Event Information

The 8th Annual Urban Cow Half-Marathon, Half Marathon Relay and No Boundaries 5K Fun Run & Walk take place on Sunday, October 7, 2012 in William Land Park, Sacramento, California. All races will begin at the northeast corner of the park along Freeport Boulevard, across from Sacramento City College.

The event is limited to the first 4,200 in the Half Marathon; 1,400 in the 5k Run/Walk and 250 Teams in the Half Marathon Relay.

Start Times

Urban Cow Half Marathon (1st wave - under 2 hr. projected finish time/9:10 min./mi. pace and under)
and all Half Marathon Relay Teams: 7:30 am Sharp!

2nd wave - over 2 hr. projected finish time/9:11 min./mi. pace and over: 7:30 a.m.

Urban Cow No Boundaries 5K: 7:50 am Sharp!

Sorry, No Refunds & No Race Day Registration!

Please allow enough time prior to the race start times of 7:30 am sharp for the half marathon & relay and 7:50 am sharp for the 5k.

No Race Day Registration

(However, packet pickup is available on race morning starting at 6:15 am)

Race Features

New Balance Micro-fiber shirts*; Live bands; Scenic flat and fast course; Custom cowbell finisher awards** and cool age-group awards; Chronotrack D-Tag Timing; Ideal weather; Delicious post-race food and beer garden.

* Half-Marathon & Relay Finishers only

5k entrants receive 100% cotton shirt

Typical Weather Conditions

Sunny and 58 - 78 degrees

On Site Reg & Packet Pickup

You can register and/or pick up your race packet starting Friday, October 5th (9 am - 7 pm) and Saturday, October 6th (9 am- 6 pm) at Fleet Feet Sports (2311 J St., Sacramento).

NOTE: Pre-registered participants may pick up their race packets on Race Day as well starting at 6:15am. HOWEVER, THERE IS NO RACE-DAY REGISTRATION.

Event Merchandise

Plenty of cool event merchandise will be available for sale at packet pickup and late registration at Fleet Feet Sports, Sacramento, 2311 J Street on Friday & Saturday and at the race on Sunday morning.

Awards

First, second and third place overall male and female in the Half Marathon receive special prizes. First masters male and female win special prizes. Age-group winners earn unique cow-related awards. Second and third place finishers win custom medals. Overall male and female and masters female and male winners in the 5k earn special prizes while top three age group finishers will be awarded custom medals. Top three all male, all female, and co-ed relay teams win special prizes.

Awards will be presented to the top three overall and top master’s winners in the Half Marathon on stage. The overall male and female and masters male and female winners in the 5k will also receive their awards on stage. The awards ceremony will take place at 9:45 am.

All other awards may be picked up at the Awards Tent. Awards will not be mailed so please visit the Awards Tent if you think you finished in the top three in your age group. If you fail to pick up your award on race day, you can pick up your award at Fleet Feet Sports, 2311 J Street, Sacramento starting Wednesday, October 10 through Wednesday, October 24.

Lodging

There are no hotels within walking distance of the start/finish line. The closest hotels are approximately 2-3 miles away. Most out-of-town participants will stay downtown, less than 10 minutes from the race, or at the new Le Rivage Hotel which is located on the race course and only 2 miles from the start/finish. The Hyatt Regency, 1209 L Street, (916) 443-1234, offers a special $99 discounted room rate and the Courtyard by Marriott - Sacramento Midtown, 4422 Y Street, (916) 455-6800 offers an $89 discounted room for race participants. Please mention Urban Cow Half for the special rate. Other lodging options can be found by visiting www.discovergold.org.

Time Limits

Half Marathon and Relay Team runners have a 4 hour time limit - or until the cows come home (whichever comes first) - to complete the events. 5K runners have 1 hour (19 min./mi. pace) to finish or clear the course to allow room for the leading 1/2 marathon runners.

Aid Stations

Aid stations will be located approximately every 2 miles. Our aid stations are supported by local high school cross country team members. Water will be served on the first several tables and Gatorade (Lemon Lime flavor) on the following tables.

Driving Directions

From Hwy. 99 north or south, take the 12^th Ave. exit. Head west on 12^th Ave. approximately 1 mile. 12^th Ave. dead-ends into William Land Park. From Hwy 5, north or south, take the Sutterville Rd. exit. Head east on Sutterville Rd. approximately ¾ mi. For Internet mapping purposes, Sacramento City College is located at 3835 Freeport Blvd., Sacramento, CA 95822.

Parking

Parking is available along the outside streets of William Land Park and at the north parking lot and parking structure at Sacramento City College (1/2 mile from the start line). A Sacramento RT bus will be on hand to shuttle participants to and from the parking lot. Download the parking map here.

Pace Team

Are you interested in running a specific time or perhaps a personal best in the half marathon? See Pace Team for details.

Half Marathon Relay

Our Half Marathon Relay is a two-person relay team with each person running/walking an equal distance of 6.55 miles. The relay includes three divisions: all female, all male, and coed. The relay exchange point is on the Waterfront Promenade between Old Sacramento and Miller Park. Parking for the relay exchange is available adjacent to Crocker Park at 3^rd and O Streets. You will then need to walk a ¼ mile to the exchange zone on the waterfront. It will be up to you to find your relay partner in the exchange zone. Each team member must wear a bib number on the front of his/her shirt. Team members will exchange a wristband at the exchange zones. IMPORTANT: Each team member will be given a timing tag at packet pickup. We will record split times at 6.55 miles. If you cross the finish line without a timing tag, you will not have a recorded finish time for your relay team.

We highly recommend that relay teams pick up their race packets ahead of time to avoid any race-day hassles.

Note: There is no bus shuttle service to or from the relay exchange point.

Age Divisions

Half Marathon

12 & Under, 13-15, 16-18, 19-24, 25–29, 30-34, 35-39, 40-44, 45-49, 50-54, 55-59, 60-64, 65-69, 70-74, 75+

12 and under, 13-15, 16-18, 19-24, 25–29, 30-34, 35-39, 40-44, 45-49, 50-54, 55-59, 60-64, 65-69, 70-74, 75-79, 80+

Two-Person Half Marathon Relay

All Male, All Female, Co-Ed

Course Map Links: :

Half Marathon Course Map (pdf)

5K Course Map (pdf)

About the Half Marathon & Relay Course:

Essentially a loop course, our USDA Prime certified route starts in historic William Land Park – home to the Sacramento Zoo, Fairytale Town and the city’s oldest golf course – and runs through green grassy meadows and tree canopies for the first 1.5 miles. The course then winds through one of Sacramento’s most picturesque neighborhoods to 3.25 miles before taking you to Front Street heading toward downtown Sacramento. The route enters downtown at Mile 5 near the corner of 3^rd and “R” Streets. After a left turn on 5^th Street, you’ll continue north to Capitol Mall. A quick glance to your right will reveal the California State Capitol Building. At 5.8 miles, the “K” Street Mall Pedestrian Walkway takes you under the I-5 Freeway to the 6-mile mark in Old Sacramento - the unique 28-acre National Historic Landmark District and State Historic Park located along the beautiful Sacramento River. After skirting Old Sacramento, you’ll now head south on the Sacramento River Promenade passing the Tower Bridge on the right and the newly renovated Crocker Art Museum on the left. With the Sacramento River on your right, you’ll enjoy running along the Sacramento River Bicycle Trail passing the relay exchange point before hitting Miller Park where live music will greet you at mile 7.25. You can check out your competition over the next out-and-and back section through the Sacramento Marina. Back on the bike trail, you’ll migrate south for a couple miles, including a watering hole, exiting the trail right through Sacramento’s newest luxury hotel, Le Rivage near mile 10.75. A sharp left turn at Le Rivage lands you on Riverside Boulevard. Riverside Boulevard will “steer” you back to William Land Park for 1 mile before taking a right turn into the park for a final 1.3 miles to the place where all the cows come home and hang their shoes – the finish line.

Our 5K course travels along the winding, shaded streets inside William Land Park, but never too far from the city.

Elevation Map: Half Marathon Elevation Map (pdf)

Not too much hill training needed for this one!

Live Band Map: Live Bands Map

The music should help keep you moovin'!

Training

We are proud to have several local programs available for training for the 7th Annual Urban Cow Half Marathon presented by Clark's Corner, Buzz Oates Group of Companies & Five Star Bank. Typically starting in mid summer, Harey Tortuga Fitness (official training program for Urban Cow), The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society’s Team In Training, Fleet Feet Sports, SAC FIT, Runnin' for Rhett, and Running Zone in Elk Grove offer excellent group training programs for beginner and intermediate runners and walkers.