CIGNA Falmouth Road Race: Race Details: Events

NOTE: This is the pre-race information from 2007. It will be updated when the new information is finalized. Most of the schedule will be similar for 2008.

NUMBER PICK-UP: You need to print your number form from our web-site (link is at the end of this information sheet). This form indicates your assigned number and must be printed and brought to race headquarters during the times listed below. When you present the form at the number table you’ll receive your number and ChampionChip. Numbers and chips cannot be mailed and must be picked up.

2007 NUMBER PICK-UP SCHEDULE:
Wednesday, Aug. 8, 5 p.m. to 9 p.m.
Thursday, Aug.9, 5 p.m. to 9 p.m.
Friday, Aug. 10, 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Saturday, Aug. 11, 10 a.m. to 4, AND 6 to 9 p.m.

We encourage runners from the local area to pick up their numbers during the earlier pick-up times.

THERE WILL BE NO NUMBER OR GIFT PICK-UP ON RACE DAY.

DIRECTIONS TO RACE HEADQUARTERS – GUS CANTY RECREATION CENTER, 790 Main Street: from I-495, go over the Bourne Bridge, follow Route 28 south into Falmouth. Take a left at the first traffic light. Go to the next light, Gifford St., and take a right. Go to the stop sign, Main St., and take a left. The Recreation Center is about a half-mile down the street on the left. From Route 3 southbound, go over the Sagamore Bridge, take the first exit after the bridge and follow the signs for Falmouth to the Bourne Rotary; then follow the directions (above) from Route 28.

Once you have picked up your number and ChampionChip, please safeguard them. We will not be able to replace them if you lose them! Please take the time to read this information, as it will answer many of the questions you may have.

PLEASE NOTE MAXIMUM FINISH TIME: Due to the heavy traffic and large crowds resulting from the race, we ask runners to participate ONLY if they can finish in 90 minutes or less. The race will officially end at noon.

PLEASE DO NOT SWITCH OR GIVE AWAY YOUR NUMBER or CHIP as this creates problems for us in compiling the age-group results, especially if a male uses a female number (“F” designation), or if a young runner uses a number assigned to an older runner. Your chip is loaned to us and you. It must be returned or you will be charged $35 and excluded from next year’s race.

LIMITED ACCESS TO WOODS HOLE: Access to the start area in Woods Hole will be strictly controlled and there is no parking available. Only official vehicles will be allowed to drive to Woods Hole. Registered runners should not drive to the start, but should take the FREE buses provided by the race. Unregistered runners will not be allowed on the buses.

UNREGISTERED RUNNERS cause many problems: they disrupt the start, crowd the course, infringe on the rights of official runners and cause congestion at the finish and on the ball field. Please try to discourage anyone you know who plans to run unofficially. We realize many want to run, and we would like to accommodate everyone, but the narrow course, large number of runners and congestion forces us to limit the number of runners we can accept. We hope you will discourage “crashers.”

FRIDAY SUPPER, LAWRENCE SCHOOL, 113 LAKEVIEW AVENUE, 4:30 to 7:30 p.m., featuring Willow Tree Poultry Farm chicken salad sandwiches, Cape Cod Potato Chips, Tribe Mediterranean hummus, New England clam chowder, Ocean Spray and Poland Spring beverages, and a variety of ice cream flavors and toppings from Creative Creamery. Free to registered runners with ticket from the number pick-up form. Runners’ guests of all ages are welcome for $5 each.

STROLLING MUSICIANS IN WOODS HOLE, 7 TO 10 p.m. The John Salerno Band will stroll and play along Water Street. The Whoosh trolley makes regular runs between the Falmouth Mall and Woods Hole every half hour, traveling along Main Street. Log on to www.capecodtransit.org for detailed information.

RUNNERS’ EXPO AT Race Headquarters, Gus Canty Recreation Center, 790 Main Street: 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., will feature athletic-wear exhibits and information from various health and fitness experts, as well as displays by our principal sponsor, CIGNA. Reebok, our footwear sponsor, and other companies will have running shoes for sale. Reebok will feature “Expo Pricing” and a gift with purchase.

INNOVATIONS IN THE TREATMENT OF RUNNING INJURIES: Check out an interesting and informative presentation by orthopedic surgeon Dr. Don O’Malley on Saturday, Aug. 11 at 11 a.m. at race headquarters.

MEET ASTRONAUT SUNI WILLIAMS, just back from her record-setting voyage. She will be on hand to sign autographs from 10:30 to 11:15 a.m. at the Expo, NASA mission requirements permitting.

MEET THE OLYMPIANS, PAST AND PRESENT, at 2 p.m. at the Expo, including Frank Shorter, Bill Rodgers, Joan Samuelson, Rod Dixon, Catherine Ndereba and current U.S. Olympic silver medalist Meb Keflezighi.

FALMOUTH MILE, Falmouth High School, 874 Gifford Street. This is an invitational prize money event with bonuses to the men who break four minutes and women who break 4:33. Races at 6:15 p.m. and 6:30 p.m.

FALMOUTH WALK, 10 a.m.: 5k walk along part of the race route starting at Town Hall Square to benefit various local charities. Register at the Quarterdeck Restaurant, 164 Main Street, Friday, 5 to 8 p.m. or Saturday morning.

THE POWER OF MUSICK, Saturday at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday at 4 p.m., an oratorio by Handel. Church of the Messiah, Church Street, Woods Hole. No charge, donations welcome.

PARKING: Please avoid parking on private property. If you park close to a business that will be open, your car may be towed. The Falmouth Mall has a large lot, but you should park away from the stores. This location is about a mile from the finish area and from the buses to the start. Also try the Mullen-Hall and Lawrence Schools, Town Hall, the public lot near the library, TD Banknorth (Route 28, across from the Stop and Shop, and at the corner of Palmer Avenue and Jones Road), and the Homeport office complex on Gifford Street (see map in the magazine). Traffic is very heavy around town on race weekend, so allow extra time.

BUSES TO THE START, LAWRENCE SCHOOL, 113 LAKEVIEW AVE. Please take the FREE buses to the start, there is no parking in Woods Hole. Your 2007 competitor’s number will get you on the bus. Buses start running at 7:15 and end at 8:45 a.m. DO NOT wait for the last bus or you may not get to the start on time. The race will begin at 10 a.m. sharp, even if all runners have not arrived.

TOILET FACILITIES. There will be numerous portable toilets where the buses are boarding and throughout the start and finish areas. Please be considerate of private property and seek out the portable toilets.

NUMBER ASSIGNMENT: Your number and its colored band designate your starting group. Please wear your number on the front. USA Track and Field regulations prohibit runners from folding or cutting the sponsor’s name, or altering the number in any way. PLEASE NOTE: For safety and liability reasons and in accordance with U.S.A. Track and Field sanctions, baby strollers, skates and bicycles are not permitted on the course during the race. Also, use of headphones (including earbuds) is not permitted.

Poland Spring drinking water will be available at the start and along the course.

STRETCHING CLINIC: In Woods Hole, 8:45 to 9:15, provided by Satin Fitness. Watch for signs when you get off the bus.

START GROUPS: 10 a.m., 1-500 and F1-F250; immediately after, 501-1500 and F251-F800; 10:04 a.m., 1501-2600 and F801-F1900; 10:08 a.m., 2601-3700 and F1901-F3000; 10:12 a.m., 3701 and over and F3001 and over. You may choose to start with a slower group than the one you’ve been assigned to, but you may NOT start with a faster group. If you do, you will be subject to disqualification.

Find your starting area and your assigned group. The colored band on your number indicates the area where you should be. Look for balloons that match the color of your number. Your ChampionChip is programmed to compensate for the different starting time in computing the official results. PLEASE START IN YOUR ASSIGNED GROUP. When you cross the mat at the starting line the Chip will record that you started, and when you cross the finish mat it will record your finish time. If you do not cross the starting pad, you will not get a start time and will not show up in the results. The Chip will show the group where you started. If you start before your assigned group, you will be eliminated from the results.

FINISH PROCEDURE: There will be a clock at the finish so you will be able to note your time. After you cross the line, move forward until you see the Chip collectors with large orange plastic buckets. Then move to either side of the road and remove your Chip. Volunteers will help if needed. Give your Chip to one of the volunteers. At the end of the finish area you will turn left, where the Poland Spring water will be given out. Please do not stop in this area. Please do not try to come back along the finish area. Continue to the ball field, where additional water, Gatorade and food will be served.

POST-RACE REFRESHMENTS AND PICNIC, 10:45 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. The free refreshments are for REGISTERED RUNNERS ONLY, compliments of CIGNA, Poland Spring, Cape Cod Chips, Cape Dairy, Clif Bar, French’s Mustard, GaGa’s SherBetter, Gatorade and Ocean Spray.

MEETING YOUR FAMILY after the race: You may meet by the basketball court just past the food service area, under the letter that matches your last name. For assistance on the ball field and lost and found, visit our INFO tent. If you need to go back to Woods Hole after the race, take the WHOOSH Trolley from the Falmouth Mall or Main Street. Visit www.capecodtransit.org for schedule.

THE AWARDS CEREMONY will begin on the ball field at 12:30 p.m., preceded by DJ music. In case of inclement weather, the ceremony will be moved to the Falmouth Inn, next to the Race Headquarters, at 1:30 p.m.

RECYCLING will be conducted at all events, thanks to “Save That Stuff.” Please deposit your trash in the designated containers.

OFFICIAL ROAD RACE SHIRTS can be purchased on race day (if we are not sold out) at our stand on the ball field near the backstop. There will be no gift pick-up on race day.

RACE RESULTS will be posted the day after the race on our web site: www.FalmouthRoadRace.com.

AGE-GROUP AWARDS will not be announced at the awards ceremony. Awards will be mailed to the winners after the results have been checked and verified and that may take several weeks. Awards will be based on Chip time and will be sent to the first male and female in these groups: 14 and under; 15 to 18; 50 to 59; 60 to 69; 70 to 74; 75 and over. Falmouth year-round-resident awards are 14 and under; 15 to 18; 19 to 39; 40 to 49; 50 to 59; 60 to 69 and 70 and over.

AWARD PLAQUES FOR RUNNERS: JGE Awards (www.JGEAwards.com) of Norwell, Mass., will be offering custom plaques with the race logo and the runner’s name, time and place. Call Peter Tessicini, 781-878-6661, or e-mail him, petert@jgeawards.com.

LIVE WEBCAST: This year for the first time the CIGNA Falmouth Road Race will be webcast live in its entirety. This remote live stream will follow the lead runners and give you a bird’s eye view of the race from start to finish. The webcast will be seen on www.wbz1030.com and is provided to you by WBZ Radio in Boston, the CIGNA Falmouth Road Race and Cape Cod E-Com of Yarmouth Port.

PLIMOTH PLANTATION: Runners who show their 2007 CIGNA Falmouth Road Race number will be admitted FREE to Plimoth Plantation, including the Mayflower II, for the remainder of the season. All others in their party will receive a discount of $4 off an adult combination admission ticket and $2 off a child combination admission ticket. Plimoth Plantation and Mayflower II are open daily 9 - 5 through Thanksgiving. For more information visit www.plimoth.org.

FOR YOUR SAFETY PLEASE COMPLETE THE INFORMATION ON THE BACK OF YOUR NUMBER!

THERE WILL BE NO POST-RACE SHOWERS AVAILABLE AND NO CLOTHING BUSES TO TAKE YOUR GEAR FROM THE START TO THE FINISH.

Thanks for joining us. Have a wonderful weekend and a good race!

Special thanks to our sponsors and supporters, the 2,000-plus volunteers, our staff and the Town of Falmouth.

Contributing Sponsors: Boston Scientific, Cape.com, Cape Cod Potato Chips, Cli Bar, CL Noonan, Cool 102, Gaga's SherBetter, Gatorade, OceanSpray, Penske Truck Leasing, Poland Spring, Reebok, TD Banknorth, Willow Tree Poultry Farm

Supporting Sponsors: JGE Awards, British Beer Co., Cape Dairy, Capron Lighting and Sound, Cargo Transport, Creative Creamery, Falmouth Inn, Falmouth Toyota, Mirant Corp., Shaughnessey and Ahern Crane, Tribe Mediterranean.

Other Supporters: Atlantic Broom, Boston-Wyman/Burger King, BTI Mayflower, Cape Cod Ambulance, Cape Cod Rehabilitation, Cape Cod Sports Medicine, Coonamessett Inn and Flying Bridge Restaurant, Dunkin’ Donuts, French’s Mustard, Hamilton Tree Co., C.P. Murphy Tree Care, Party Cape Cod, Samuel Adams, Save that Stuff, Staples Industrial, Tracy Volkswagen Audi, George Wise Family.