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Relay FAQ

What are the distances of the Relay Team Marathon legs?

Is there an age restriction?

I want to register my team, but I don’t have all my team members confirmed yet.  Can I register the team with the members I have now and then add the rest of the team later?

I already registered my team online and I forgot to set up my Athlete Profile at the same time.  What do I need to do now to add/change team members' information on my team?

What if I registered my team using the paper registration forms?  How do I update my team information then?

Are there separate Mens/Womens/Mixed team categories?

Is there a Relay Team Marathon event for the HALF Marathon distance?

Is there any transportation provided between the Relay Exchange Zones and the Start/Finish area?

How many people can be on my Relay team?

Do you care who on my team runs which leg of the Relay?

Do we have to run the Relay legs as they are marked out, or can we just switch whenever we like?

How are the Relay Teams timed?

Can my teammates and I cross the finish line together?

I registered my team, but was contacted and informed that someone else was already using the team name I had hoped to use, and I was asked to change my team name.  What's the policy in that situation?

Can our team WALK the relay?

Do the relay teams receive medals?  How do they receive them?

Do all the members of my relay team receive tech shirts?

Can I run the full or half marathon as an individual AND ALSO run the first leg (or first couple of legs) of the Relay as a member of a team?

Where are the Relay Exchange Zones and how do I get to them?

 

What are the distances of the Relay Team Marathon legs?

The approximate pre-set distances of the Relay Team Marathon legs at the Credit Union Queen City Marathon are:

 

ATTENTION: Due to recent course flooding, our Full & Relay Course has changed.  This has affected the location of the Relay Exchange Zones and the distances of Relay Legs #3 and #4. 

Leg 1. – Approx. 7 km       (starts at starting line)
Leg 2. – Approx. 10.5 km  (starts at Relay Exchange Zone #1)
Leg 3. – Approx. 11.5 km  (starts at Relay Exchange Zone #2) Now approx. 7 km
Leg 4. – Approx. 9.5 km    (starts at Relay Exchange Zone #3) Now approx. 14.2 km
Leg 5. – Approx. 3.5 km    (starts at Relay Exchange Zone #4)

To view detailed locations and directions to each of the Relay Exchange Zones, keep scrolling down the page.

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE NEW 2011 RELAY EXCHANGE ZONE DIRECTIONS AND THE NEW 2011 COURSE MAP & NARRATIVE.

To download detailed locations and directions to each of the Relay Exchange Zones, CLICK HERE.

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Is there an age restriction?

Participants in the Relay Team Marathon event must be at least 14 years of age, as of race day.

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I want to register my team, but I don’t have all my team members confirmed yet.  Can I register the team with the members I have now and then add the rest of the team later?

Yes you can register a team without knowing all the team members.  Assuming that you will be registering online, all you need is one member's information (your "team captain", if you will) to register a team.  When you are done listing that person's information (or however many team members you have at the moment), at the bottom of the registration page you will see a button that says, "Confirm and skip to questions".  Click on that and it will skip you forward in the registration form.

At the end of the registration form you will see something asking you to set up a Running Room member's profile or Athlete Profile (sometimes called an Athlete Dashboard).  In order to change your team information later, you have to fill this out.  This is your personal pass to get back into the Running Room online registration system and edit/change your team members at a later date.

When you want to add/change your team members, log onto www.runningroom.com/dashboard and enter your member user name and password.  Your Relay Team registration will pop up on the screen.  There will be a little icon that looks like a pencil.  That is the "edit" button.  Click on that and you can edit/change your team members' information.

Oh, and only one person on the team needs to have this Running Room Athlete Profile, not everyone on the team.

NOTE: Using the Athlete Profile/Dashboard system, you can make your own changes/updates to your team until August 15th.  After that date, please contact us at runqcm@hotmail.com to make the changes.  After that date, changes must be made by Credit Union QCM personnel.  Any change in names and information of any team member made after August 15th will be subject to a $5.00 processing fee for each team member changed.

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I already registered my team online and I forgot to set up my Athlete Profile at the same time.  What do I need to do now to add/change team members' information on my team?

If you have already registered your Relay Team, but still need to add/change your team members, you can still create an Athlete Profile and the Running Room can then link it to your team registration.

First, log onto the Running Room site at www.runningroom.com/dashboard and create your Athlete Profile.

Then, after you have created your Athlete Profile, you must email the Running Room (please email Tawny Reron at treron@runningroom.com) and ask that your Athlete Profile be linked with your team's registration.  Please remember to include the name of your team in your email, so that the Running Room will know which team to link to your Athlete Profile.

Once you have received confirmation from the Running Room that your Athlete Profile has been linked to your team, log back onto www.runningroom.com/dashboard and enter your Athlete Profile user name and password.

Your relay team registration will pop up on the screen.  You will see a little picture icon that looks like a pencil.  That is the "edit" button. Click on that and you add/edit/change your team members' information.

Oh, and, once again, only one person on the team needs to have this Running Room Athlete Profile, not everyone on the team.

NOTE: Using the Athlete Profile/Dashboard system, you can make your own changes/updates to your team until August 15th.  After that date, changes must be made by Credit Union QCM personnel.  Please contact us at runqcm@hotmail.com to make the changes.  Any change in names and information of any team member made after August 15th will be subject to a $5.00 processing fee for each team member changed.

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What if I registered my team using the paper registration forms?  How do I update my team information then?

Changes to the names and information of members of your team must be made by emailing runqcm@hotmail.com.

Please include your team’s name, your name, and all the information that requires changing. On emails, please make the subject line “Change to Team (your team's name here) ”.

It’s very important that you tell us your team’s name, as that is how we can find you on our Relay database.

NOTE: Using the Athlete Profile/Dashboard system, you can make your own changes/updates to your team until August 15th.  After that date, please contact us at runqcm@hotmail.com to make the changes.  After that date, changes must be made by Credit Union QCM personnel.  Any change in names and information of any team member made after August 15th will be subject to a $5.00 processing fee for each team member changed.

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Are there separate Mens/Womens/Mixed team categories?

There are no separate mens/womens/mixed team categories at this time.

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Is there a Relay Team Marathon event for the HALF Marathon distance?

No, the Relay Team Marathon event is only for the 42.2km full marathon distance.

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Is there any transportation provided between the Relay Exchange Zones and the Start/Finish area?

We currently do NOT provide transportation to and from the Relay Exchange Zones.  Participants and their drivers are asked to leave for their exchange zones WELL IN ADVANCE, to avoid road closures, allow lots of time to find a parking spot and to be ready to go. 

Basically, if you are running the second leg of the relay...and you are watching your first team member lining up at the the starting line and listening to "O Canada"...you're already too late!

REMEMBER: Many of the obvious routes you would normally take to get to these locations may be blocked to traffic, since our participants are running on these very same routes.  Plan your driving route well in advance to avoid the course.

WHEREVER POSSIBLE, DO NOT DRIVE ALONG THE COURSE TO GET TO YOUR RELAY EXCHANGE ZONE. 

FOR A COMPLETE LIST OF RACE-DAY TRAFFIC RESTRICTIONS AND ROAD CLOSURES, CLICK HERE.

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How many people can be on my Relay team?  I figure if I get 60 of my closest friends all on one team, this event will be a snap.

You are more than welcome to get 60 of your closest friends to register…they’ll just have to be on 12 separate Relay teams, is all.

Relay Marathon Teams must consist of no less than 3 members and no more than 5 members.  Depending on whether you have 3, 4 or 5 members on your team, you can assign those course legs as you like. 

For example if you have 4 members, perhaps the first member runs legs 1 & 2, the second member runs leg 3, the third member runs legs 4 and the fourth member runs leg 5.  Heck, if you are really organized and ambitious, the first member could run leg 1, then skip ahead and run leg 5, too. 

As long as your Relay Marathon Team consists of no less than 3 members and no more than 5 members, you’re okay.

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Do you care who on my team runs which leg of the Relay?

No, we don’t, although we suggest you let the less-experienced members run the shorter distances.  All that is required is that each member of your team be wearing their team race number bib on the front of their clothes, where it can always be seen clearly by course officials and photographers.  Also, each team member must wear the timing chip on his or her ankle, passing it from one to the other like a baton, in order for your team to receive an official time.  No chip on the ankle – no time.

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Do we have to run the Relay legs as they are marked out, or can we just switch whenever we like?

We strongly encourage all Relay Team Marathon participants to use the marked exchange points.

The Relay Exchange Zones are positioned on our course to allow each leg to be of managable distance for a wide variety of participants...and for their relative access to portable toilets and ease of parking space.

Splitting the course into your own legs will mean that some of your own exchange points could be on parts of the course that are quite awkward for parking or access to services.

We've set up our exchange points based on our best experience for the convenience and comfort of the Relay participants, as well as giving some shorter and longer distances to allow people of different running abilities to take part on the same team.

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How are the Relay Teams timed?

For information about relay timing CLICK HERE.

NOTE: There are timing mats at the start and finish lines, as well as at several other places along the course. 

You must be wearing your timing chip around your ankle to register your time across all the timing mats. 

If you hold the timing chip in your hand, your time will not be registered and, in the case of the timing mats out on the course, the integrity of your participation will come into question and your team could face disqualification.

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Can my teammates and I cross the finish line together?

Some teams like to regroup near the finish line and run across the finish line together.  We currently allow this practice, BUT your team must not block or interfere with any other participants as they approach or cross the finish line.  You must allow individual runners to go past and then, once your team has crossed the timing mats, please clear the finish line area quickly because runners may be coming up right behind you.  

There is a spot on the course about 300 meters from the finish line, on Memorial Way just north of the T.C. Douglas Building and before "Heartbreak Hump."  There is a wide, flat grass area next to a large metal sculpture.  This is a pretty good spot for teammates to wait for the final member of their team.  Any closer to the finish line than that and things become far too congested between teams and spectators and other runners. 

Please be aware of the other participants as they make their way to the finish line. 

Your relay team must not block or interfere with any other participants or, regretfully, we may be forced to prohibit teams from crossing the finish line together at future events.

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I registered my team, but was contacted and informed that someone else was already using the team name I had hoped to use, and I was asked to change my team name.  What's the policy in that situation?

In our race registration database, at package pickup and - most importantly - in the final race timing results, team names are used to identify the teams.  So, as you can imagine, if there are two teams with the same name, it can lead to a lot of confusion.

So, while the Credit Union QCM has no official rule forbidding duplicate names, we stress the importance of each team having its own, unique name.  To that end, we will contact the later-registering team and request that they alter the team name somehow in order to prevent possible confusion further down the road.  Sometimes this is as simple as adding a number or the word "Too" or "Two" to the name.  Or sometimes the team comes up with a totally new name.

We understand that some teams have been running the Credit Union QCM for many years using the same team name.  And that's great.  However, please understand that the Credit Union QCM is NOT responsible for keeping track of who used what name which year and who thought of it first.

In any given year, the only way we know who has the name "first" is by who registers that team first.  We don't track team names from year to year, nor do we compare team names with team members as they come in to make sure that "Team ABC" is the same bunch of people who were "Team ABC" last year.  The Credit Union QCM is not the copyright or patent office.

So, in the interest of being as fair as we can, when deciding who should change a duplicate team name, it seems only fair that the team last to register would be the team asked to change its name.  Naturally, you might be disappointed if you are asked to change your intended team name.  However, we hope you will understand that we are simply acting within a policy that has been created with an eye to fairness.

If you wish to see what teams are already registered and what team names are being used, click on the RELAY menu in the blue bar at the top of our home page.  Then go to REGISTRATION.  Then click on CONFIRMATION.  This takes you to the relay confirmation page, where you can see the teams that are currently registered and the names those teams are using.

Of course, the easiest way to avoid having to change your team name is to simply register your team early and get there first.

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Can our team WALK the relay?

The Credit Union QCM does not currently have a specific walk category for this event.  The Full Marathon course (which is also the relay course) is officially open for 6 hours (8:00 AM - 2:00 PM) and all relay teams should have the ability to finish within this 6-hour time limit.  For pace calculations, that 6-hour time limit translates into the following pace: 8:32 per km (7.03 kph) or 13:44 per mile (4.37 mph).

Aid stations and traffic control close once the last participant has passed, or at 2:00 PM, whichever comes first.  After that point, participants still on the course become, essentially, "informed pedestrians" and must abide by regular pedestrian regulations (e.g. using sidewalks, crossing streets at controlled intersections, yielding to vehicle traffic, etc.).

The Credit Union QCM assumes no responsibility, including medical and aid station support, for participants on the course after course closing at 2:00 PM.  However, a skeleton finish line crew, including timing and medical personnel, will remain until the most determined participant is across the finish line.

Whether a team is running or walking, the full marathon/relay course is only open for 6 hours.  Therefore, the team that is walking would need to feel very confident that they can complete the 42.2 km course within or very near that 6-hour limit.

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Do the relay teams receive medals?  How do they receive them?

Each Relay Team member receives a medal.  All medals for the entire team are presented to the final team member as he/she crosses the finish line.  The final team member can then distribute the medals to the rest of his/her team.

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Do all the members of my relay team receive tech shirts?

Yes.  All team members receive a short-sleeve tech shirt as part of your registration.  The shirts are available in separate Mens and Womens sizes.  FOR A TECH SHIRT SIZE CHART, CLICK HERE.  To guarantee your shirt size, please register and indicate your shirt size by May 31st.  Any shirts ordered after May 31st are not guaranteed for size.

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Can I run the full or half marathon as an individual AND ALSO run the first leg (or first couple of legs) of the Relay as a member of a team?

Yes, you can.  Any person running the full or half marathon individual event may also run the first relay leg (or legs) as a member of a Relay team, under the following conditions:

  • You must register and pay separately for both your individual event and for being part of a Relay Team.
  • You are required to wear two race number bibs.
  • You are required to wear two ChampionChip timing chips.
  • You must start the race running the first leg of the relay. 

Remember, the total number of members on a relay team (including yourself) must be no less than three and no more than five.

  • If you wish to run the first leg of the relay, you may do so, provided your Relay team has only five team members participating (including you).
  • If you wish to run the first TWO legs of the relay, you may do so, provided your Relay team has only four team members participating (including you).
  • If you wish to run the first THREE legs of the relay, you may do so, provided your Relay team has only three team members participating (including you).

NOTE: If you are running in the Half Marathon, you cannot run more than the first 2 legs of the relay, as that is how many relay legs can be completed on the half marathon course.

You are required to wear two race number bibs: one for your individual event and one for your relay event.  Once you have completed your portion of the relay event and passed the Velcro-strap timing chip to your next team member, you may remove the relay race bib, if you wish…unless you want people to see you running with two bibs and go "Wow, she's running in TWO events! How impressive is that?"

You will also be required to wear two ChampionChip timing chips: one for your individual event that stays attached to your shoelaces for the entire race and one on a Velcro strap for the relay event that you must "hand off" to the next member of your team at the appropriate relay exchange zone.

The upside for you, of course, is that you would receive two Credit Union QCM commemorative items and two Credit Union QCM medals: one commemorative item or shirt, plus medal for your individual event and one commemorative item shirt, plus your medal for being part of your Relay team.  You don’t get to eat twice as much post-race food, unfortunately, but you can brag three times as much as anyone else, so it all balances out.

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Where are the Relay Exchange Zones and how do I get to them?

ATTENTION: Due to recent course flooding, our Full & Relay Course has changed.  This has affected the location of the Relay Exchange Zones and the distances of Relay Legs #3 and #4. 

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE NEW 2011 RELAY EXCHANGE ZONE DIRECTIONS AND THE NEW 2011 COURSE MAP & NARRATIVE.

(Please disregard the information below, as it is out of date for 2011.  Thank you.)

 

The relay legs and exchange zones are located at:

Leg 1.

  • Starts at the starting line next to the T.C. Douglas Building.
  • Distance: approx. 7 km

Leg 2. – Relay Exchange Zone #1

Relay exchange 1 map small.jpg

2011 Relay 1 2 small.jpg

  • Starts on Wascana Drive, just northwest of the main entrance road to the Saskatchewan Science Centre/Kramer IMAX Theatre
  • Distance: approx. 10.5 km
  • To get there from the Start/Finish Area:
    • Go North on Albert Street to College Avenue
    • East (right) on College Avenue to Broad Street
    • South (right) on Broad Street to Broadway Avenue
    • East (left) on Broadway Avenue to Winnipeg Street
    • South (right) on Winnipeg Street
    • Winnipeg Street curves to the left (heading east), and turns into 19th Avenue
    • Stop and park on 19th Avenue or on nearby streets.
    • Walk south across 19th Avenue to Wascana Drive. The Relay Exchange Zone will be on Wascana Drive to your right, just northwest of the main entrance road to the Saskatchewan Science Centre/Kramer IMAX Theatre.
    • DO NOT DRIVE OR PARK ON WASCANA DRIVE.

Leg 3.  – Relay Exchange Zone #2

Relay exchange 2 map small.jpg

2011 Relay 2 1 small.jpg

  • Starts on path just East of Conexus Arts Centre, near the waterfowl display ponds.
  • Distance: approx. 11.5 km
  • To get there from the Start/Finish Area:
    • East on 23rd Avenue
    • Cross Hillsdale Street and continue on to Wascana Parkway
    • Go straight across Wascana Parkway onto Lakeshore Drive
    • Lakeshore Drive curves to the left, taking you to the Conexus Arts Centre parking lot on your left-hand side
    • Park in the Conexus Arts Centre parking lot
    • Walk across Lakeshore Drive to the Relay Exchange Zone, which is located on the pathway/sidewalk near the waterfowl display ponds (the fenced in area full of ducks and geese and other waterfowly-type things).
  • To get there from Relay Exchange Zone #1:
    • South on 19th Avenue as it curves to the right (north) becoming Winnipeg Street.
    • North on Winnipeg Street to Broadway Avenue
    • West (left) on Broadway Avenue to Broad Street
    • South (left) on Broad Street, over the bridge, to Lakeshore Drive.
    • East (left) on Lakeshore Drive, which curves to the right, taking you to the Conexus Arts Centre parking lot on your right
    • Park in the Conexus Arts Centre parking lot
    • Walk across Lakeshore Drive to the Relay Exchange Zone, which is located on the pathway/sidewalk near the waterfowl display ponds (the fenced in area full of ducks and geese and other waterfowly-type things).

Leg 4. – Relay Exchange Zone #3

Relay exchange 3 map small.jpg

2011 Relay 3 1 small.jpg

  • Starts on Ritter Avenue, east of Dorothy Street and across from Sneddon Street.
  • Distance: approx. 9.5 km
  • To get there from the Start/Finish Area:
    • South on Albert Street to 25th Avenue
    • West (right) on 25th Avenue to Pasqua Street (a T intersection)
    • North (right) on Pasqua Street to Regina Avenue (4-way stop)
    • West (left) on Regina Avenue to Lewvan Drive (first set of lights)
    • North (right) on Lewvan Drive to Dewdney Avenue
    • West (left) on Dewdney Avenue, past the RCMP Depot to McCarthy Boulevard
    • North (right) on McCarthy Boulevard to Mikkelson Drive (at the Shell gas station)
    • West (left) on Mikkelson Drive to Toothill Street
    • South (left) on Toothill Street to Ritter Avenue
    • West (left) on Ritter Avenue. WATCH FOR RUNNERS
    • If safe to do so, park in the gravel parking lot on the right hand side of Ritter Avenue.
    • If lot is full, park on the grass on the south side of Ritter Avenue. WATCH FOR RUNNERS.
    • Walk to the Relay Exchange Zone, which is across from Sneddon Street.
  • To get there from Relay Exchange Zone #2:
    • West on Lakeshore Drive to Broad Street. 
    • North (right) on Broad Street to College Avenue
    • West (left) on College Avenue to Albert Street
    • North (right) on Albert Street to Dewdney Avenue
    • West (left) on Dewdney Avenue, past Lewvan Drive and past the RCMP Depot to McCarthy Boulevard
    • North (right) on McCarthy Boulevard to Mikkelson Drive (at the Shell gas station)
    • West (left) on Mikkelson Drive to Toothill Street
    • South (left) on Toothill Street to Ritter Avenue
    • West (left) on Ritter Avenue. WATCH FOR RUNNERS
    • If safe to do so, park in the gravel parking lot on the right hand side of Ritter Avenue.
    • If lot is full, park on the grass on the south side of Ritter Avenue. WATCH FOR RUNNERS.
    • Walk to the Relay Exchange Zone, which is across from Sneddon Street.

Leg 5. – Relay Exchange Zone #4

Relay exchange 4 map small.jpg

2011 Relay 4 2 small.jpg

  • Starts on Kings Road at Grassick Avenue and ends at the finish line, back at the T.C. Douglas Building.
  • Distance: approx. 3.5 km
  • To get there from the Start/Finish Area:
    • West on 23rd Avenue to Albert Street
    • South (left) on Albert Street to Lakeview Avenue (just one block)
    • West (right) on Lakeview Avenue to Argyle Road.
    • North (right) on Argyle Road to 21st Avenue or Grassick Avenue.
    • Park on a side street and walk to the Relay Exchange Zone, located on the west side of Kings Road at Grassick Avenue
    • DO NOT PARK ON THE WEST SIDE OF KINGS ROAD
  • To get there from Relay Exchange Zone #3:
    • East on Ritter Avenue to Straub Street. WATCH FOR RUNNERS.
    • North (left) on Straub Street to Mikkelson Drive. (This is pretty obvious, since you can only turn left on Straub Street from Ritter Avenue – it only goes the one direction.)
    • East (right) on Mikkelson Drive to McCarthy Boulevard (at the Shell gas station)
    • South (right) on McCarthy Boulevard to Dewdney Avenue
    • East (left) on Dewdney Avenue to Lewvan Drive
    • South (right) on Lewvan Drive to Regina Avenue.
    • East (left) on Regina Avenue to Argyle Street. WATCH FOR RUNNERS.
    • South (right) on Argyle Street to McCallum Avenue or Grassick Avenue.
    • Park on a side street and walk to the Relay Exchange Zone, located on the west side of Kings Road at Grassick Avenue
    • DO NOT PARK ON THE WEST SIDE OF KINGS ROAD

 

To download detailed locations and directions to each of the Relay Exchange Zones, CLICK HERE.

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