Frequently Asked Questions
Tell me about the race.
What is going on during the event?
How do I register?
What about dogs and baby strollers?
Where and when can I pick up my race packet?
How about carbohydrate replacement and water?
What about medals?
If I am unable to participate after I register, is there a way to transfer my registration to anot?
I see the course closes three hours after the race begins. What happens if someone takes longer than three hours?
Where is there local lodging?
Are donations required?
What percent of the money raised goes to charity?
Who, exactly, is the beneficiary of money donated for Colon Cancer Awareness? What will they do with the funds?
Is all the money raised going to colon cancer awareness? If not, can I designate the money I raise for that purpose?
To whom should donation checks be made payable?
How do teams work?
Must the Team Captain sign up first?
What does "official second seed Bloomsday qualifying race" mean?
Where will results be posted?
Chip Time or Gun Time?
Can I pick up my award after the race?
Tell me about the race.
The events start and finish adjacent to Farmers New World Life Building on 77th Ave. SE in the "north end" city center of Mercer Island, Washington. This family-oriented run day includes a Half Marathon Run and a Half Marathon Walk around Mercer Island, a 10K Run that will be certified for Bloomsday 2nd seed qualification, a 5K Run and 5K Walk, and a non-competitive half-mile Kids' Dash (for children age 10 and under). [Back to top]
What is going on during the event?
In our Race Village, there will be live music, family fun, giveaways and friendly faces at our sponsor booths and some surprises! We are also planning other activities to make your Sunday as enjoyable as we can. [Back to top]
How do I register?
The best way to register is online, through this website. Click on the Registration link at the top and choose the event you wish to register for. You can mail in the registration form on our brochure or our advertisement in Northwest Runner magazine during the months of December 2006 through March 2007 or other publications (last day to mail registrations will be March 16th, you can register online until March 21st). You can register in running stores in the Seattle and Eastside area through March 22nd at 5PM (see the registration page for more information on this option). You can also register March 24th at the Countrywide Race Expo at the Community Center at Mercerview 1-5PM (for more information on Race Expo see the question on packet pickup below) and you can register day of race starting at 6:30 AM at the Farmers New World Life Building in downtown Mercer Island. Hurry to take advantage of our lower fee for early registration and to avoid the higher fee for late registration. [Back to top]
What about dogs and baby strollers?
The terms of our insurance policy require that no baby strollers or dogs be allowed on the Half Marathon, 10k, or 5k race courses other than service dogs. This would not be a problem for the 5K Walk, however. [Back to top]
Where and when can I pick up my race packet?
All shirts, bibs, and chips will be distributed at Countrywide Race Expo, Saturday, March 24 from 1-5 PM, at the Community Center at Mercer View, located at 8236 SE 24th Street in Mercer Island. These items can also be picked up on run day at the registration area in the Farmer's parking lot, between 6:30-9:00am. [Back to top]
Will there be water along the run route, and opportunities for carbohydrate replacement?
Both will be available near the 6-Mile Water Station and in the Race Village. There are also six water stations on the course, and plenty of food and water at the finish. [Back to top]
What about medals?
Medals will be awarded to the top three finishers, male and female, in the Half Marathon, 10K, and 5k, in 13 different age groups, from Under 15 to 70 & older and there will be medals for the top three overall finishers. We will also have an award in each age category for the first colon cancer survivor to cross the finish line and the top survivor overall. We would like to award medals to all finishers but the cost would take too many dollars from our causes (see below). [Back to top]
If I am unable to participate after I have registered, is there a way to transfer my registration to another person?
Yes. Email your information, along with your name, address, age, gender and event, and the name of the substitute person, to perfecttime@perfecttimeevents.com. Perfect Time will then change the registration to the updated information, making a note that it is a substitution. When the substitute person arrives at packet pick up, they will have to sign the entry form ... and that's all there is to it. [Back to top]
I see the course closes three hours after the race begins. What happens if someone takes longer than three hours?
We then begin releasing the course marshals and police, but you are welcome to continue at your own risk. The time clock will continue to run and times will continue to be taken until the last runner has finished. [Back to top]
Where is there convenient lodging if I am traveling from out of town?
There is a Travel Lodge within a few blocks of the starting line. Contact information: 7645 Sunset Highway, Mercer Island, WA 98040; Tel: 206-232-8000, 1-800-578-7878, www.travelodge.com. Other hotels are available in downtown Seattle, within three miles of the start, or in Bellevue. [Back to top]
Are donations required?
Absolutely not. Donations, both 'whether or not to donate', and 'amount', are entirely up to you. If you do choose to make a donation in addition to your event registration fee, you can do that either on this website or on the paper-based registration form (you cannot pay by credit card unless you use this website). Donation functionality on this website will begin in January. [Back to top]
What percent of the money raised goes to charity?
Once the bills are paid (timers, shirts, awards, prizes, security, advertising, printing, sani-cans, etc.), all registration fees, sponsorships, and vendor fees go entirely to charity. This can vary from year to year but in the past few years, it has been easily over 70% of the funds raised. [Back to top]
Who, exactly, is the beneficiary of money donated for Colon Cancer Awareness? What will they do with the funds?
As Colon Cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death in the U.S., and as treatment in its early stages of development enjoys a remarkably high percentage success rate (in the high 90's), and as the disease is devastating in its latter stages, it has become obvious that Early Detection IS The Cure. The beneficiaries are people in the Pacific Northwest who are working to spread the word and educate the community on the importance of checking for colon cancer so that it can be detected, treated and cured in its early stages. We are also looking for ways to help with low income and uninsured screening. [Back to top]
Is all the money raised going to Colon Cancer Awareness? If not, can I designate the money I raise for that purpose?
The money raised is used to support Colon Cancer Awareness (including education), as well as funding several other causes and activities by The Foundation of The Rotary Club of Mercer Island. For more information about our foundation's activities, click here. You can also designate that additional funds you donate or raise are directed solely to Colon Cancer Awareness. [Back to top]
To whom should donation checks be made payable?
You can donate through this website by credit card. If you prefer, you can send a checks made payable to Mercer Island Rotary Half Marathon, to Mercer Island Rotary Foundation, PO Box 1, Mercer Island, WA 98040. All payments are fully tax deductible as a charitable contribution. [Back to top]
How do teams work?
Teams can be formed by completing the Team Captain Packet that will be available for download in from the "Form a Team" page on this website. If your company is interested in forming a team with pre-paid registrations for employees and their families, get in touch with us by sending email to runinfo@mirotary.org.
Must the Team Captain sign up first?
No. Just indicate the team you are on when you reach the questions.aspx page in the registration process and we'll match it to the team that is formed by the captain through the captain's team formation process. If you are interested in being a captain, download the Team Captain packet from the "Form a Team" link on this website.
What does "official second seed Bloomsday qualifying race" mean?
Men and women that finish the 10K Run at a race time that is faster than the qualification time will qualify for the "Second Seeding" of the Bloomsday race. This is the seed, or starting group, just behind the elites. The qualifying time is 39:00 minutes for men and 47:00 minutes for women.
Where will results be posted?
Results will be posted on this website and in Mercer Island Reporter.
Is my time based on Chip Time or Gun Time?
We are guided by the USA Track and Field rules ... and the only time they recognize is "gun time." Their logic is that a person could "game" chip time by starting late, not being slowed by the pack, and thereby develop an overall, elapsed time advantage. This is why the starting positions are seeded by expected pace, so the elite and quicker runners do not have to work their way through the pack, believing they have earned that right.
Can I pick up my award after the race?
If you miss an award during the Award Ceremony after the event, your medal will be at Youth and Family Services at Luther Burbank on Mercer Island during the month of April. Feel free to drop by and pick up your medal ... and congratulations!