2024 Pre-Race FAQ
Are you registered for this Sunday's Paine to Pain? With a smattering of luck, this answers all your questions, though some of you will refuse to read to the bottom and send me questions anyway.
1. Bib pick-up: We strongly encourage runners to pick up bibs and shirts prior to race day at Westchester Road Runner, at 179 E. Post Road in White Plains:
Friday: 4–6:30 p.m. (do not show up at 6:29)
Saturday: 10 a.m.–4 p.m.
In addition to your own bib, you may pick up for someone else with your same last name or address.
You will find your bib number here. Please have it with you to help things move quickly.
In addition, Westchester Road Runner is offering 20% off non-sale clothes and 10% on non-sale shoes, at the time you pick up your numbers. Good until close of business on Sunday (with your bib).
The store will also donate old running shoes to charity. Rule of thumb: If you haven't worn them in a year, donate them.
If you can't make it to the store, you can pick up your bib at Paine Cottage before the race but get there early!
2. Start time: Wave 1 starts with a gunshot at 9 a.m., unless the musket misfires a couple times and I have to holler “Go!” If you were 200 years old you'd also misfire on occasion.
We anticipate about 650 runners this year. So please leave ample time for parking, bib pick up if you haven't already claimed it, porta-potties, bag check and schmoozing. We don't really care if you schmooze, we just want you to get there early. Don't run up to us at the last minute demanding attention because you didn't leave enough time.
3. Wave start: Five waves, with about 120–140 people in each, leaving three minutes apart. Warning: The waves have always gone off exactly on time.
The race is electronically timed and we know from your chip where you're supposed to start. Your bib numbers and wave assignments are on the website now. Look up your name to claim your bib. You can drop back to a later wave to run with friends, but you can't jump forward.
Unless you are vying for overall 1-2-3, there's no need to crowd the start. While overall 1-2-3 is gun-timed for the podium, age group awards are based on net time from the bib chip.
Some runners in later waves will be faster than those in earlier ones. This is deliberate. It helps fill the gaps between the waves and spreads the crowd so that everyone can run their best race.
4. Number transfers are not permitted. Veteran P2Pers know that if you transfer a number, a kitten will die. And it will be your fault.
Each year we sell a ton of bibs at stupid-cheap prices, but we also know many folks won't be able to use them due to injuries or life events. We do the stupid-cheap thing because it's fun for us, fun for you and keeps the race affordable to those of modest means. And we bake those no-shows into the price of the race. If we allowed transfers or deferrals we'd have to raise the price.
In addition, if you transfer a number you foul up the results and could deprive another person of an award.
5. Shirts are guaranteed to those who registered by September 1. If you don't get a shirt at check-in, you can pick one up after the race on a first come, first serve basis (depending on the number of no-shows). Our shirt policy can be found at this link.
6. Late registration: There is none. Registration closed September 24. Please tell your friends who ask, so that we don't have to. We're busy now working on the final logistics.
7. Parking is available in two school lots and on the street. The lot in front of the High School will fill up early. The lot behind the High School on Clove Road is quite large, and has a walkway bringing you past the front of the school toward the start.
Don't even think about parking on Broadview, as that is the racecourse. Click here for a map of the parking areas. Please consider carpooling to alleviate congestion. And heed the warning about being tarred and feathered if you park on the race course.
8. Public transportation from NYC: Easy-peasy. Click this link.
A taxi from the station is 1.5 miles and might cost about $8-9. We expect many NYC runners, so keep your eyes open to share a taxi and hook up with others. Your mileage may vary on the hook up.
Or use our Facebook group to see if you can meet another runner. Maybe you'll get luckier than you can imagine.
9. Baggage drop is available just steps from the start. You can check one bag, which will be brought to the finish. Your bib will have a pull tag to pin to your bag. Please don't leave valuables in the bags, as we are not responsible for them.
Emotional baggage may not be checked.
10. Course markings: Our team of Trail Pixies expect to lay down about 500 bright pink flags with our Colonial Runner logo, placed at trail intersections and occasional intervals. Some people will insist on ignoring the flags and run off course anyway.
11. Toilets: Porta-potties at the start (get there early!) and the 7.5-mile mark (Saxon Woods golf course). The high school locker rooms at the finish will be available for post-race toilets and showers.
12. Water and medical: Medical attention and water will be available at only three spots mid-race. These aid stations are at miles 4-ish, 7.5-ish and 10.8-ish. Carry supplemental fluid if you want. There is no energy drink this year on the trail. EMTs from Empress EMS will be at the aid stations.
13. Mid-race drop-out: If you get injured, or are too exhausted to finish, you should check in with a volunteer at an aid station. If you can't make it to the aid station, tell a volunteer on the course. If you tell the police you are injured they will transport you to the emergency room, not the finish line.
14. The course closes: Sweepers will discharge police and volunteers, starting in Wave 5 and finishing in three hours. Please stay in front of the sweepers! We estimate that middle-of-the-pack finishing times will be your regular 1/2 marathon pace plus an extra 13 minutes to account for the rough terrain. If you're slower than the sweeper you are on your own (but we'll leave the flags in place so you won't get lost).
15. Post-race: We should have lots of good food and live music. Do we know how to treat you well or what? Check it out:
AJ's Burgers (New Rochelle)
The Fresh Market (Scarsdale)
Quaker Ridge Bagels
Columbian House Restaurant (New Rochelle)
Athletic Brewing Company
Pepsi
Artie Tobia (for the live tunes!)
There will also be a medical tent staffed by Montefiore New Rochelle Hospital. We hope you don't visit them, except to say thanks.
Therapists will be on hand to assist with post-race therapy or massage or stretching from Finish Line PT and others.
Check everyone out while you cool down, nosh, admire the race bling draped around your neck and relax.
16. Ultra runners! Want to run a "warm up lap?" Each year a few hearty souls want to do a warm-up lap before the race. Email me if interested.
17. No dogs. We have dogs. We like their happy, wagging tails and enjoy scratching their bellies. They are the darlings of social media, though cats believe otherwise as they feign indifference. Sadly, we don't make the rules for the school grounds. That means Tucker, Princess and Snoopy have to stay home unless they are guide dogs.
18. Volunteers: This event is produced by NewRo Runners. Our entire race committee, myself included, is volunteer. We expect 200-plus volunteers on race day. Please be nice to them as they are working hard. Kissing volunteers is occasionally encouraged—subject to age restrictions and consent.
19. Free photos: This year we once again have free professional photos for you. Hopefully we'll get the shot that makes you look both tough and fabulous.
20. Merch! We will have some P2P items for sale at Westchester Road Runner and at the finish line. The stuff was wildly popular the last few years. Net proceeds go toward keeping the registration fees as low as possible so that even those of modest means can participate. Available: Beanies (red and blue), enamel camp-style mugs, hats and visors, tie-dye P2P shirts (without year), and car magnets. While supplies last.
21. Feedback: We started with 50 people in 2008. The vast majority of our runners learned of the race by word of mouth. We encourage feedback regarding the event to know what works and what doesn't. And we continue to rely on word of mouth as our main means of marketing. So if you enjoy the race and the festivities, we encourage you to tell your friends and post your pictures.
Good luck out there on Sunday!
Eric Turkewitz
Race Director and Grand Poobah