The Amble is almost here!

Important weekend information:

Packet Pick-up:
Saturday, August 22, 2009
Noon to 4:00pm
Prairie Heart Institute
Dove Center (St. John's Hospital)
619 E. Mason, Springfield, IL

Packet Pick-up is also available on Sunday, RACE DAY, from 6:15am – 7:15am.

Your race packet will contain your race shirt, your number bib, and assortment of goodies donated by sponsors.

You will have to pick your chip up at a separate table during packet pick up or in the morning.

*DON'T FORGET YOUR CHIP AT HOME ON RACE MORNING!!!

What is Chip Timing? At packet pick up or on race morning, you will pick up a small plastic microchip. It will either be affixed to an ankle strap, or on a sturdy plastic string that is attached to your shoelace. It is very important to make sure that you wear your chip on race day. When the race starts, you pass over a "pad" that reads the signal from the chip and records your start time. There's another pad at the finish line. Chips are collected after you cross the finish line. If you see someone coming at you with scissors aimed toward your foot, don't panic, it's just a volunteer collecting your chip. If you lose your chip, there is a charge to replace it, so don't walk off with it still tied to your shoe (this happens a lot!).

*DON'T FORGET YOUR CHIP AT HOME ON RACE MORNING!!!

Get to the fairgrounds early on Sunday. Traffic can be very heavy and you do not want to be sitting in your car when the race starts at 7:30am!! Enter through Gate 8. Gate 11 will only be open until 6:45am. Sangamon Avenue will then be closed in preparation for the race.

The race starts at 7:30, so you should be lined up and ready to go no later than 7:15. I recommend arriving one hour prior to start time. This allows for parking, stretching, bathroom, chip pick up/packet pick up if not done the day before, etc... You might want to jog a little beforehand to get warmed up (don't overdo it!). Line up according to how you might finish. For example, if you think you will finish in the middle of the pack, find a spot in the middle. Slower runners should move toward the rear. This keeps you from getting trampled, which is not a good thing. Walkers,please line up behind the runners at the Start Line. The race starts and ends in front of the Grandstand.

Abe's Amble participants are HIGHLY ENCOURAGED to pick up their packets on Saturday to avoid the scramble of race day pick up at the Illinois State Fair.

All Abe's Army participants and leaders are already registered for the race. You can confirm your registration at Get Me Registered!https://secure.getmeregistered.com/get_information.php?event_id=2284

Results will be posted within a few hours of the race being completed at the following site: http://onlineraceresults.com/event/view_event.php?event_id=3996

For safety reasons, running with pets, headphones and strollers is strictly prohibited. Violators will be disqualified.

*Volunteers are still needed!*

Volunteers are needed to assist with:

• Start/finish lines (bring your family & friends).
• Directing traffic at intersections (bring your family & friends).
• Packet stuffing (this is done on 8/21 4-7PM)-bring yourself, your family, and your friends).
• Packet pick up (this is done 8/22)-bring yourself, your family, and your friends.
• Clean up (volunteers needed after 9:30 am)-you will be celebrating but we will still take your family and friends.

All volunteers will receive free admission to the fair and free parking. Students can earn service hours. Volunteers on race day are requested to be there by 7:00am--unless wanting to help with packet stuffing/pick-up or race day tent clean-up.

Volunteers should call/email:

Chris Guzzardo 787-6899 guzz2121@comcast.net

Cheryl Davis 341-8559 cheryld411@yahoo.com