You Have Questions, We Have Answers - Part 3

Photo Credit: Bill Manning

Be Prepared - It Looks Like Rain (and Wind) on SundayNancy Sutton Moss and Gary Bredehoft, co-directors of the 39th Annual Lincoln National Guard Marathon and Half Marathon, are ready for race weekend. As veteran race directors, they know you have questions and this concludes their  most frequently asked questions email series. They have also compiled a FAQ section on the marathon website if you need a refresher. Today we will focus on the weather, result tracking, last minute instructions and more.Weather ForecastWe know many of you are obsessing about Sunday's forecast and how you should prepare. We can assure you the race will go on regardless of precipitation and will only be cancelled or postponed if weather conditions present imminent danger to participants. As of 12 p.m. Wednesday, the start temperature is predicted to be in the upper 40s with a high temperature near 60 degrees for the day. Unfortunately, the elements of wind and a chance of rain is what makes preparing for the race so challenging. Ann Ringlein, Lincoln Track Club vice president, offers the following tips to help you prepare for Sunday:

• Stay as dry as possible before the race. Hang out in your car before dropping off your bag and taking shelter in the Cook Pavilion until your start group takes off.
• Put a plastic bag over you at the start to stay dry. When you are ready to dispose of your bag, carry it with you until you can safely throw it away or put it off to the side.DO NOT take it off and drop it behind you as someone will trip on it and fall - guaranteed!
• Spray your shoes with a water proofer 24 hours prior to the race. It won't hurt your shoes and you'll be glad you did.
• Wear a hat with a bill. Rain in your face can zap your energy and is annoying.
• Wear thinner, tighter socks. They will not get as heavy as a thicker one, and they won't move around.
• Body Glide anything that might rub!
• Wear light weight non-cotton apparel, not too loose, or it will ride on you and cause chafing.
• Remember you are in a pretty special club of 13,000+ other runners in Lincoln who get to run 13.1 or 26.2 miles on Sunday. There are a lot of people who would switch places with you in a heartbeat!
• Smile during the race and take energy from the crowd. Live it up and enjoy your experience!

In 38 years, the Lincoln National Guard Marathon and Half Marathon has never been cancelled because of inclement weather. That said, the start has been delayed because of lightening in the past. LTC officials are monitoring the weather and will make any weather announcements on our websites (marathon and LTC), social media accounts (Facebookand Twitter) as well as the local media (radio, TV and newspaper).Local weather forecasts can be found at 10/11 KOLN/KGIN or KLKN Channel 8. You can also follow along on Twitter for up-to-the-minute forecasts at Rusty Dawkins (10/11 KOLN/KGIN) or Luke Dorris (KLKN Channel 8).Packet Pickup ReminderPackets may be picked up at the Lincoln Marriott Cornhusker Hotel (333 S 13th Street) from 10 a.m. - 6 p.m. on Friday, April 29, and from 8 a.m. - 6 p.m. on Saturday, April 30. Race day packet pickup on Sunday, May 1, is from 5:30 - 7:30 a.m. at the NU Coliseum. You will need to know your race number and bring a government-issued photo ID.In order to have someone else pickup your packet, a completed packet pickup proxy must be presented along with a photo ID of the person picking up your packet.No Transfer RuleBefore registering for the Lincoln National Guard Marathon and Half Marathon, you agreed to a waiver which clearly states: “I understand that my entry fee is non-refundable and non-transferable. I also agree not to let anyone else run under this registration.”  TheRules of Competition section on the Lincoln Track Club website also reiterates the no refunds/transfers policy. The LTC is empathetic to your situation which make it impossible for you to run but at this time we are not able to transfer registrations.Race BibBesides your shoes and attire, the most important item you will wear at the race is your bib which has your race number and timing mechanism. The bib gets you into the start area and allows you onto the field at Memorial Stadium to finish. The timing mechanism attached to your bib will activate your start time, splits and finish time as you cross over the timing pads. Be sure to wear your bib so it is visible on the front and do not have anything between the bib and the timing pad (ie, tying a jacket around your waist, having your bib underneath your top layer, etc.).PacersThe Lincoln National Guard Marathon and Half Marathon will once again use Smart Pacing Teams. Check their website to meet the pacers and for the pacing times. At the start, find the pacer IN YOUR COLOR START GROUP holding the sign nearest your estimated finish time and join the group.Results and TrackingMTEC Results will provide live athlete tracking during the race via the web for both the marathon and half marathon. The improved Lincoln Marathon 2016 app is available from Google Play and the App Store. It is a free download that will allow athlete tracking via MTEC Results and provide important race information. The app also links to the LTC Facebook, Twitter and Instagram sites in addition to the Lincoln Marathon website.Results will be posted LIVE by MTEC Results at the following links:

• Marathon Results
• Half-Marathon Results
• Wheelchair Results
• National Guard Results

Please note: the MTEC Results website is the main site for tracking. Should you experience problems with athlete tracking using the app, please use the website instead. Post Race Celebration and AwardsA post-race celebration and awards ceremony will be held in the Nebraska Champions Club with a free light lunch consisting of pork sandwiches, salads, chips, cookies and cake beginning at 11 a.m. followed by the awards ceremony at 12:30 p.m. This event is open to runners, their families and volunteers.If you won an age group award and will not be able to stick around for the awards ceremony, you can pick up your award before you leave at the Nebraska Champions Club. Expo Speaker: Pete KostelnickLincoln endurance runner Pete Kostelnick will be the featured speaker at the Lincoln National Guard Marathon and Half Marathon. He will speak on Saturday, April 30 at 11 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. during the Runners Expo. Kostelnick was recently honored by the Lincoln Track Club with the 2015 Distinguished Achievement Award for a banner 2015 which included winning the Badwater Ultramarathon and a third place finish in the Lincoln National Guard Marathon. He also earned wins in the Kansas City to Lawrence endurance race, Brew to Brew, the Flint Hills trail race, the Blazin' the Berg 5K, the Monument Marathon and the Kansas Fall Ultra Extravaganza.Volunteers NeededIt takes several volunteers to run a race. If you know of someone who is not running but wants to be a part of the fun, we have a job for them. Complete the online form or contactLu Wetzler, volunteer coordinator, if you can help.