half Marathon and 8k are not a super-sized races that are designed to make lots of money. The race is a small race with a cap of 400 runners, but will provide you with big-race quality. Proceeds from the event, will benefit the Friends of the Roanoke Canal Museum & Trail.

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