ENTRANT GUIDE

Everything you need to know about the

Snow Joke Half Marathon

This footrace is managed to retain its original premise as an inexpensive low-key fun run, and to serve as a goal for maintaining conditioning during the winter. It is the longest running continuously-held winter sporting event in Seeley Lake, and has evolved into one of Montana’s major half-marathons. We hope you enjoy our brand of organized quirkiness.

Event Format:

This footrace is a winter run in a remote community with heavy snow, so your attendance is subject to road and weather conditions. That is why we do Registration on Race Day only.

Per Club policy the event is managed to break even. Your entry fee is priced at the minimum necessary to cover the cost of providing you a quality experience. 80% of your entry fee goes to event expenses. 20% goes to local charitable organizations that staff the event.

There are no entrant limits or time cut-offs. Course staffing is absent for entrants slower than 12 minutes per mile, but Finish Line timing continues until everyone is in.

Race Day Registering:

Follow the simple instructions at the table with the registration forms, take some pins for your number, and proceed to the registration crew.

Costs have increased to cover chip timing and other improvements to the event. The Registration fee is $15.00, or $5.00 if you are under age 20. Cash is preferred. Checks are fine, but don’t fill in the amount until your fee and shirt costs are verified as you register.

When one entrant of a group is paying for the entire group, each entrant must come through Registration to insure no one receives the wrong number and/or chip. This prevents problems such as awarding a divisional win to the wrong runner.

Hand your application to the first person at the Registration area, who will verify your waiver is signed and direct you to one of two registration crews. You will then be issued your number and timing chip.

Proceed to the Payment and T-Shirt area to complete your registration. Mention if you have reserved any T-shirts. Snow Joke gloves - $5, and Canine Division T-shirts - $10, will also be available but may not be reserved.

This entire process takes less than 30 seconds. If you have any other issues (need a receipt, have questions about the Event, wonder why we don’t have a shirt for you, etc) see the Race Director. Do not disrupt the Registration staff with such matters.

Attach you chip to a shoe. Wear your number on your front - do not wear it on your back. This is a footrace, not a rodeo.

T-Shirts:

All shirts are $15.00 each.

Stock Sizes: You may reserve polyester long-sleeve T-shirts in small, medium, large and extra large adult sizes until 5 p.m. the Thursday before the event. Reservations are not guaranteed unless placed 3 weeks prior to the event (see the News page for the exact deadline).

E-mail is the preferred method of reserving shirts. You may leave a message on the Race Director’s phone - his answering machine might be working. Try him in the evening if you want to talk to him. Because of the hundreds of contacts made to him, calls & emails are not returned. Do not call in the morning!

Duplicate reservations are discouraged. Check the list on this web site first. It is updated weekly within a month of the race.

Non-typical Sizes: These may be ordered but must be pre-paid. Sizes available are Adult 2X, 3X, 4X, 5X & 6X; Ladies 2S, S, M, L, X, 2X, 3X & 4X. The deadline for pre-paid orders is 3 weeks prior to the event (see the News page for the exact deadline). Mail your order and payment to Snow Joke Shirts, Box 341, Seeley Lake MT 59868. Shirt reservations will not be honored if payment isn’t included. Reservations arriving late will be ignored and any check enclosed as payment will be destroyed. Pre-paid shirts are non-refundable. If you cannot attend and want your shirt anyway, you must email the race director by 5 p.m. the Thursday before the event telling him who will pick it up for you. Have that person see the race director, not the Registration table, before 10:45 a.m.

Any unreserved shirts are sold first-come first-serve at race day registration. Once the supply is exhausted, entrants can ask to be placed on our Waiting List for unclaimed shirts.

We can’t eat unsold shirts. We don’t pad the Entry Fee to warehouse them. We intend to sell out, which means some entrants may not get a shirt. We carefully calculate our shirt order based on advance reservations, then place our order 3 weeks before the Event. This approach has provided shirts for entrants making reservations at least a week before the Event. No-shows usually provide enough shirts for all who get on our waiting list pre-event, and some who get on the waiting list during registration. The system is also economical. You don’t pay for shirts we don’t sell. Our cost per shirt is $15.00, and we charge you $15.00.

When Registration closes around 10:45, names on the Waiting List are immediately called out for any unclaimed shirts. Those present with payment receive shirts until the supply is exhausted or everyone has what they want.

We do not order more shirts after the event.

Dogs:

You may list your dog as a participant on your application. Do not fill out an application for your dog.

At the Starting Line, position yourself to the side or at the back of the pack so that other runners don’t become entangled in your dog’s leash.

The entire course is open to vehicular traffic during the Event. Your dog must be leashed at all times.

First dog in wins a soup bone at the Awards Ceremony.

USATF Montana members who are fortunate enough to have a dog that drags them through the course should notify the Race Director if winning a division, as dog-aided performances are not compatible with the USATF Championship aspect of the event.

Vehicular Participation:

Stroller and wheelchair runners are permitted to register (no separate division for strollers). Cyclists and motorized vehicle operators are permitted on the course but will not be registered.

Attire:

Proper Attire.

Proper Attire. The couple behind the buggy is also properly attired.

Improper Attire.

The Course:

The Start & Finish are both at the Grade School Gym. There are 6 miles of highway and 7 miles of county road. There’s a big hill at 3 miles, a moderate uphill grade at 6 miles, and a short uphill at 12 ½ miles. The course is not certifiable due to variable snow plowing width, but has been measured in summer with a calibrated wheel to an accuracy of +/- 20 feet.

On the highway, always run on the left side facing traffic, crossing only where a Course Marshall is controlling traffic for you.

Course Marshalls handle medical problems and dropouts at Checkpoints at 6 and 10 miles. You may leave clothing with them to be brought back to the Finish Line. A portapotty will be located at or near each Checkpoint.

Between 6 and 10 miles is the “Charlie Cheetah Preserve.” You and the rest of your tribe are running over the Serengeti Plain, which is so bright and shimmering under the hot African sun it appears white as snow. You are effortlessly rounding up cheetahs at full sprint and herding them to your village corrals because, well, because you can. All you need is a little endorphin and a really twisted imagination.

Dropouts:

If you drop out you MUST report to a course marshal, law enforcement person, or the Race Director at the finish. This is for your safety and to minimize delays in our results processing.

Aid Stations:

Heed, Gatorade or other electrolyte and water will be served at the Checkpoints. The water tables are 100 yards down course from the electrolyte in case the electrolyte doesn’t agree with you and you wish to dilute it internally.

Finishing:

Our system utilizes chip timing with video backup. Upon reaching the Finish Line, go into the chute. Your chip will be removed and you will be slapped with a commemorative Finisher sticker. The sticker is for your chip finishing, not you. No chip – No sticker.

If you finish without either your number visible on your front or a chip, you will not receive an Official Time, and we will expend no effort to deal with your unrelenting stupidity.

Finish Line Beverages:

It’s one per entrant at the Smoothie/Fruit Drink Stand under the cheetah flags. Help yourself to the bottled water & Gatorade set off to the side.

USATF Montana Championship:

We encourage entrants to register with USA Track & Field before the race. You can do so online at http://www.usatf.org/membership/. The Snow Joke is the USATF Montana Half Marathon Championship race. Montana resident entrants who are members of USATF are considered entered in the Championship. Results are determined by USATF Montana and in due course are posted at http://www.mtusatf.org/.

Awards & Post-Race:

Each Divisional winner is awarded a fur sash with a medallion. The uniqueness of this prize is exceeded only by the tackiness of the materials from which it is crafted. Winners may participate in the Induction of the Cheetah Rangers. It is impossible to put into words the power and majesty of the ceremony. Chip timing should allow us to call the ceremony at 1:00 p.m. or shortly thereafter.

Other than the awards, there is no activity hosted by the Event. We have to clear the school gym & grounds for other activities. We also recognize that many entrants have other activities planned or have a long drive back home. You are encouraged to include our following business partners for your post-race activities.

The Filling Station Bar & Restaurant is the Cheetah Herder’s traditional post-run hangout. Your running number will be honored for a free drink. Enjoy a full lunch off their grill if you like.

Other local businesses will have promotions for your benefit. They will be publicized on this web site or on race day.

Results:

Results will be posted in the gym as they come in. You can print yourself a personalized sticker with your time on it.

Official Results will be posted on this web site as soon as possible once any discrepancies are resolved - give us 3 to 5 days. Requesting results before they are posted delays their processing.

Missing Belongings:

Lost & Found, and items left at Checkpoints are brought to the hood of the blue pickup truck parked near the finish line.

If you find you are missing something after leaving the event, don’t hesitate to contact the Race Director. He will be Happy to get it returned to you as a free service.