Nike Women's Marathon '11

[Sarah_Rose]

If you registered as a group, if one person in the group is picked to registered then everyone in the group is able to register also.

We don't have to run together, maybe meet up before the race to get a picture...but that's about it.

It gives us better odds of getting in as a group than as an individual.

I'm totally in, Marcia! Definitely only the half, though. I'm definitely not in to training for a full during the summer!

 

[Mooshu]

FYI to those who did not receive a necklace last year, this was posted on their FB page:

"Last year they ran out of necklaces. When I got mine a note said I would receive an E-mail with a code so I could by pass the lottery and register"....someone suggested they call 866-RUN-NIKE, if you did not receive an email.

 

[Mooshu]

Group members must enter the Group ID correctly on their random drawing application in order to be identified as a member of your group. All group members, including yourself, must register for the random drawing between Monday, April 11th and Friday, April 22nd in order to be considered for entry into this year's Nike Women's Marathon.

Group ID: R7YLAC

 

[kim3339]

FYI to those who did not receive a necklace last year, this was posted on their FB page:

"Last year they ran out of necklaces. When I got mine a note said I would receive an E-mail with a code so I could by pass the lottery and register"....someone suggested they call 866-RUN-NIKE, if you did not receive an email.

Thanks for the info! I'll give them a call tomorrow and hopefully someone can help me out.

 

[escape]

Group members must enter the Group ID correctly on their random drawing application in order to be identified as a member of your group. All group members, including yourself, must register for the random drawing between Monday, April 11th and Friday, April 22nd in order to be considered for entry into this year's Nike Women's Marathon.

Group ID: R7YLAC

Marcia, is this for the half or the full? I'll see if my friend, Cindy, wants to do it with me. If so, we're in!

 

[Mooshu]

When you enter the lottery, you can register for the full or half.

You have to fill out the registration form and put a credit card # on the form. If someone in our group is pulled from the lottery our whole group will be registered for whichever race they signed up and your credit card will be charged the registration fee.

 

[kim3339]

I was tossing around the idea of running the full myself, but I would be so heartbroken if the same thing happened to me....and I am definitely a middle-to-back-of-the-packer, especially in a full.

They cut the race off at 1:30pm, so 6 1/2 hours from gun time, not when you cross the start line. So if you're at the back, you just have to keep that in mind. They don't have corrals, so if you're worried, you could move closer to give yourself some cushion.

A random tip if anyone gets in, their expo isn't a "real" expo. Safeway, a local grocery store, had some stuff last year, and I think there was a massage table, but that's it. No gu, socks or booths like regular races so make sure you bring everything you think you might need when you come out for the race. The merchandise is sold at the Nike store across the street.

New site is up and running if anyone's interested.

 

[fashionista311]

They cut the race off at 1:30pm, so 6 1/2 hours from gun time, not when you cross the start line. So if you're at the back, you just have to keep that in mind. They don't have corrals, so if you're worried, you could move closer to give yourself some cushion.

A random tip if anyone gets in, their expo isn't a "real" expo. Safeway, a local grocery store, had some stuff last year, and I think there was a massage table, but that's it. No gu, socks or booths like regular races so make sure you bring everything you think you might need when you come out for the race. The merchandise is sold at the Nike store across the street.

New site is up and running if anyone's interested.

oh 6 1/2 hours from gun is fine for me - I would probably be in the 4:30-5 hour range anyways. My major concerns for the full are...
a) hills of San Fran terrify me lol
b) Not getting a necklace would really, really, really suck. Half the reason why I want to do it is for the damn necklace
c) I've heard in general the course is not so great for the full - less crowd support, boring back end, etc
d) The whole cost of the trip in general, days off from work, etc

If you get in, can you defer, or are you SOL if you can't make the trip?

 

[kim3339]

Don't know about defering. I would hope so. As for the course, 100% what you said about the back half of the marathon. There was little support/water on the back half than the front half. Don't get me wrong, there were some stops and people, just wish there were more. But the people who were out there, mostly TNT when I was out there were awesome and I really found I needed it. Even their coached were helping out if you were running near them. The other thing is that there is no shade along the Great Highway. So if it's warm there could be problems. Last year it was rainy and there was a wind coming off the ocean so miles 24-26 were cold. Luckily they had mylar balnkets at 24 so it helped out.

Terrainwise, the first 1/2 is worse than the back half. There's a small steep hill around 4-5 as you're entering the Marina Green and then the longer huge one after the Presidio as you approach the Bridge. That one's just bad. I ran it in the San Francisco 1/2 and it wasn't any better the 2nd time! You then go down a little only to climb up a little while longer and then you get a big down hill. You go back up again... it's just like a roller coaster and you get another big downhill as you turn onto the Great Highway. There's a couple little ones on the back half, but not nearly as bad. I think the Presidio one coupled with the one right after is the worst in my opinion. A tip to look at the terrain is to go to the SF Marathon website, runsfm.com. They have video of their course. Look at the 1st 1/2 marathon video. The start is a little different and Nike doesn't go over the bridge, it'll give you a visual idea of what it's like. You can also look at their elevation chart, it's a little better than Nike's, their mileage is a little but more spaced out to give you a better idea.

I did notice on the site that it said 12,000 names are going to be drawn, so I'm thinking b/w 18-20,000 again when you add in all the TNT people. They already have a full page ad in Runner's World this month.

Sorry so wordy, but I hope that helped.

 

[SKWDW]

***Sign-up Reminder*** ***Sign-up Reminder*** ***Sign-up Reminder***

NWM 2011 Sign-Ups start on Monday morning, 4/11/11.

***Sign-up Reminder*** ***Sign-up Reminder*** ***Sign-up Reminder***

I'll be signing up Monday, just trying to decide which of the three groups I want to enter on my enrollment. Hope I "win" this lottery, that Tiffany bling is calling me.

.

 

[SKWDW]

Sign-ups just opened! I'm already registered, hoping for that lottery pick!

 

[amyup]

Can I join the group for the Half?

I signed up using the group ID. Crossing fingers

Thanks!

 

[kim3339]

Called Nike last week, and they told me that they didn't make extra necklaces, that I would get an email with the code. Haven't got the email yet, so we'll see. I keep going back and forth on whether I'm going to enter the lottery, but I'll probably wait until the last minute to see if NYC announces before the deadline next Friday. If no NYC by the deadline, I'll probably enter, but for the 1/2 just in case.

 

[Sarah_Rose]

I'm in! Just registered for the random lottery with the group ID. Crossing my fingers!

 

[wendylady36]

I just entered the lottery too with the group id! Here's hoping we all get in!

 

[fashionista311]

Called Nike last week, and they told me that they didn't make extra necklaces, that I would get an email with the code. Haven't got the email yet, so we'll see. I keep going back and forth on whether I'm going to enter the lottery, but I'll probably wait until the last minute to see if NYC announces before the deadline next Friday. If no NYC by the deadline, I'll probably enter, but for the 1/2 just in case.

You won't find out about NYC before next Friday - we don't hear until the 27th. I don't think the lotto even closes for another week. I really wouldn't hold your breath on it though - this year you only have a 8-12 percent chance of getting in (and it's the only time NYRR has actually told us the stats).

That really, really sucks about the necklace - and you aren't the only person who I've heard of this from (I read reviews online as well and there were many unhappy full marathoners). I really want that damn necklace I'm too afraid if I finish in the 4:30-5ish range I won't get one, and honestly, that should be the last thing you have to stress about when running a marathon. I would think about the half, but I'm coming in from the east coast, and it's really too big of a trip so close to my fall marathon (most likely NYC)

 

[escape]

Kim - there is NO excuse for that. None. If you finished within the required time, you should get the necklace. Period! I hate that for you.

I signed up using the group ID that Marcia posted (thanks, Marcia! ). I've done the race twice. I really enjoyed it both times. However, due to not getting in ever since they implemented the lottery* and this mess with running out of necklaces, I just don't feel the "love" for the race like I once did. So why did I sign up? Because a friend of mine really wants to do this race and she's been such a good friend to me, blah, blah, blah, so I agreed to do it with her. I'm sure I'll enjoy it if I get lucky enough to get chosen and if NIKE doesn't RUN OUT OF NECKLACES!

*Although I wasn't chosen during the lottery, I did get to go a couple of years ago due to Nike opening the race back up a few weeks before the event.

 

[Cheshirepixie]

I might be interested in signing up with you all! If one of us is picked, do we all have to run the race the person that was picked signed up for? I can do a half, but not a full. I can't even drive that far without taking a break.

 

[kim3339]

You won't find out about NYC before next Friday - we don't hear until the 27th. I don't think the lotto even closes for another week. I really wouldn't hold your breath on it though - this year you only have a 8-12 percent chance of getting in (and it's the only time NYRR has actually told us the stats).

I would think about the half, but I'm coming in from the east coast, and it's really too big of a trip so close to my fall marathon (most likely NYC)

The week after!! That's when it was, I couldn't remember when we found out last year. There was a crossover with the results and the lotto. I got the email too w/ the %'s and my heart sank. I'm crossing my fingers really tightly and hoping this is the year. But if not, I have 1 more and then I'm in. Gotta love the guarantee entry thing. I really think that's what Nike should go to.

That's so funny about how if you did this,it would be the 1/2 and your big trip w/ NYC in Nov. I'm the opposite! The Nike 1/2 would be my close to home race and NYC is the big race for the year!!

Kim - there is NO excuse for that. None. If you finished within the required time, you should get the necklace. Period! I hate that for you.

Thanks!

I might be interested in signing up with you all! If one of us is picked, do we all have to run the race the person that was picked signed up for? I can do a half, but not a full. I can't even drive that far without taking a break.

Nope! You can sign up for either the 1/2 or the full. The group thing is just that if someone in your group gets in, then everyone gets in.

 

[fashionista311]

The week after!! That's when it was, I couldn't remember when we found out last year. There was a crossover with the results and the lotto. I got the email too w/ the %'s and my heart sank. I'm crossing my fingers really tightly and hoping this is the year. But if not, I have 1 more and then I'm in. Gotta love the guarantee entry thing. I really think that's what Nike should go to.

That's so funny about how if you did this,it would be the 1/2 and your big trip w/ NYC in Nov. I'm the opposite! The Nike 1/2 would be my close to home race and NYC is the big race for the year!!

Well this is the first year they actually posted the stats, and the only reason why they did was because of "lotterygate" with the nyc half. I would imagine the stats were not much better in past years - but I know my mom got in on her first try, and someone from my office last year got in via lotto, so there's hope! after all someone has to get in, right? whenever you get in, enjoy every minute of it, it really is an unbelievable race.

there are so many races i went to go out west for - napa to sonoma, nike, san fran marathon, disneyland etc - so hard to choose! i'm sure the same can be said for our coast too