With weather forecasts predicting race temperatures to reach the low-80′s, Cellcom Green Bay Marathon organizers are taking extra precautions and urging the athletes to do the same.  Enhancements to address the heat include:

• MORE WATER!  There will be more fluids and more opportunities for fluids on the courses.  There will be 2 fluid stations on the 5K course, 10 on the half marathon course and 22 on the full marathon course, more than have ever been offered.  We have significantly increased the scheduled water delivery quantities for these stations as well.  Every station will offer Gatorade and water. 

• ICE, ICE BABY! For the first time, marathon organizers will have ice delivered to each of the fluid stations.  The water and Gatorade itself will NOT be iced down since the cups are often poured as much as an hour prior to the runners arrival.  Instead, water station personnel will offer cups of ice to the participants immediately past the fluids being offered.

• GET HOSED!  Marathon organizers are asking residents and businesses along the course routes to put out sprinklers and hoses to spray the runners and cool them off as they pass by. 

• INCREASED MEDICAL PRESENCE.  The number of medical stations on the course has been increased to 11, nearly every other mile.

• ICE BATH, ANYONE?  The finish line medical tent will offer “cold water immersion tanks” for severely overheated runners.

• FINISH LINE FLUIDS.  There will be over 30,000 Festival Foods water bottles at the finish area for participants and spectators.  Runners are encouraged to drink water BEFORE partaking in the beer or root beer that is also served at the finish line courtesy of Titletown Brewing Company.

Organizers are asking participants to take extra precautions as well.  They are urged to: 

• Wear lighter colored and moisture-wicking clothing

• Arrive well-hydrated at the starting line

• Place their personal safety over their pace.  “It’s probably not a day to set a PR (‘Personal Record’), folks,” says Race Director Sean Ryan.

• Take every opportunity to take in more fluids on the courses.

Finally, marathon organizers are also offering to let marathon registrants choose to run the half marathon instead and still receive an official finish time.  In previous years, marathon runners who switched to the half marathon on race day were disqualified.  Due to the extraordinary circumstances, organizers are making an exception this year.  Marathoners who choose to run the half marathon will still be given a full marathon t-shirt and medal but they can now make a “game day decision” to run the half marathon instead without being disqualified.

Personal safety takes the joint effort of both organizers and participants.  We’ll see you this weekend!

Advance registration for the 2012 Cellcom Green Bay Marathon weekend events officially closed at midnight on Sunday, May 13th as scheduled.  Ongoing registration for all events will open on Friday, May 18th in the Lambeau Field Atrium beginning at 3:00 pm.  THERE WILL BE NO RACE DAY REGISTRATION FOR THE 5K, MARATHON, MARATHON RELAY OR HALF MARATHON.  Those still wanting to register for the 5K must do so on Friday.  Those still wanting to register for the marathon, marathon relay or half marathon must do so on Friday or Saturday.  Race day registration IS permitted for the WPS Kids’ Power Run.

The race weekend schedule for registration and packet pick up will be as follows –

FRIDAY, MAY 18TH (Lambeau Field Atrium)

3:00 pm – 7:00 pm:        Registration and packet pick up for all events

                                       (Cellcom Marathon, Marathon Relay, Half Marathon, 5K and WPS Kids’ Power Run)

Saturday, May 19th (Lambeau Field Atrium)

7:00 am – 8:30 am:        Packet pick up for the Cellcom Green Bay 5K (start time is 8:30 am – CLICK HERE)

8:30 am – 10:30 am:      Registration and packet pick up for the WPS Kids’ Power Run

                                       (start times vary between 10 am and 11 am – CLICK HERE)

10:00 am – 7:00 pm:      Registration and packet pick up for the Cellcom Marathon,

                                       Marathon Relay and Half Marathon

Sunday, May 20th (Lombardi Avenue in front of Lambeau Field)

7:00 am                          Start of Cellcom Green Bay Marathon, Marathon Relay and Half Marathon

The 2012 Cellcom Green Bay Marathon will feature 51 elite athletes competing for $20,000 in prize money, including the 2011 men’s winner Peter Ayieni, men’s course record holder James Boitt and the 2011 men’s and women’s half marathon winners, Tyler Sigl and Jenna Boren.

To qualify as elite runners, men must have completed a marathon in 2:40 or less within the past two years, and women must have completed a marathon in 3 hours or less within the past two years. Half marathon qualifying times are 1:13 for men and 1:26 for women. The winners of the men’s and women’s marathon each receive $3,000 of the $20,000 prize money. Prizes are awarded to the top 5 finishers in both the men’s and women’s marathon and the top five finishers in both the men’s and women’s half marathon.

If you would like to know where your distance runner is on the course.  Sign up for free “runner tracking” by email or text messaging. 

Click HERE to sign up.

5K Runner tracking will be available for signup on Tuesday, May 15.