Frequently Asked Questions

2013 Prairie du Chien Half Marathon

May 4, 2013

What is a Half-Marathon?

A Half Marathon is a race consisting of 13.1 miles. A full marathon is 26.2 miles.

When and where will the race be held?

The race will be held Saturday, May 4, 2013, and will start and end on

St. Feriole Island. Half Marathon runners/walkers will start at 7:30 a.m., with

5K runners/walkers following at 7:45 a.m. The race will be held rain or shine.

Who can participate?

The race is open to runners and walkers of all ages, but we advise everyone to check with their health care professional before entering. Strollers, rollerblades, bicycles, and pets are not allowed on the Half Marathon course. Strollers are allowed on the 5K course. Written parental consent must be provided for any participant under the age of eighteen, and we ask that a parent or guardian be present for the event in case of emergency.

How do I register?

You can register online at Active.com (Click Here).

or register printing out a registration form

and mailing to P.O. Box 394, Prairie du Chien,

WI 53821.   No refunds are allowed.(Click Here)

How do I train for a Half Marathon?

Training for a Half Marathon is simply done by building up your mileage

little by little over time. Whether you are a walker or a runner, you may

be able to accomplish more than you think you can! If you are regularly

walking and/or running, you may already be able to complete the course

easily. Training resources abound on the internet. Seek advice from your

health care professional and then research training plans to fit your level

of fitness. Some recommended sites include www.Active.com,

www.halhigdon.com, and www.runnersworld.com . Explore the websites

to learn how you can accomplish your goals. You will find advice for the novice or

experienced runner or walker. Feel free to do a run/walk combination, too. Set your

own personal goals and strive to reach them!

What if I cannot finish?

First of all, do not worry if you cannot finish. Even the best racers in the

world have days when they cannot finish a race. The victory is in the trying!

But, if for some reason you feel you cannot finish, there will be volunteers

all along the route to help you and/or to contact medical help. The local

police and EMS will be on hand so should an emergency arise, it will be

handled quickly and professionally.

Will there be aid stations along the route?

Yes, we have several aid stations planned, and there will be several rest

room locations along the course. Each aid station will provide a sports drink

and water. Race finishers will be provided with bagels, bananas, sports

drinks, and other light snacks after the race.

How do I volunteer?

Visit the Volunteer page on the website and sign up. You will be contacted about specific tasks needed. Please attend the Volunteer Training meeting to be held prior to the event. (Watch your emails and our website for date and time.) There are many opportunities for members of the community to support this exciting event as a volunteer. Volunteer tasks include, but are not limited to helping with registration, data entry, course preparation and clean-up, traffic control, distributing refreshments, and packet preparation help. We also need musicians willing to volunteer their time along the race route to help serenade and encourage the runners and walkers.

Spectators are important volunteers!

Spectators are critical to the success of any race. People are needed to line

the race route and encourage race participants. Please come out and show

your support and cheer on the runners and walkers! Course maps will be available

at the race start and cheering spectators are an essential part of every race!

Will entrants receive race goodie bags and may I donate items for them?

Yes, entrants will receive race bags with t-shirts and various items. Any local

business is welcome to donate an item or a coupon to help promote their business.

We will need all donations by April 15.

For what is the entry fee used?

The entry fee helps cover the cost of the race. Any profits will be put directly back into the race funds as seed money for the next year. We also are a sponsor of the Prairie du Chien Youth Track Team and, we donate a small portion of the race revenue to Ann’s Hope Foundation (www.annshope.org ), a non-profit organization dedicated to education and research in the fight against Melanoma. The purpose of the event is to encourage personal fitness and to promote tourism to the Prairie du Chien area, and we are excited to be able to help both the Prairie du Chien Youth Track Team and Ann’s Hope Foundation as we expand the race.

Does the race have any sponsors?

Yes, the race has sponsors, but we are actively seeking more to help cover costs and to help expand the event in the future so it can continue to grow to become a premier event in Southwestern Wisconsin. All donations are welcome. In-kind donations are also welcome and needed. Local businesses are also invited to sponsor aid stations and coordinate volunteers for their station. The race also received grants from the Prairie du Chien Tourism Council and was a recipient of the Ready-Set-Go grant from the state of Wisconsin. Support from the Prairie du Chien Community Foundation, Prairie du Chien Rotary Club, and the George Family Foundation has also helped the race to grow. Many other local businesses have shown their support in a variety of ways, as well. However, for successful long-term planning, it would be desirable to have one or two larger corporate sponsors who will invest in the race as a way to invest in the community. Please contact us for information on sponsoring the race.

What about Registration and Packet Pick-Up?

Half Marathon registration is $45.00 before April 1 and $50.00 after April 1.

5K registration is $25.00 before April 1 and $30.00 after April 1. Race day

registrations are allowed. Racers may pick up race packets the evening

prior to the event.

Friday Packet Pick-Up    

Prairie du Chien City Hall

214 East Blackhawk Avenue

4:30 - 7:00 p.m.

Race Day Packet Pick-Up

Packet pickup and registration

will be available from 6:00-7:00 a.m.

at the race start at Balckhawk Avenue

and Villa Louis Road on St. Feriole

Island.

Will there be an Awards Ceremony?

Finisher medals will be given to all walkers and runners who complete the race.

An awards ceremony for runners will be held at 10:00 a.m. with medals awarded

to the 1st place male and female finishers overall. In addition, medals will be

awarded to the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place male and female finishers in each age

category. Age groups will be 19 and under, 20-24, 25-29, 30-34, etc.,

up to 70 and above.

Will there be any Post-Race events?

Post-race events will be announced as plans are finalized. Check back for details!

We also encourage race participants to explore local tourism opportunities.

For tourism information visit www.prairieduchien.org.

How do I obtain more information or offer to volunteer?

You may email info@pdchalfmarathon.com for current updates or information.

What is a 5K?

A 5K is 3.1 miles.

How do I train for a 5K?

The first step to any training program is to consult your physician. Once

physical training is approved by your medical professional, training for a 5K

can be easy and fun. The key to any training program is to start slowly and

build gradually. Start walking or jogging a little each day and gradually build

your mileage to 3-4 miles. For best results, plan to walk or run 3-5 times a

week. Pay close attention to proper nutrition and hydration, as well. For training tips and plans visit Active.com, RunnersWorld.com, or halhigdon.com. 

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