Looking for answers to your most-pressing 2009 Nike Women’s Marathon questions? Keep reading!

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

TRAVEL

AIRLINE
Book your travel through JetBlue Airlines.

IS THERE A HOST HOTEL?
There’s no specific host hotel. San Francisco offers a wide variety of lodging options in a wide range of prices.

The San Francisco Convention and Visitor's Bureau can also recommend hotels:

San Francisco Convention & Visitors Bureau
201 Third Street, Suite 900
San Francisco, CA 94103-3185
Phone: 415-974-6900
TDD: 415-227-2619
Fax: 415-227-2602
www.onlyinsanfrancisco.com

Hours: Monday-Friday, 8:30am-5pm
Closed weekends and major holidays

SHOULD I STAY CLOSE TO THE START LINE OR FINISH LINE?
We recommend that you stay within walking distance of San Francisco's Union Square, where the race will start and the Expotique before the race will be held on Thursday, Friday and Saturday. There will be transportation back to Union Square from the finish line for a fee of $10. Accommodations near the finish line are limited.

HOW CAN I FIND OUT ABOUT RESTAURANTS IN SAN FRANCISCO?
Contact the San Francisco Convention and Visitor's Bureau for recommended restaurants.

San Francisco Convention & Visitors Bureau
201 Third Street, Suite 900
San Francisco, CA 94103-3185
Phone: 415-974-6900
TDD: 415-227-2619
Fax: 415-227-2602
www.onlyinsanfrancisco.com

Hours: Monday-Friday, 8:30am-5pm
Closed weekends and major holidays

TRANSPORTATION

WILL PARTICIPANT TRANSPORTATION BE AVAILABLE?
Participants may purchase a ticket for a post-race shuttle for $10, while spaces are available. This shuttle provides transportation from the finish line back to Union Square and AT&T Park.

CAN I STILL PURCHASE A TRANSPORTATION TICKET IF I DID NOT PURCHASE ONE WHEN I REGISTERED FOR THE RACE?
Yes, you can purchase participant or spectator(s) transportation tickets at the Expotique Ticket Booth race weekend. CASH and CHECK only, while spaces are available.

WILL TRANSPORTATION BE AVAILABLE FOR FRIENDS/FAMILY? HOW CAN I PURCHASE TICKETS?
Spectator tickets may be purchased for the round-trip race course shuttle for $15. This shuttle provides transportation from Union Square to designated Family Cheer stations along the course, to the finish line and then back to Union Square and AT&T Park. These tickets can be purchased at the time of online registration or during race weekend at the Expotique. Spaces are limited. For more information on the Family Cheer stations, visit the Ticket Booth at the Expotique.

PARKING

WHERE DO I PARK FOR THE EVENT?
Parking and free shuttles will be available to transport runners, volunteers and spectators from AT&T Park to the start line. In addition, parking will be available in various parking garages within a half-mile of Union Square for a fee. Spaces are limited. Nike does not guarantee runners a parking space.

AT&T Parking & Pre-race Shuttles
3rd Street & China Basin Street
Parking will be available for a nominal fee
Shuttles from AT&T Park to the starting line/Union Square are free
Shuttle Hours: 4:30am-6:30am

POST-RACE TRANSPORTATION

What type of transportation is offered post-race?
Transportation from the finish line back to Union Square/AT&T Park will be available for a fee of $10. If you have not already purchased a transportation ticket, you can do so race weekend at the Expotique Ticket Booth. CASH and CHECK only.

JFK/The Great Highway
Shuttle Hours: 9:00am-3:00pm

Public Transportation
Visit www.sfmuni.com or call 415.673.MUNI

PARTICIPANTS

CAN WALKERS PARTICIPATE IN EITHER THE MARATHON OR HALF MARATHON?
Yes, walkers are welcome in either event. However, all participants must complete the race within 6.5 hours. To complete the full marathon by 1:30pm, you must maintain a pace of 14:30 minutes per mile (or faster). Participants in the full marathon who have not reached Lake Merced by 12:30pm will be turned around, but will be allowed to complete the rest of the course. Walkers who are not on pace to complete the event before the course closes at 1:30pm will be picked up and transported to the finish by our SAG (Support and Gear) buses.

HOW MANY RUNNERS DO YOU EXPECT TO PARTICIPATE THIS YEAR?
There will be approximately 20,000 participants.

CAN MEN PARTICIPATE?
Yes, the Nike Women's Marathon welcomes all runners and walkers.

HOW CAN I VOLUNTEER?
We welcome your participation as a volunteer! The event will need thousands of volunteers to staff the aid stations, work the Expotique and offer support to the runners at the start and finish. To volunteer, click here or email volunteer@tricalifornia.com. All volunteers will receive an official race volunteer t-shirt.

THE RACE & COURSE

WILL THE FULL MARATHON AND HALF MARATHON START AT THE SAME LOCATION?
Yes, the full marathon and half marathon both start at Union Square and follow the same course. Half marathon participants will split from the full marathon participants after mile 11.

HOW MANY WATER STATIONS AND PORTO-LETS WILL BE AVAILABLE?
There will be 14 aid stations along the course. Porto-lets will be available at all aid stations.

WHAT IS THE TERRAIN OF THE COURSE?
The Nike Women's Marathon and half marathon courses will remain the same as the courses have been since 2005. The race will kick off in Downtown San Francisco at Union Square and head through the financial district past the famous TransAmerica building. It will then proceed along the San Francisco Bay past Fisherman's Wharf, Aquatic Park, Ghirardelli Square, Fort Mason and Marina Green while revealing breathtaking views of Alcatraz and The Golden Gate Bridge. The course then weaves through the Presidio and Sea Cliff districts, out to the Great Highway, through Golden Gate Park and south around Lake Merced, finishing just north of the Great Highway along the Pacific Ocean.

SHOULD I BE WORRIED ABOUT THE HILLS ON THIS COURSE?
There are no cable car hills on the Nike Women's Marathon course. Many runners find the hills a welcome challenge that offers the reward of spectacular hilltop views of the bay. The course is extremely scenic, covering most of San Francisco coastline.

IS IT A LOOP COURSE OR OUT AND BACK?
The course is a point-to-point race. It begins in downtown San Francisco at Union Square and finishes along the Great Highway at San Francisco's Ocean Beach.

IS THE COURSE CERTIFIED BY USA TRACK AND FIELD?
Yes, the course is USAT&F certified, and can be used to qualify for the Boston Marathon.

CAN THIS RACE COUNT TOWARD BOSTON MARATHON QUALIFICATION?
Yes, the Boston Marathon will recognize qualifying times from the Nike Women's Marathon.

WHERE CAN I FIND A COURSE MAP?
Click HERE to check out the course map.

DO I NEED TO COMPLETE THE COURSE BY A SPECIFIC TIME?
Yes, the marathon and half marathon courses will be open for 6.5 hours. You must finish your race by 1:30pm to receive an official time, Tiffany & Co. Finisher’s Necklace and a Nike Dri-FIT Finisher's T-shirt.

WHAT IF I CANNOT COMPLETE THE COURSE IN 6.5 HOURS?
Participants who are unable to complete the full marathon within 6.5 hours will be transported to the finish line by race officials.

HOW MUCH OF THE COURSE SURFACE IS ASPHALT (AS OPPOSED TO CONCRETE)?
The course is about 80% asphalt.

WHERE CAN MY FRIENDS AND FAMILY CHEER ME ON?
There are various spectator-friendly vistas on the course. Check back soon for cheer and entertainment locations. Spectator transportation shuttles will also take family and friends to select Family Cheer stations on-course from Union Square before heading to the Finish Line. Visit the Ticket Booth at the Expotique for more information and to purchase tickets ($15).

THE EVENT

WHO IS PRODUCING THE EVENT?
For the sixth year, Nike has engaged On Board Entertainment and, in their fifth year, Tri-California Events to produce this event.

AWARDS

WHAT PRIZES WILL BE AWARDED AND IN WHAT CATEGORIES?
The Nike Women’s Marathon will recognize and award the top three female runners to cross the finish line in both the full and half marathons. These overall winners will be determined solely by the order in which they cross the finish line, as opposed to chip times. Therefore, female runners who would like to compete for the top three spots should plan to line-up as close to the starting line as possible. This is an open race and there will not be separate start times or a designated “elite” pack.

In addition to the first, second, and third place winners, the Nike Women’s Marathon will recognize the top male and female finishers in each age group. Chip-time will be used to establish age group winners and awards will be mailed within three to four weeks.

AGE GROUPS:

Under 19
20-24
25-29
30-34
35-39
40-44
45-49
50-54
55-59
60-64
65-69
70-74
75-79
80+

WHEN AND WHERE WILL THE AWARD CEREMONY BE HELD?
Awards will be presented to the top (3) female finishers in both the marathon and half marathon. All division awards will be mailed after the event. The half marathon award ceremony will be held on the main stage at the Nike Women’s Marathon finish at 10:00am; the full marathon award ceremony will be held at 11:00am.

DO ALL RACERS RECEIVE A MEDAL OR CERTIFICATE?
Each finisher of the Nike Women's Marathon and half marathon will receive the following: A Nike Dri-FIT Finisher T-shirt and an Official Finisher's Necklace designed by Tiffany & Co.

THE CAUSE

WHAT IS TEAM IN TRAINING?
The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society's Team In Training (TNT) is the world’s first, largest and best charity sports training program. Participants raise funds to help find cures for leukemia, lymphoma and myeloma. In exchange, they receive personalized coaching, training clinics and the support and camaraderie of a team. Participants can choose from more than 60 accredited events in the U.S. and abroad. The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society provides airfare and accommodations to their event destinations. A key element of the TNT experience is training in honor of a local blood cancer survivor whose courage provides motivation and inspiration. To learn more about TNT or to attend an informational meeting in your area visit www.teamintraining.org or call 1.800.482.TEAM.

HOW LONG HAS NIKE BEEN A SPONSOR OF TEAM IN TRAINING?
Nike and TNT have enjoyed a very rewarding partnership since 2002, and look forward to a long run.

HOW MUCH MONEY HAS TEAM IN TRAINING RAISED OVER THE YEARS?
Since Team In Training's inception in 1988, more than 389,000 participants have raised over $950 million to support the Society's research and patient services programs. Last year, TNT raised $18.5 million dollars through the Nike Women's Marathon.

IS TEAM IN TRAINING TARGETED TO ANY PARTICULAR LEVEL?
People of all ages—from novices to seasoned athletes—participate in Team In Training. Novice athletes succeed in the program with the help of personalized coaching as well as a supportive and friendly team environment. Everyone participates in honor of a patient, which provides a strong motivation to succeed.

ARE ALL REGISTERED PARTICIPANTS TRAINING WITH TEAM IN TRAINING (TNT) FOR THE NIKE WOMEN'S MARATHON?
No. Although 1/4 of all participants have trained through TNT, many runners have trained on their own and raised funds through The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society's Make Cures Happen.

CAN I REGISTER THROUGH TNT?
Yes, please visit www.teamintraining.org/nwm for more information.

POST-RACE INFORMATION

WHERE CAN I FIND RACE RESULTS?
After the race, results will be posted at NikeMarathon.com within a few days.

WHERE CAN I FIND PREVIOUS YEAR'S RACE RESULTS?
The 2007 race results can be found HERE.
The 2008 race results can be found HERE.

WHO CAN I CONTACT IF I HAVE FURTHER QUESTIONS?
Please email nike@tricalifornia.com or call (866) RUN-NIKE with any additional questions.

REGISTRATION/ PACKET PICKUP/ EXPOTIQUE

WHEN WILL REGISTRATION OPEN FOR THE 2009 NIKE WOMEN’S MARATHON?
Registration for the 2009 Nike Women’s Marathon will once again be held through a random drawing process. Runners can begin registering for the random drawing starting Wednesday, March 4th at 9am PDT. Registration for the random drawing will close on Wednesday, March 18th at 11:59pm PDT.

WHY ARE YOU UTILIZING A RANDOM DRAWING?
The Nike Women’s Marathon has become a sellout event. Due to the high demand for registration, we believe a random drawing format makes registration fair for all interested participants. To view the official rules for the random drawing, please scroll down to the bottom of the FAQs.

WHAT IS THE RANDOM DRAWING PROCEDURE?
Participants must visit NikeMarathon.com for a link and submit their registration online prior to March 18th, 2009 at 11:59pm PDT to qualify for the random drawing. Only one registration will be allowed per person and duplicate registrations will be removed prior to the random drawing. Names will be drawn by a randomized and automatic computer program, and only runners selected for the 2009 Nike Women’s Marathon will have their credit card charged for the race registration fee. Once credit card payment has been verified, accepted participants will be notified via email at the end of March. Note: If your credit card is not authorized, you will not be selected! Participants not selected by the random computer drawing will also receive an email in late March with this notification.

I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT I CAN RUN WITH MY FRIENDS AND FAMILY. HOW CAN I DO THAT THROUGH THE RANDOM DRAWING?
To ensure that you can run with friends and family on race day, you should register in the random drawing as part of a group. Groups must create a Group ID–an agreed upon email address that each member of the group must enter exactly the same into the Group ID box. Groups are accepted –or not-accepted–together. Registering as a group does not increase your chances of being selected.

HOW CAN I VERIFY THAT I AM OFFICIALLY REGISTERED?
Please click here to view a complete database of all who have entered the 2009 Nike Women's Marathon random drawing. If you cannot find your name, make sure you have entered your information correctly in the query fields. If you still cannot find your name, please email nike@tricalifornia.com or call us at 1-866-RUN-NIKE.

WILL I RECEIVE A CONFIRMATION EMAIL FOR MY REGISTRATION FOR THE RANDOM DRAWING?
No, you will not receive an email confirming your entry into the random drawing. Instead, you will see a screen at the end of the registration process confirming that your entry has been accepted. You can also confirm you've registered for the random drawing by clicking here. Names are entered into the database on a daily basis, so if you don't see your name, check back later. You will also receive an email from Nike directly at the end of March indicating your status as a 2009 Nike Women’s Marathon participant.

WILL LEGACY RUNNERS BE RECOGNIZED IN 2009?
Yes, we will continue to recognize and applaud the tradition of running with Nike that Legacy runners have committed to. If you are a Legacy Runner, you will receive an email in early March with information for your unique registration process. Legacy Runners do not need to register for the random drawing.

WILL THERE BE AN ELITE DIVISION?
In 2009, the Nike Women’s Marathon will not provide an early, elite start. As in past years, and in accordance with USAT&F rules, overall winners will be determined based on gun time. Therefore, female runners who would like to compete for the top three spots should plan to line-up as close to the starting line as possible.

CAN I CHANGE MY MIND ABOUT WHICH DISTANCE TO RUN?
Switching events is not allowed. To maintain the integrity of the event, we will not be able to accommodate switches from one distance to another.

WHAT IF I REGISTER AND THEN BECOME INJURED OR AM UNABLE TO ATTEND THE RACE?
Your race entry is non-refundable. There are no refunds for cancelled entries. In addition, we are unable to transfer entry fees to other Nike races.

CAN I TRANSFER MY REGISTRATION TO ANOTHER RUNNER?
No, your registration, racing bib and timing chip are non-transferable.

CAN SOMEONE ELSE PICK UP MY RACE PACKET ON MY BEHALF?
No, each registered individual must pick up her own race packet. You must bring your confirmation email. Also, you must bring your ID to packet pick-up. No packets can be picked up without showing a valid ID.

WHERE CAN I PICK UP MY RACE PACKET?
Race packets will be available for pick up only at the Expotique at Union Square on October 15th, 16th and 17th. Please bring the confirmation email you will receive from Nike in October and a valid ID.

CAN I PICK UP MY PACKET ON RACE DAY?
No, there will not be packet pick-up on race day. All participants must pick up their packet in person at the Expotique on October 15th, 16th or 17th. Please bring the confirmation email you will receive from Nike in October and a valid ID.

NIKE WOMEN’S RANDOM DRAWING OFFICIAL RULES

No purchase necessary. Void where prohibited

WHO MAY APPLY?
Any men or women who are eighteen (18) or older as of March 4, 2009 may apply to participate in the NIKE Women’s Marathon and Half Marathon.

HOW DO I APPLY?
Visit www.nikemarathon.com between 9:00 am (PDT) on March 4, 2009 and 11:59 pm (PDT) on March 18, 2009, for the link to the 2009 registration page hosted by SignMeUp.com. As part of the application process, you will be required to provide a credit card number and accept the specified fees. Limit one entry per person regardless of method of entry. Multiple entries submitted by a single entrant are void and may be grounds for complete removal from the Random Drawing. Please note that your credit card will not be charged unless you are selected to participate in the Marathon.

WHEN ARE RUNNERS SELECTED?
On or about March 20, 2009, NIKE will randomly select 22,000 applicants to run in the Marathon or Half Marathon. If you are selected, you will receive an e-mail from NIKE notifying you of your selection on or about March 25, 2009. In addition, the credit card that you entered on the application form will be charged a nonrefundable fee in the amount you selected on the application form. A link to the SignMeUp.com searchable database of runners who are selected to participate will be posted on the nikemarathon.com website on or about March 25, 2009.

WHAT OTHER TERMS SHOULD I BE AWARE OF?
In the event that the operation, security, or administration of the application process is impaired in any way for any reason, including, but not limited to fraud, virus, or other technical problem, NIKE USA, Inc. may, in its sole discretion, suspend the application process to address the impairment and then resume accepting applications. NIKE USA, Inc. reserves the right in its sole discretion to disqualify any individual or store it finds to be tampering with the application process or to be acting in an unsportsmanlike or disruptive manner. Any attempt by any person to undermine the legitimate operation of the application process may be a violation of criminal and civil law, and, should such an attempt be made, NIKE USA, Inc. reserves the right to seek damages from any such person to the fullest extent permitted by law. NIKE USA, Inc.’s failure to enforce any term of these Official Rules shall not constitute a waiver of that provision.

By submitting an application, applicants agree to release and hold harmless NIKE USA, Inc., its parent and related companies, and their respective officers, directors, employees, and agents (the “Released Parties”) from and against any claim or cause of action arising out of the application process or participation in the Marathon or Half Marathon, including, but not limited to (a) unauthorized human intervention in the application process, (b) technical errors related that may prevent an application from being processed, or (c) injury to persons or property which may be caused, directly or indirectly, in whole or in part, from entrant’s participation in the Marathon or Half Marathon. Applicant waives the right to claim any damages whatsoever, including, but not limited to, punitive, consequential, direct, or indirect damages.