TECHNICAL INSTRUCTIONS
2018 USATF Masters Long Distance Running 8 km Championships
Runners competing in the 2018 USATF Masters 8 km Championships on Saturday, March 17th, as part of the Towne Bank 8k in Virginia Beach, VA should be aware of the following points of emphasis. Competitors who fail to comply with these and other applicable USATF Rules of Competition risk possible disqualification.
There will be a Technical Meeting for all Master Championship athletes and coaches within the Expo Hall in the Virginia Beach Convention Center. It will be at the far end of the Expo but inside the Hall, not outside in the corridor. The meeting will be at 7 pm on Friday, March 16th. Questions should be directed to the Championship Referee.
1) Registration. Entry to the 2018 USATF Masters 8K Championships is being conducted by the Local Organizing Committee (LOC), J&A Racing, operators of the Shamrock Marathon Weekend.
To register, please go to: http://www.shamrockmarathon.com/race-info/usatf8kchampionship/
Please note that there is an online entry deadline of 5pm on Friday, March 16th for Master Championship runners who wish to be part of a scoring team. Once registered, you will be provided with a registration confirmation document. If you detect anything that is not correct, please contact Ben Vaughn of J&A Racing at: .
2) Eligibility. You must be a 2018 USATF member to enter the Masters 8 km Championships. All Master athletes must be citizens of the United States and eligible to represent the United States in international competition to be eligible for team scoring and for USATF medals and prize money. Non-citizens who are USATF members are welcome to compete but may not score for a team nor win USATF medals and prize money. If you do not have a 2018 membership, please complete a membership application first at: https://www.usatf.org/membership/application/
Complete eligibility requirements are posted at: http://www.usatf.org/Events---Calendar/2017/USATF-Masters-8-km-Championships/Athlete-Info/Eligibility-Requirements.aspx
3) The Race Course. The course map is available online. The course is defined as the roadway, boardwalk and sidewalks between their edges and curbs. Please follow directions of course marshals and any road cones. http://www.usatf.org/Events---Calendar/2018/USATF-Masters-8-km-Championships/Athlete-Info/Course-Maps.aspx
Water will be available at each hydration station. Hydration stations will be located at (approximately) miles 1.5 and 3.
4) Cutting the Course. Any competitor who has been found by the Referee to have gained an unfair advantage by receiving assistance or by intentionally shortening the route of the race (“cutting the course”) shall be immediately disqualified.
5) Illegal Assistance. Anyone found to have received illegal assistance is subject to disqualification. “Assistance” is the conveying of advice, information or direct help to an athlete by any means, including a technical device. It also includes pacing in running or walking events by persons not participating in the event, by competitors lapped or about to be lapped, or by any kind of technical device. Verbal or other communication, without the use of any technical device, from an individual not on the course shall not be considered assistance. The course is defined as the roadway, boardwalk and sidewalks between their edges and curbs. Pacesetting, by a person entered in an event as an officially designated pacesetter, is permissible. There are no designated pacesetters for this event.
6) Wireless Devices. The use of wireless devices (I-phones, I-pods, etc.) is not permitted. Competitors may carry or wear articles of personal equipment such as wrist chronometers and heart-rate monitors.
7) Competition Front Bib Numbers/Timing Tag and Age/Gender “Back” Numbers. Competition bib numbers must be pinned on the front of the outermost layer of clothing that you will be wearing in the race. They should not be folded or cut. The timing antennae or “B” tag is a part of the bib number and is disposable after the race. All Masters entered in the USATF Master 8 km Championships must also wear an age/gender “back” number pinned to the back of the outermost layer of clothing that they are wearing in the race. Please use 4 pins to affix the “back” number in such a manner that it is visible to any runner behind them and will not flip up. Any competitor failing to wear a competition bib number on the front and a visible age/gender “back” number will be subject to disqualification. If your packet is lacking a “back” number, extras will be made available at packet pick-up and at the start line.
8) Packet Pick-up. Race packets will be available on Friday, March 16th, 2018 from 12 Noon – 9pm at the race Expo at the Virginia Beach Convention Center, 1000 19th Street, Virginia Beach, VA 23451.USATF will have a packet pick-up table located just inside, ahead and to the right of the Expo entryway. Please pick up your bib packet there. Do not go to the regular bib pickup for the Towne Bank 8K. Look for the USATF Banner. Packets will include front and back bibs and Corral Assignment [#1] is marked on front bib.
Note: USATF Master LDR race liaisons may not be available at the packet pick-up table during the Technical Meeting from 7 pm to about 7:45 pm. There will be no packet pick-up on Race Day.
You must have your ID to pick up your race number – NO EXCEPTIONS. If you are picking up race numbers for others, you must have your ID, anauthorization formcompleted by the participant, and a copy of their ID – NO EXCEPTIONS. http://www.shamrockmarathon.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2013/08/Packetpickupauthorizationform.pdf
9) Host Hotel. There is no Headquarters Hotel for the USATF Master Championships since packet pickup and the technical meeting will be held at the Expo at the Virginia Beach Convention Center, 1000 19th Street, Virginia Beach, VA 23451. Master Championship awards following the race will be held at approximately 10am on the 2nd floor of the Hilton Virginia Beach Oceanfront hotel.
The Shamrock Marathon Host Hotel is the Wyndham Virginia Beach Oceanfront. The closest hotel to the start and finish of the 8K is the Hilton Virginia Beach Oceanfront. The Best Western is 3 blocks from the start and 2 blocks from the finish. Best Western offers USATF Members a minimum of 10% off the flexible rate but the Shamrock deal may already be as good as that. Be sure to inquire about both options. The Clarion Inn and Suites, 4 blocks from the 8K start and 4 blocks from the finish is a Choice Hotel. They provide USATF members with a 15% discount off standard room rates. Again remember to inquire about both rates. Other Choice Hotels that are further away from the start and finish include: Comfort Inn and Suites, Comfort Suites Beachfront,
For all of the hotel options, please visit the Race’s hotel page at: http://www.shamrockmarathon.com/hotels/
10) Travel. Travel information is available at: http://www.shamrockmarathon.com/race-info/travel/
11) Parking. We encourage you to arrive early! Parking is available in the 19th Street city lot. There is also parking in the 9th Street city lot, Virginia Beach Convention Center, and private lots at 21st and 23rd. There is also street parking in the area. You will not be able to park directly at the start, so if you are staying in a local hotel, we encourage you to walk to the start.Make sure you have cash for parking. Many lots will only accept cash on race day! For a local map see: http://www.shamrockmarathon.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2013/08/8K-Course-Map17-1.pdf
12) Start Time. Each competitor is responsible for knowing the starting time of the 8k race at 7:45 a.m. at 30th Street and Pacific Avenue. All competitors are responsible for being at the starting line at the appointed time with their competition bib number and age/gender “back” number properly affixed. As indicated on your front bib, all USATF Masters Championship runners are welcome at the front of the start line in Corral #1.
13) Start Details. All complete teams must report together to the Clerk at the starting line at 30th Street and Pacific Avenue to verify their team uniforms (see below for uniform apparel requirements for complete teams). All Master Championship runners will be checked for proper front bib and back numbers prior to the start. There will be a two-command start: “On your marks” followed by the air horn blast signaling the start of the race. All awards are based on “gun time”. Net times may only be used for record purposes. The 8K starts at 7:45 am at 30th Street and Pacific Avenue.
14) No false start. False starts will not be recalled. Runners who false start are subject to disqualification.
15) Team Uniforms. The jersey or singlet worn by the members of a team (i.e., San Diego Track Club M50+ “A” team) in all Master LDR Championships shall be basically identical for each member in color and style, and must be clearly visible throughout the race, i.e., worn as the outer garment if other apparel items are worn underneath by one or more team members. Individuals not complying with this uniform rule may be disqualified from scoring for a team. Front and back bibs must be securely fastened (4 pins) to this outermost jersey or singlet.
16) Withdrawal for medical reasons. A competitor must retire from the race immediately if directed to do so by a duly authorized official of the race or by an appropriately identified member of the race medical staff.
17) Awards Ceremony. The USATF Master Championship awards’ ceremony will be held at approximately 10am on the 2nd floor of the Hilton Virginia Beach Oceanfront hotel located at 3001 Atlantic Ave. This is not the same location as the awards’ stage for the non-championship runners. There are limited exits from the beachfront finish area so allow extra time to reach the Hilton for the awards. There is a one hour protest period once results have been posted.
18) Results. Overall Masters Championship results will be posted adjacent to the finish line. Your personal finish result will also be sent to your phone/email immediately upon finishing. Results will also be posted at: http://www.shamrockmarathon.com/race-info/results/
Please check these results to make sure that your finish is listed. See the Masters Championship Referee if there are any problems/omissions. There is a one hour protest period once results have been posted.
19) Protests. Protests must be made to the Masters Championship Referee within one hour of results being posted. The Referee will rule immediately on all protests. There is a $75 fee to file an appeal of the Referee’s ruling with the Jury of Appeal. The filing fee is returned if your appeal is upheld by the Jury. The decision of the Jury of Appeal is final and without further appeal.
20) Club Teams. All clubs must be registered with USATF for 2018. Only teams consisting of duly accredited representatives of a member club shall be eligible to score as a team. All athletes entering as part of a club must be affiliated with that club as part of their USATF online membership profile. An athlete's current affiliation can be viewed in his/her membership profile. All complete teams must meet the requirements of USATF Competition Rule 341.8. Athletes registering as part of a complete club team must register for the race and declare for that team no later than 5pm on Friday, March 16th. The formation of club teams must meet all of the parameters as noted in Regulations 4 and 6 in the USATF Governance Manual, Section III and the USATF Rules of Competition, specifically Rule 341.8. This will be strictly enforced. Pursuant to Rule 341.8, Master Teams shall represent current member clubs of USATF, verified through the national office. USATF Association, Regional, or National “all-star” teams are not eligible to compete in Masters Long Distance Running Team competition. Team members shall be affiliated with the club they are representing on their USATF membership record prior to entering the competition. Only one athlete per team (i.e., Club M50+ team) who is a non-resident member of an Association is eligible to compete for a team in that Association.
21) Club affiliation. Athletes must be bona fide members of a 2018 USATF club in order to represent a club and score team points. All athletes entering as part of a club must be affiliated with that club as part of their USATF online membership profile. Athletes wishing to change affiliations can make such a request through their local Association. Note that this request must be made by the athlete at least one week prior to the date of the race. See Regulation 4 in the USATF Governance Manual, Section III for guidance.
22) Sponsor Affiliation. In addition to a club affiliation, athletes are able to represent one (1) corporate sponsor. This corporate sponsor must be a registered USATF Corporate Member and be part of the athlete's membership profile. Corporate Membership applications can be obtained by sending an e-mail to . All sponsor affiliations must be finalized by close of entries. No sponsor changes will be accepted after this date for the Championships.
23) Age Verification. Unless your date of birth/age has already been verified according to your USATF online membership profile, all entries must be accompanied by a copy of a legal document (passport or birth certificate) in order to verify date of birth and citizenship. If you have a valid passport at the time of entry, please use a copy of the information page of your passport as verification of citizenship and birth date. These copies will not be returned. You must FAX the copy of your passport or birth certificate, with your membership number, event, and championships name ("USA Masters 10 km Championships") written in it to: USATF National Office at 317-261-0514 no later than March 10, 2018 by 5:00 p.m. EDT. We cannot verify ages as part of the packet pick-up process for this event. Runners whose ages are incorrect at the time of the race are at risk of possible protest and subsequent event disqualification.
24) Masters Team Scoring. Masters Teams for all Road Race Championships shall be scored by time as follows: The team score shall be the aggregate official time of the scoring members. The team with the lowest aggregate time is the team winner. Team divisions for both Master Men and Master Women are: 40+, 50+, 60+, 70+ and 80+. For all Master Team divisions – three (3) individuals shall score for each team with a maximum of five (5) individuals declared per team. Each age division shall be scored separately by adding the official times of the top 3 declared team finishers. A runner may only be listed on a single team roster. We will score only complete teams.