What time does the race start?
We have two starts. If you are a walker, our Walking Division gets underway at 7:30 a.m. sharp (on the command of the Chief of Police, Troy Hagen). If you are a runner with an expected finish time of 3:15 (three hours and 15 minutes) or more, you may start at 7:30 a.m., but this earlier start is NOT an option for runners with a half-marathon time under 3:15 (three hours, 15 minutes). With the above-noted exception: all our Half-Marathon and Relay runners have their start at 8:30 a.m. (on the command of Deputy Chief of Police, Bob Morin). We decided on the two-wave start to ensure all of our participants get to the post-race Brunch…and the awards…at about the same time.
Where is race-kit pickup?
Our race-kit pickup location is the result of a great committee/sponsor relationship. We are happy to invite you to Track & Trail, which is located at 4403 Albert Street. You must pick up your race kit before race day. Race-kit pickup is available on Friday, April 27th from 12:00 noon to 5:30 p.m. and Saturday, April 28th from 9:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
Is there race-kit pickup on race day?
Sorry we don’t offer “day-of-race” package pickup. If you cannot pick up your race-kit in person on the 27th or 28th, make arrangements with a friend to pick it up. We will not have your race-kit at the Start line on race day.
Can I pick up race-kits for my school group or running club?
If you are picking up race-kits for more than five people at one time, please e-mail us with the names of the participants whose race kits you are collecting. Also, give us an approximate time you will arrive so we can separate your group’s race-kits and have them ready.
I am registered but, now, I cannot run/walk the race? Can I get a refund?
The Regina Police Service Half Marathon does not refund registration money; however, we will create a Facebook forum where those who wish to sell a race registration can get in touch directly with those who wish to buy a race registration. The transaction occurs between the seller and the buyer; the Regina Police Service Half Marathon does not handle the transaction. The seller cannot increase the price of the registration. The buyer cannot compete for overall prizes or age-class prizes. The buyer picks up the race-kit at Track and Trail on April 27th or 28th and there is no change in the shirt size ordered by the original registrant.
If I buy a registration through the Facebook forum, why can’t I compete in my age and gender class?
The name associated to the race number will be the name of the original registrant. You can understand the mix-up and disappointment that will occur if a 20 year-old male buys the race registration of a 45 year-old female and, at the Awards ceremony, the winner of the women’s 40-49 category turns out to be half the age and of the opposite gender. If you are a “late” registrant and you want your name on the results sheet, or if you want to compete in your age and gender class, we can make the change to the database (for a fee) at package pick-up time.
If I buy a registration through the Facebook forum, will my name be in the results?
If you are a “late” registrant and you want your name on the results sheet, we can make the change to the database (for a fee) at package pick-up time.
Am I allowed to wear headphones e.g. Ipod, MP3 player, while I run?
We do not allow the use of headphones while running or walking our race. As a Police Service, we are all about safety and, with 850 people on the course, we feel it’s a risk to runner and walker safety if some participants can’t hear other runners, course marshalls or traffic because of headphones. If you choose to ignore our rules, you can be removed from the course by a course marshall or police member.
Can I bring my dog on the course?
We love pets, too, but for safety reasons and old-fashioned consideration of other runners and walkers, we just can’t rationalize allowing dog-owners to bring their dogs on the course.
Do you allow in-line skates or strollers?
Sorry, no in-line skates, baby strollers or chariots. They can present a hazard to other participants.
Why don’t walkers get any of the prizes?
The Regina Police Service Half Marathon is not a race-walking event. We simply don’t have enough volunteers and officials to ensure that everyone who registers as a walker keeps proper race-walking form. Some who register as walkers have done all of their training with a run/walk strategy to complete the 21.1 km. distance and may finish sooner than those who are strictly walking. We would hate to have someone accuse them of cheating simply because they successfully followed their race-day plan. We don’t “police” our event that way; ironic, we know.
What comes with my registration?
Everything you would expect at a well-organized, well-supported event, with a few “extras”. We have: the Canada Games Athletic Complex with seating for spectators, parking, washrooms and showers; water stations, port-a-potties; EMS on-site; police support for traffic control; cheerful volunteers to help you with every aspect of your race; electronic “chip” timing; our race shirt; a delicious post-race brunch with hot food and lots of healthy choices; entertainment; a chance to win awards and door prizes; and a surprise gift at the Finish Line.
Will there be an opportunity to donate old running shoes?
In past years, we have collected used running shoes (can’t say gently-used, can we?) and donated them to sport groups or individuals who are less-fortunate. There is always a need for smaller-size (as in kids’ size) running shoes. Even if they are old shoes to you, they still may be able to help somebody on the road to a healthier lifestyle. Bring any used running shoes to race-kit pickup at Track & Trail and we will collect them. For every pair of used shoes, we will give you an entry for a prize draw…usually new shoes!
What’s for Brunch?
The Brunch is the Delta Regina Hotel’s “Provincial” buffet. The menu includes: selected chilled juices; buttery croissants, fruit Danish and baked muffins; farm fresh scrambled eggs, pan fried potatoes; crispy bacon and grilled breakfast sausage; butter and fruit preserves; fresh brewed regular and decaffeinated coffee and international and herbal teas. C’mon…after 21. km you deserve it!
Can I get photos of my race?
Last year, we engaged students from a high school photography club to take photos of runners out on the course and at the finish line and showed the photos in a slideshow at the post-race brunch. We also posted the photos on-line for free download. We are currently exploring that option for this year’s race but haven’t got all the details worked out yet.
Why don’t you give medals to each runner?
Every race develops its own traditions. From the beginning, the Regina Police Service Half Marathon has had a tradition of offering a full, sit-down post-race brunch as part of the race registration. We’ve also always given a shirt to all participants as part of the registration package. Many other races charge extra for these things. We haven’t found a way to keep our traditional offerings and add participant medals without significantly raising registration fees.
Where can I park?
There will be parking available at the Canada Games Athletic Complex and in the immediate area, but you will have to get to the race start early. We will be restricting vehicle traffic in the area of the Canada Games Complex for the safety of our runners and walkers. We will have more details on parking once we have finalized our traffic control plan. We’ll also have infrmation posted at package pickup.
Where can I change after the race?
Do bring a change of clothes so you can be dry after your race. The Canada Games Athletic Complex has change-room and washroom facilities, with showers, so you can get cozy and comfortable. Then go and enjoy the brunch!
What will the weather be like on race day?
Ah, the weather…the only guarantee we can offer is that you will experience Saskatchewan spring weather! In most years, we have been blessed with sunshine and only a little wind but we have also had a few years when it’s been cool, rainy and breezy. Spring weather can be that way, right? We only ask that you pay attention to weather forecasts and dress accordingly. Don’t panic and overdress; our years of running tell us that if you are a little cool at the start of the race, you will warm up to just the right body temperature for optimum performance. Then, when your race is done, go and grab your change of clothes from the trunk of your car and change into something dry and comfortable for brunch.
Are there hills on the course?
Runners in Regina have to go out of their way to find hills for training; our course is quite flat. Check out the course map; it shows very little change in elevation.
What sort of running surfaces can I expect?
We try to ensure that you are running on smooth, well-maintained surfaces for the entire event. You can expect a combination of roadways and bike paths through Wascana Centre. In some sections, there may be some wear and tear so please pay attention to the path or road ahead and take care. Also, should the weather become a factor, be prepared for any loss of traction that comes with precipitation.
Is the course certified?
Not at this time. We have found that different runners with GPS equipped timing devices report slightly different results, when it comes to the exact distance for the race. We do our best to measure out 21.1 km, but it is not a certified course.
How long is the course open?
Our early-birds, the walkers, start at 7:30 a.m. so the course support is all in place prior to 7:30 a.m. We start to dismantle our water stations as the last runner or walker passes. There is no course support after 12:00 noon.
Where can my family watch?
You have many different vantage points in beautiful Wascana Centre. The Canada Games Athletic Complex is the perfect place to watch the start and finish, but only a few hundred metres away, where the bike path along the Number One Bypass meets the Assiniboine Avenue path/road, you can congregate in the “relay transition” area.
All of the runners and walkers doing the “full half” pass through this area twice as they enter the next loop of the course. This is also where the relay exchanges occur. If you are planning to drive to various points so you can “leap-frog” your favourite runner or walker around the course, please keep runner, walker and volunteer safety in mind and respect road closures or traffic diversions.
What sort of timing system will be used?
We are proud of a long-time partnership with Winning Time Canada that allows us to purchase “chip” timing for our race. We use the BTAG system, which provides two disposable electronic strips attached to the back of each race number. Having survived manual timing for our first few races we can tell you this system is a delight and gives us the ability to post results right after the race!
Where are the aid stations and port-a-potties?
Check out the course map. Details are still being finalized but we will have water stations on the course itself and at the relay transition area, plus one at the finish line; plus port-a-potties and, of course, washroom facilities at the Canada Games Athletic Complex.
How is the course marked…kilometres or miles?
The course will be marked in kilometres.
Can anyone come to the post-race brunch?
As a registered participant, your brunch ticket is part of your registration; you’ll get your ticket in your race-kit. Also, at the time you register, you will be given the option to buy additional brunch tickets for family or friends. If you buy additional brunch tickets with your online registration, those tickets will be available for you at package pick-up. Only those who have a ticket will be allowed in to the brunch. Brunch tickets will not be sold at the door.
Is this a charity race? If so, which charity will benefit?
The Regina Police Service Half Marathon was never intended to be a charity fundraiser but, from the start, we realized that, if the race actually made any money, we ought to donate it to some worthy cause. Every year, the race has covered all the bills with a little left over and, every year, we have donated that “extra” to a local organization. In our first three years, we helped out the Domestic Violence Early Intervention program of Family Service Regina. In 2007, we donated money to the YMCA for youth programs and then made donations to both the YMCA and the “Imagine…no Bullies” program of the Red Cross after the 2008 and 2009 races. In 2010 and 2011, we committed funds to the Regina KidSport program. This year, we are going to “share the wealth” a little differently and will ask local charity groups to apply to run our water stations. We will provide all the supplies; they just need to bring the person-power. In exchange for their help, these groups will receive an honorarium from the race proceeds. It’s a great way for a group to earn hundreds of dollars for a morning’s work. To apply to operate a water station, click here for the details and click here for the application.
How do I volunteer?
So glad you asked. We are always happy to have volunteers. Without our volunteers we would never have such a successful event. If you want to be one of our valued volunteers, please click here to contact Nicole, our volunteer coordinator.
This is my first race. Is there any race day etiquette I need to know?
First and foremost…have fun! We want everyone to have a great race experience so we ask that you respect other runners, walkers, volunteers and course officials. Here are a couple of tips:
- Attach your race bib securely to the front of your shirt/jacket so it can be seen, especially at the transition area and finish line.
- Keep to the right of pathways so that other runners or walkers can pass on your left. For parts of the course that are on roadways, be aware of vehicle traffic and follow the instruction of course marshalls and volunteers.
- If you can…smile and say “thank you” to volunteers out there on the course. It makes them feel good and you get a little burst of energy, too!
- Spectators: cheer loudly for your favourite walker or runner but you can also encourage others. We want to make our transition area and finish line places of enthusiastic celebration…join the fun!
- Volunteers at the water stations will clean up cups used by our walkers and runners. Fans: please respect the Canada Games Athletic Complex and Wascana Centre and use litter receptacles for garbage.
And, did we mention? Have fun!
If you have other questions, please contact us.
