GO! St. Louis Marathon & Family Fitness Weekend

The 13th Annual GO! St. Louis Marathon & Family Fitness Weekend is scheduled for April 6 & 7, 2013. The popular event includes races for all ages and fitness levels, and attracts 25,000 each year. The event is Missouri’s largest competitive fitness event and includes a marathon, half marathon, marathon relay, 5K run/walk, children’s fun runs and a mature mile. The Marathon & Family Fitness Weekend has become a national model for other running organizations and communities, looking to inspire residents to make community wellness a priority.

The 14th Annual GO! St. Louis Marathon & Family Fitness Weekend is set for April 5 & 6, 2014. Registration will open in early Septmeber. Event details will be updated in the coming weeks.  

2013 Information & Highlights

• Event is set for April 6 & 7, 2013
• Top quality medals awarded to ALL weekend event participants.
• Brooks short sleeve technical shirts for all marathon, half marathon and marathon relay participants, cotton t-shirts for all other participants 
• First name on race bib to all marathon and half marathon participants who register by February 1, 2013
• Water and Gatorade available at 17 aid stations along the marathon course, as well as at the start and finish
• Boston Marathon qualifier
• USATF certified courses
• Half Marathon is one of the largest in the United States - Race cap is 12,000
• Holy Hill - (Mile 6-8) - Specially timed 2-Mile stretch with additional medals and Crown Candy chocolate bars for top three age group winners in marathon and half marathon
• Michelob ULTRA After Party featuring a local band
• St. Louis-themed post-race food, including Ted Drewes Frozen Custard
• Athlete Tracking
• Corral Start, including waves to ease congestion
• Marathon course completion time extended to 6.5 hours
• $45,000 in Total Prize Money and Age Group Awards for top finishers.

Check out our FAQ page that may answer important questions regarding the event.

Event Requirements

Marathon: 18 years of age or older on race day
Half-Marathon: 14 years of age or older on race day
Marathon Relay: 14 years of age or older on race day
Wheelchair Marathon: must wear helmets at all times, hand crank chairs are not eligible for entry

Participant Race Cap

Due to course limits, participant race caps have been established. We will accept 3,000 participants for the marathon, 12,000 for the half marathon and 500 four-person teams (2,000 total) for the marathon relay.  The 5K Run/Walk is capped at 3,000 participants. The Children’s Fun Runs and Mature Mile are capped at 500 participants.

Race Courses

Marathon, Half-Marathon and Marathon Relay:
Course will be certified by USATF and for Boston Marathon qualification.  The start/finish line is located at Market & 15th Street in Downtown St. Louis. USATF insurance restrictions prohibit strollers/baby joggers, rollerblades/inline skates, and pets on the course.  The use of an iPods, mp3 players, mobile devices, CD players or other audio/video device is strongly discouraged by race organizers because of safety reasons.

• Download Course Map HERE (course subject to change).
• Download Course Description Map HERE
• Dowload Half Marathon Elevation Map HERE
• Download Marathon Elevation Map HERE
• Check out St. Louis Orginals Course Videos HERE

5K Run/Walk

3.1 mile certified course running through beautiful Forest Park.  Participants will be timed up to 1 hour.
•  Download 2013 Course Map HERE

Wheelchair Marathon

Participants must wear helmets at all times and stay to the right side of the road.  Full Marathon ONLY. Hand crank chairs are not eligible for entry.

Amenities

All marathoners, half marathoners and relay participants will receive a Brooks short sleeve technical shirt (pink for women and blue for men), top quality finisher’s medal, access to fluid stations, VIP tent for qualifying elite athletes, gear check, energy gels, course entertainment, post-race food & beverage, medical stations, massage therapy, individual race photos and of course, spirited neighborhood crowds and hospitable volunteers. Finisher certificates will be available to download and print from our website post-race.

All 5K, Children's Fun Run and Mature Mile participants will receive a T-shirt, finisher’s medal, 1 fluid station, post-race food, beverages & festivities.

GO! St. Louis VIP Race Package
An exciting option for those participants competing in the Marathon, Half Marathon or Marathon Relay on April 7. Participants may choose to upgrade their race day experience with an exclusive VIP (Very Important Participant) package. This special opportunity is only available for the first 250 people for $75 each. Please note that the buffet food service will conclude at 12:30 pm on race morning. The VIP Package Includes: Express race packet pickup at the Expo, complimentary race day parking pass near the start/finish line area, access to a special pre and post-race VIP Area near the finish line, private restrooms, personal gear check on race morning, complimentary on-site massage and post-race breakfast buffet. To order the VIP Package, simply select the option during the initial regsitration process or add the package at a later date online. Reserve your spot Here

Packet Pickup Authorization Form

We strongly encourage all participants to pick up his/her own race packet at the Expo on April 5 & 6, but we understand in some cases it may not be feasible. If you are unable to pick up your own packet, please fill out a Packet Pickup Authorization form, and provide it to the person picking up your packet. Get the form HERE

Weather Policy

Race officials may cancel, delay or change the event in case of extreme weather or other conditions that may affect the safety and health of the participants. In the event of cancellation, refunds will not be issued.

Event Alert System
A new color-coded Event Alert System (EAS) has been put in place for the event this year. The system will communicate the status of course conditions to participants leading up to and on race day. The levels range from Low (green) to Moderate (yellow) to High (red) to Extreme (black) based primarily on the weather, as well as other conditions. E-mail, website and social media communication during race week will inform participants of the current Event Alert System status and provide preparation tips based on advance weather forecasts. On race day, the current Event Alert System status will be communicated via public address announcements and color-coded signs/flags at the start and finish areas, and along the course and at each of the Medical Aid Station locations.

All participants should familiarize themselves with the Event Alert System prior to the race, remain alert for directions from race officials and announcers and take precautions to prepare properly for varying weather conditions on race day.

Aid Stations/Mile Markers

There will be 10 medical stations along the course, as well as paramedics traveling the course on bike.  Water, Gatorade, and portable restrooms will be available along the course, as well as the Start and Finish Lines.  GU Energy gel (Tri-Berry and Vanilla) will be available along the course.  Food will be provided at the finish.  Every mile will be clearly marked on a stand-up sign along the route and each mile will have a race clock.

Timing

Marathon, Half Marathon, Relay & 5K

We utilize the Chrono Track “B tag” system for race timing for the Marathon, Half Marathon, Marathon Relay and 5K. The “B-tag” will be affixed to the back of your race bib when you pick it up from the Expo. Do not peel off your “B-tag”. No additional steps are needed prior to the start of your specific race. A few very important things to keep in mind to ensure an accurate finish time – Make sure the race bib is affixed to the front of your body and is placed on the layer of apparel that will be worn throughout the race (Do not put it on a shirt or jacket, then take off the shirt mid-race and carry the bib with you), Do not fold or wrinkle your bib prior to attaching it, and make sure it is not covered by a race belt, water bottle, etc.

Corral/WaveStart

We will utilize a corral and wave starting system for the 2013 marathon, half marathon and marathon relay. A corralled/wave start will provide a much more efficient and smooth start for everyone.  All participants will be assigned corrals based on estimated finish times submitted during the registration process. Race bibs will designate your assigned corral for the race with a letter (A,B,C or D, etc.) which is located on your bib. If no estimated finish time is provided for the marathon, half marathon or marathon relay, the participant will be automatically placed in the final corral.

There will be four waves on race morning to space runners out so all can fall into their own running rhythm.  The first wave will be at 7:00am. Each successive wave will be separated by one minute.   Participants may move back in a corral/wave (i.e. from B to C), but may not move up in a corral/wave (i.e. from C to B). When the start of the race is announced, Corral A will be released.  Corrals B, C, and D will remain at the start. At one minute intervals the next corral will be released. Individual times will not activate until a participants timing tag crosses the timing mats

Elite Athlete Status

We offer elite competitors the opportunity to receive a preferred start corral, access to the elite athlete tent, along with other amenities. If you would like to apply for Elite Athlete Status contact us at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it . For more information on the Elite Athlete program visit Here.

Time Limit Rules

The marathon course route re-opens to traffic at a rolling schedule according to a 6.5-hour marathon pace or (14:52 minutes per mile).  Half Marathoners must maintain a 14:52 minute per mile pace through 9 miles (Vandeventer and Forst Park Ave). The time limit rules will be strictly enforced. There will be a pace leader leading a 6 hour 30 minute marathon pace or 3 hour 15 minute half marathon pace (14:52 minutes per mile).  The time limit will begin when the 6:30 marathon pace group crosses the start line after the start of the race.

Any Marathoner, Half Marathoner, or Marathon Relay participant who falls behind the pace prior to the Half Marathon Turnaround point will be required to move to the sidewalk and obey all traffic signals. At the half marathon turn-a-round (approximately 9.5 miles), any Marathoner or Marathon Relay Participant, who is behind the pace, must either turn and complete the half marathon or get in the sag wagon. Any marathoner, who turns at the half marathon turn-a-round and complete the half marathon, will receive finish line amenities (food, water, medical assistance if needed). After the half marathon turn-a-round, course support (police, course monitors, and water stations) will not be available to marathoners or marathon relay teams who fall behind the 14:52 minute per mile pace. Anyone who falls behind the pace must get in the sag wagon. Marathoners who only complete the Half Marathon will not be eligible for overall or age group awards. For a more detailed list of rules and regulations, please call 314-727-0800

Pace Teams

We offer pace teams for both the full and half marathon led by experienced athletes. Visit the official pace team page for pace groups and bios.

Athlete Tracking - Presented By YP

Family and friends can track a participant’s progress throughout the marathon and half marathon races, by signing up for free text alerts, emails, Facebook and Twitter. You will be able to track your runner via your US mobile phone and will get text messages during different points of the race. This is a FREE service, however standard data and text messaging rates may apply. Athlete Tracking registration will be available a week prior to the event. Sign Up HERE

Official Cheer Zones

Look for six area Cheer Zones throughout the race course. Spectators are encouraged to visit one of the zones to watch the race, and cheer on family and friends. The first 50 spectators at each zone will receive a free t-shirt, Kaldi’s Coffee, Companion pretzel sticks and a make-your-own cheer card. The Zones include: Lindell Blvd & Olive, near Saint Louis University, Forest Park Avenue & Taylor in the Central West End, Forest Park Visitor’s Center, Olympian Way (Forsyth), next to Francis Field on the Washington University Campus, Forsyth & Brentwood in Clayton and The UCity Loop, next to the Chuck Berry Statue. In addition, the Soulard Pajama Party Neighborhood Cheer Area returns for the third straight year.

2013 Prize Money

More than $45,000 will be awarded in prize money this year, which includes a $10,000 top prize for the overall men's and women's winner in the Half Marathon.  The Half Marathon award is one of the largest for a 13.1 mile race in the United States. In addition, a new $1,000 Marathon course record bonus was added. For more information on the GO! St. Louis elite athlete program, including qualifying standards, please see the elite athlete section.

Marathon (Top male and female in each division)
Overall: 1st $1,500, 2nd $750, 3rd $500
Masters (40+): 1st $200, 2nd $150, 3rd $100
Wheelchair (Marathon only): 1st $300
New Marathon Course Record: $1,000 bonus (Limited to the overall winner only)

Half Marathon (Top male and female in each division)
Overall: 1st $10,000, 2nd $5,000, 3rd $2,000
Masters (40+): 1st $200, 2nd $150, 3rd $100

Marathon and Half Marathon Awards: Official clock will determine overall winners, five deep, male and female, in these age categories: 19 & under, 20-24, 25-29, 30-34, 35-39, 40-44, 45-49, 50-54, 55-59, 60-64, 65-69, 70-74, 75-79, 80+.  Marathon Relay Awards: 3 deep in male, female, coed in the following categories: corporate, family/friends.

Travel

Drury Hotels is the Official Hotel Partner of GO! St. Louis and offer preferred participant discount rates. To reserve a room or get additional hotel info visit https://wwws.druryhotels.com/content/gostlouis.aspx

Additional Hotels offering discounts:
St Louis Union Station Marriott, 1820 Market St., St. Louis, MO 63103, Direct Number: (314) 621-5262 - Reservations: (800) 410-9914, Reference Code: GO! St. Louis

Hilton at the Ball Park, 1 S. Broadway, St. Louis, MO 63102, Direct Number (314) 421-1776 - Reservations: (877) 845-7354, Reference code: GO! St. Louis

Schedule of Events

Friday, April 5, 2013

Health & Fitness Expo- presented by Big River Running (packet pickup)
11:00 am-7:00 pm – Chaifetz Arena

Saturday, April 6, 2013

Health & Fitness Expo- presented by Big River Running (packet pickup)
10:00 am-7:00 pm – Chaifetz Arena

Family Fitness Events in Forest Park (Cricket & Lindell Fields)
• 5K Run/Walk – presented by Mercy: 8:00 am
• GO! St. Louis Read, Right and Run Marathon® presented by Express-Scripts: 9:15 am
• Children’s Fun Runs: 10:45 am
• Mature Mile – 11:15 am

Sunday, April 7, 2013

Endurance Events at Soldier’s Memorial
• Marathon –  presented by Mercy: 7:00 am
• Half Marathon – presented by PNC Bank: 7:00 am
• Marathon Relay (4 person) – presented by Lockton Companies: 7:00 am

Please note that events will start promptly at the designated time, so plan to arrive early. Individuals will not be allowed to participate in a race, if the race has officially started. Participants should be in their assigned starting corral no later than 6:40 am or risk starting at the back of the start line.