The Icebreaker Indoor Marathon

2012 Icebreaker Race Director's Recap

2012-01-23T18:04:00.000-08:00

As much as you hate to tinker with a winning formula, we have continued to find that the Icebreaker Indoor Marathon is a work-in-progress. We made several small changes from last year’s event; some worked and others didn’t. But for the most part we feel the 2012 version was another smashing success for the nearly 800 runners who participated in the weekend events. I would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone involved and also make some comments about the weekend.

First, congratulations to all of the runners who finished their races. We had a great group of competitors in all events. In Friday’s Revolution Natural Running 5k, Sean Luedke ran a 16:51 to win the race and Jennifer Chaudoir was the women’s winner in 20:36. In Saturday’s Performance Running Outfitters Half Marathon, Mac McCulley was able to hold off a late surge by Jeff Bailey to win in 1:13:28 while Monica Schoeneck won the women’s race in 1:26:38. Later on Saturday the ThunderDome Running team set an event record to win the Fit Milwaukee Marathon Relay in 2:12:44, but the Berkeley Running Company Navy team, which finished in 2:15:49, had the ThunderDome team in its sights for most of the race. The men from Berkeley also re-claimed the Running Store Challenge and the traveling trophy that goes with it.

Yesterday’s marathon was special in many ways. McCulley followed up Saturday’s half marathon win with another victory in the marathon. His time of 2:39:28 was just a few minutes off the record set by Bryan Schneider in 2009; he surely would have broken it had he not ran the half marathon 24 hours earlier. McCulley’s win also earned him the Gold Medal Challenge victory. On the women’s side, it was much the same as Mary Flaws won for the second year in a row in a time of 3:13:17, which gave her a 3-peat in the Gold Medal Challenge. Equally impressive, each year she has brought her time down. Congrats to Mac and Mary; you are both great champions.

I also want to recognize Matt Jeromin who lured his buddy McCulley to Milwaukee knowing that it would hurt his own chances of winning the race. All Jeromin did was go out and run a PR of 2:44:29, which earned him 2^nd place. Nice job Matt.

Another runner I want to recognize is Steve Tietz, who is a 2-time Gold Medal Champion. He finished 4^th in the marathon yesterday, 5^th in the half marathon on Saturday, and was 2^nd in the Gold Medal Challenge. In between that, he volunteered in the food room on Saturday. I know it’s tough for him to see someone else’s name on the Gold Medal Challenge banner, but he’s been a great champion and I am certain that his best days of running are ahead of him.

We have received many compliments and kind words from runners who participated in the races. One of the things that received the most praise is Mary Flaws’ cookies. She baked 60 dozen of them to promote her website, Running in the USA (www.runningintheusa.com) although I claim she has an evil plan to fatten up – and thus slow down- her competitors by feeding them delicious baked goods. The other person who generated a ton of positive comments was Kim Kelly, who is the “spikey-haired” volunteer who was our water table captain. Kim was also one of the first to arrive at the Pettit Center each morning and one of the last to leave at night, and in between she was a great ball of energy who made the water table one of the most exciting places in the house. Her efforts are much appreciated by me and many of the runners.

As we all know, it is impossible to put on a perfect event, and the 2012 Icebreaker certainly had its share of imperfections. In my opinion, the main problem is one of the same things we have had in years’ past: finding an effective way to communicate lap counts to runners. Fortunately I think we may have resolved some of this later in the day on Saturday and on Sunday. We put the announcer right next to the small monitor and he continually called out lap counts. This seemed to work very well although it cut into the music. In Saturday’s first half marathon in particular, several runners expressed their frustration about lap counts, and I apologize for this.

The second-biggest problem was a shortage of medals, which was my fault. In other years, I take home a box of leftover medals from the race. A large box! That is because I would order one medal for each runner that signed up for the half marathon, marathon and Gold Medal Challenge. To try to cut down on the leftovers and be more “economical”, I ordered enough medals to cover about 80% of the registered runners (before you come down on me for this, it is a trick that most race directors use for both shirt and medal ordering). Well for good or for bad, we had a much higher than anticipated number of runners who showed up and finished the races. In yesterday’s marathon, for example, 117 of the 130 registered runners started the race. That’s an astounding 90%, and much higher than the 70-75% we have had in years past. Lesson learned; this won’t happen again. And for the 11 of you who didn’t get medals, I deeply apologize and promise you will get your medal as soon as possible.

Other snafus included a problem with shirt availability in some sizes, mainly due to an issue with the shirt vendor sending us a batch of incorrect sizes, and some packet pickup/chip issues. These are the kinds of things that are hard to avoid and you just have to handle them as best as you can.

And of course my personal favorite snafu was with the starting gun in the first half marathon. It was truly a comedy of errors; I was trying to help a runner get the correct bib when the announcer started the countdown. Then the gun didn’t work and I ended up yelling “go”. It was a legendary bad start, but I used it as a lesson and carried two guns to the start for the rest of the races. And during yesterday’s marathon, I was glad I had both of them because the first one didn’t work.

For 2013, we have several changes in store. For the relay, we want to add a corporate division and also beef up the awards. We also want to allow runners to sign up for a specific half marathon starting time in the registration process rather than us determining it for them.

My favorite two memories of the weekend both came yesterday. The first was seeing Mac McCulley stand on the side of the track cheering on the other runners after his marathon victory. He stood there for several minutes clapping his hands and giving encouraging comments. Many of them congratulated him on their way by. Only at an indoor marathon would you see something like this. The second memory was when our final marathon finisher Kris Hinrichs was in her final miles (of her 96^th marathon, by the way). The remaining volunteers and race staff joined her on the track for the last 5 laps. There were about 6 or 7 of us. It was a fitting end to a special weekend.

There are so many people who played a part in making this event a success that deserve thanks. I hope I don’t miss anyone.

First thanks to our sponsors: Performance Running Outfitters, Slendertone, Motorola, Revolution Natural Running, Fit Milwaukee, Running in the USA and GU Energy. It was refreshing to work with sponsors who understand the importance of supporting local races like ours.

We also worked with several charity partners including MS Run the US, the American Cancer Society, and the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society’s Team Challenge. We thank them for helping us with volunteers and being part of the weekend.

Thanks to Emily Boggs and Stacey Nash for doing some video-taping this weekend, to Sheila Wordell for putting together some of the music and for making some killer cupcakes for our packet assembly party, to Matt Thull at ThunderDome Running for all of the support you have given our event, to Sam Walton for finding a way to sell quality food for super-cheap prices, to Fleet Feet Brookfield and Berkeley Running Company of Madison for your support of our relay, to Olu Sijuwade and Felicia Sopa for the national anthem performances, to Treva Rademaker at Chiropractic Wellness Group and Susan at Elements Therapeutic Massage of Elm Grove, to the Brookfield Central High School cross country team and Key Club members for volunteering, to Orthopedic Associates and Bell Ambulance for making sure everyone was safe, to Ruma Sports for the awards, to TS Customs for the signs, Chad, Anna & Kat at Vision Event Management (Madison Mini Marathon and Rock n Sole Half Marathon), and to Zap Event for coming up with the best online registration software I have used.

And I can't forget to thank the folks at Prime Time Timing for scoring the race. Erin and Jamin were marvelous as usual. As I say every year, a race is only as good as its timers.

Pictures for all races are available for viewing and purchase at Running in the USA. Follow this link to see them. A huge thanks to Bill Flaws for taking the pictures. He is the best race photographer out there!

Age group awards will be mailed to all winners soon.

And marathon participants, if you liked your experience please give us a good review on Marathon Guide (www.marathonguide.com). It is very helpful to our marketing efforts.

I would like to thank the race committee – Dana, Bill, Brian, Dave, Rob, and Anne and Tracey from Fit Milwaukee – for their hard work. We meet on a regular basis and go over every detail that goes into making this event what it is. It’s this group that makes things happen. And we miss you Jeff!

And I can’t say enough good things about the people at the Pettit Center. First of all, this is a world-class facility and we are very fortunate to have it in Milwaukee. The people who work there go out of their way to be helpful and supportive of the Icebreaker. Rob at the Pettit has been truly a pleasure to work with and I can guarantee that this event would not be the same without him. And Randy, Jose, Pete, Paul, Jan and the others have been great. I only wish the folks in Salt Lake City cared as much about running events as you!

I would like to thank the volunteers. There are too many to list individually, but I will single out our three captains: Phil, Pete and Kim. Thank you!!! You fit in well with the Icebreaker family. Dave, you did a great job of coordinating the volunteers (although we still miss you Jaime!). And thanks to my wife Karen who designed the shirts and race programs, and helped out at packet pickup and the food room. Also to my kids for pitching in so much this weekend (although I did pay them $20 each!).

Finally, I would like to thank the runners. You are the reason why this event exists. We are honored that you choose to spend your time and money to participate in the Icebreaker. Our goal is to work as hard as we can to make it worth it for you.

Mark your calendars for July 28, which is the date of the inaugural Heatbreaker Half Marathon & Relay at the Pettit Center!!

Race Weekend Is Here!

2012-01-20T05:17:00.000-08:00

Hello Icebreaker runners! Race weekend is upon us and I wanted to take this opportunity to remind everyone of a few things.

Relay Team Captains: each team is only getting one goody bag this year. It is your responsibility to divide the contents among your team members.....or not.

Remember to bring your own water bottles. We will be giving water bottles to the Marathon and Half Marathon runners, but these are not to be used during the race. They have the wrong kind of cap for use on the track. But that doesn't mean they aren't nice water bottles.

With today's expected snow, that may make parking a little tricky, especially on Saturday. Be aware that you may have to park a long way from the entrance and plan accordingly.

We do have same-day packet pickup so don't feel like you need to battle the snow today to get your packet.

Hope everyone has a safe trip to the Pettit Center this weekend. We look forward to seeing everyone!

Important Race Updates

2012-01-08T13:41:00.000-08:00

Here's the latest.......

Packet Pickup - This will take place in the Hall of Fame Room (2nd floor) of the Pettit Center. The hours are listed on the race website. We do allow race-day packet pickup. For Marathon Relay teams, you will get one goody bag per team. The team captain or a designated member can pick up the packet and shirts.

Parking - For all Saturday participants, be aware that the parking spots fill up quickly. For the Marathon Relay participants in particular, you may want to show up at least an hour early since there is also public skating at 1 p.m. on Saturday.

Water Bottles/Table - New this year, we are asking that runners bring their own water bottles to use during the race. You will want to mark your bib number on the bottle(s) when you get to the race. We will have an extra supply of bottles in case anyone forgets one, but we would prefer that you bring your own. You can bring more than one if you wish to have one for water and one for Powerade. For the Marathon and participants, you will be receiving water bottles in your race packets, but these are not suitable for use during the race due to the type of cap. They are a give-away from one of our sponsors.

Lap Counting Tips - Most sports watches and Garmin Forerunners have a lap counting function and these seem to work best. You may also wish to have a friend or family member help you. We will also have volunteers who will be available to give you your lap counts upon request. And we will continue to have screens than show either laps finished or laps to go (or both), but sometimes it can be hard to find your name so you may want to rely on your own methods. Our volunteers will let you know when you are on your last lap or when you are finished, but feel free to ask them if you have concerns about your lap count.

Timing - There will be a timing mat located at the finish line which will record your lap counts based on the chip around your ankle. When you hit the mat for the first time that will be counted as Lap 1. For the Half Marathon, you will have 47 more laps to go after that, and for the Marathon you will have 95 more laps to go. Please be mindful to stay off the timing mat after the announcement has been made to clear the track. Also, make sure your chip is around your ankle; if you put it on your wrist your laps won't be counted.

Nutrition - We will be providing GU packets one hour into the Half Marathon and Marathon. Feel free to bring your own nutritional items to place in your designated area on the side of the track.

Pit Area - Each runner and relay team will be able to select their own designated area on either end of the track. I would suggest that you reserve your spot after you arrive at the Pettit Center for your race and have picked up your packet. You can place items such as food or extra clothes in this spot. For the relay teams, this is the area where your team will congregate during the race to await runner changes.

Passing Etiquette - Just like when you're driving on the freeway, slower runners stay to the outside and faster runners on the inside. Try to be mindful of fast runners coming up behind you when you are in the inside lane. If you are coming up behind a slow runner who is in the inside lane, say the word "track" to alert them of this. Most of all, please be patient. The track is narrow and passing can be difficult in some areas.

Spectator Information - We will have poster board and markers for spectators to make signs. Feel free to bring your own signs (dry erase boards also work well if you want to change messages). Bring cowbells are your own risk! There will be concessions available to spectators. It will be cold inside the track area so make sure to dress warmly.

Age Group Awards - New this year, we will be mailing out all age group awards, which are specially-designed pins. We will have an awards ceremony for just the top three overall male/female winners in each race, Gold Medal Challenge winners and relay teams.

Official Race Photos - Bill Flaws from Running in the USA will be on hand again this year to take pictures. They will be available for purchase shortly after the race at www.runningintheusa.com.

Headphones - MP3 players are not allowed on the track. Hearing what's going on is imperative to creating a safe racing atmosphere. If you are seen wearing headphones of any kind, you will be asked to take them off or be disqualified from the race. We will be playing music during the race.

Back Bibs - We will have a supply of blank bibs for runners to write personal messages on. You can pin them to the back of your shirt for use during the race.

Weather - Please keep in mind that the races will be held no matter what the weather is like outside. Hopefully winter will have started by race weekend. We like to think that snow and cold temps makes a perfect backdrop for an indoor running event!

Post-Race - There will be a food room on the main floor with all kinds of treats for runners. There will also be a massage therapist from Elements Therapeutic Massage in Elm Grove and chiropractic from Dr. Treva Rademaker from the Chiropractic & Wellness Group, West Allis available in the Hall of Fame Room.

Sponsors - We have some amazing sponsors this year. Slendertone is presenting the Gold Medal Challenge, Performance Running Outfitters in sponsoring the Half Marathon, Revolution Natural Running is sponsoring the 5k Race and Fit Milwaukee is sponsoring the Marathon Relay. Other sponsors include GU Energy and Running in the USA. We would like to thank our sponsors for making the Icebreaker events possible.

And finally, on race weekend we will be rolling out the details for an exciting new race. There will be an information table and flyers in your goody bags. Stay tuned.....

We look forward to seeing everyone in just two shorts weeks!

MS Run the US Partnership

2012-01-03T17:58:00.000-08:00

We would like to welcome one of our favorite charities, MS Run the US, to the Icebreaker. They will have a booth during the events and will be selling some cool logo items...all for a good cause. Check them out at www.msruntheus.com.

All Sold Out!

2011-12-06T16:44:00.001-08:00

The 5k race filled up today so we are completely full....all events. Thank you everyone for making this the quickest sell-out in our short history. We promise to make this the most exciting Icebreaker ever!!

GU to Go!

2011-11-29T17:41:00.001-08:00

A big thanks to GU Energy for providing gel packs for the Marathon again this year. It looks like we will be getting Triberry and some Roctane flavors.

5k Status

2011-11-28T18:16:00.001-08:00

We have 21 spots left in the Revolution Natural Running 5k race.

Relay Full

2011-11-26T09:23:00.000-08:00

The Marathon Relay hit 100 teams earlier this week and is now closed.

Half Marathon Times

2011-11-17T18:15:00.000-08:00

If you didn't see your name on either list, send me an email at chris@indoormarathon.com and I will let you know which race you are in. A few names didn't make the list and I'm not sure why right now.

Half Marathon Starting Times

2011-11-16T16:31:00.000-08:00

Here are the half marathon starting assignments. If you want to be switched to the other race or you think there's an error, please email me at chris@indoormarathon.com. Keep in mind that we would like runners to be done in 2 hours (or 2:05 at the latest) in the 7 a.m. race.

1st Race (7:00)

Arnold, Marybeth
Bailey, Jeff
balthazor, susan
Bauer, Robin
Beaudin, Dominique
Best, Peter
Bleimehl, Eric
Bohlman, Kathy
Bolich, Mary
Bollinger, Troy
Brynildsen, Bryan
Buob, Alexander
Bursinger, Mike
Byrd-Felker, Rachel
Carpenter, Paul
Cauley, Michael
Cerni, Neil
Christophersen, Andy
Clark, Todd
Coleman, Meg
DeRuyter, Chris
Digaetano, John
Digaetano, Pamela
Dortch, Doug
duelge, jason
Edge, Jamie
Egan, Sean
Felbab, Amanda
Finn, Jim
Flaws, Mary
Fleming, Eugene
Flores, Gabriel
Forbes-Lorman, Robin
Fosdal, Hilary
Foy, Michael
Fritz, Nicole
Fuentez, Angelo
Gaffney, Casey
Gebauer, Dan
Gold, Brian
Goodwin, Phil
Gorski, Mary
Haling, Stacy
Harden, Darrell
Hart, Jason
Haviland, Heather
Heckman, Jenny
Hoekstra, Kathy
Hoffman, Thomas
Hunt, Dustin
Jurken, Mary
Klemm, Stacy
Klovas, Jenell
Kluck, Chris
kluck, kelly
Koenig, Bradley
Kramer, James
Kreisler, Nicole
Kreisler, Todd
Kuhl, Thomas
Kuhn, Carol
Kulas, Michael
Kussow, Dawn
Lackey, Jay
Lee, Adam
lee, bill
Lipusch, Heather
Lucas-taylor, Janet
Mack, Ken
Malesevich, Ryan
McCulley, Mac
McKinley, Marcel
Meunier, Kevin
Meyer, Mark
Mies, Cyndi
Miller, Jon
Moore, Jim
Moore, Lynne
Odorzynski, John
Olson, Johanna
Osborne, Sean
oudinot, scott
Paape, Rachel
Parker, Joe
Pedersen, Melinda
Pelzek, Stephanie
Penticoff, Jason
Pereckas, Michael
Peterson, Donald
Peterson, Mary
Plate, Jeffrey
Pomeroy, Brian
Pruhs, Janelle
Pyasta, Roman
Ramallo, Diego
Raseman, Jim
Rohde, Valeria
Roose, Dan
Rosicky, Brad
Rosicky, Dawn
Rudzik, Steve
Russo, Mark
Rytman, Kathleen
Schumacher, Jennifer
Skeen, Dan
Slinger, Andy
Smith, Maureen
Smith, Peter
Soltes, Mathew
Sopha, Jonathan
Stall, Larry
Stathus, Amy
Thinglum, Kate
Thomas, Catherine
Tietz, Stephen
Tsimpidis, Megan
Tucker, Lynette
Valentinelli, Mario
VanLoo, Scott
Van Driel, Cristin
Verhaalen, Gretchen
Voss, Sue
Wente, Deborah
Winkelman, Laurie
Wondra, Katie
Woodford, Molly
Wordell, Sheila
Zdroik, James
Zembroski, Amy
Zielinski, Karen

2nd Race (9:30)

Bailey, Lauren
Bartels, Rebecca
Best, Holly
Blochowiak, Casey
Borman, Jason
Brandt, Jennifer
Bremner, Elizabeth
Brown, William
brozynski, jacquelyn
Brzycki , Daniel
Brzycki, Deborah
Bushell, Bill
Cassidy, Jan
Cassidy, Jessika
Cassidy, Luke
Caven, Theresa
Chhablani, Aakash
Chmielewski, Emily
Christman, Caitlin
Clinton, DeWitt
Daniels, Keith
Didier, Lora
Dietzler, Betsy
Dryer, Steve
ehrhardt, Jennifer
Ek, Daniel
Fiacchino-Symes, Irene
Fiebelkorn, Amy
Frankl, Patience
Gaines, Kelly
Gedrose, Karen
Gonnering, Tom
Green, James
Guenzel, Emily
Habetler, Erik
Halaska, Rachel
Hartzell, Andrea
Henricks, Catherine
Henricks, William
Herring, Valerie
Hoffman, David
Hoppe, Kimberly
Hora, David
Hora, Robynn
Ignatowski, Anne
Janosky, Mark
Johnson, Alyssa
Kaczinski, Joan
Kescenovitz, Jeannette
Kisselburg, Brian
Kolesar, Jill
Konkel, Courtney
Kramer, Karen
Kuhr, Carol
Lamberty, Julie
Larson, Erik
Lay, Kristen
Lazzari, Stephanie
Lee, Delia
Lee, Tracy
Leeper, Taylor
Leonard, Patricia
Lipusch, Jeremy
Long, Elis
Longley, Sara
Lunde, Cari
Macho, Kimberly
Malinowski, Troy
Margerum-Leys, Jon
Martens, Todd
Meinecke, Barbara
Mejia, Luis
Mentjes, David
Merkatoris, Matalyn
Michalek, Mary
Miller, Bob
Miller, Diane
Miller, Heather
Miller, JoLayne
Morrison, Christopher
Morrison, Todd
Moultrie, Wilbert
Myszka, Cheryl
Neitzel, Jeff
Neitzel, Jim
Nelson, Amanda
Neubeck, Tina
Nicholas, Tammy
Oltesvig, Kathleen
Pagel, Paul
Palandri, Amanda
Parish, Marie
Patzer, Andrew
Poulter, Steve
Proite, Jennifer
Pujawa, Sai Rajesh Kumar
Pyzyna, Rick
Rammer, Camille
Ravagni, Brandie
Reiser, Deb
Rettler, Susan
Riley, Randall
Rose, Anna
Ross, Abby
rutkowski, julie
Ryer, Suzie
Schenkelberg, Laurie
Schiereck, Brad
Scholl, Ann
Schrank, Tammy
SCHUTTE, SHELLY
Smith, Don
Sparacio, Jill
stachowiak, tracey
Tabor, Jennifer
Tanem, John
Taylor, Gregory
Terry, Catherine
Terry, Mike
Tries, Jeannette
Turner, Elizabeth
Vaughn, Thomas
Venkatasubramanian, Karthik
Vermeulen, Lee
Wagner, Liz
Walker-Miller, Emily
Wegesser, Hans
Weltz, Kelly
Willkom, Ariene
Willkom, Carl
Wolf, Jennifer
Wolf, Ryan
Wright, Tony
Zaremba, Thomas
Zelinski, Shirley

Half Marathon Closed

2011-11-11T16:09:00.001-08:00

The Half Marathon has joined the ranks of the Full Marathon and the Gold Medal Challenge as all filled up. We still have some spots left in the 5k and the Marathon Relay.

Post-Race Massage

2011-11-10T16:59:00.000-08:00

Here's another reason to run fast if you're doing the Marathon or Half Marathon: a massage therapist from Elements Therapeutic Massage of Elm Grove will be giving out free massages on Saturday and Sunday after the Half Marathon and Marathon. They will also be including a very special offer in the race bags. One more reason to get excited for race-day!

44.....

2011-11-01T16:25:00.000-07:00

44 is the uniform number of the greatest baseball player of all-time.....Hank Aaron. It's also the number of spots that remain in the PRO Half Marathon. Get 'em before they're gone!!

Gold Medal Challenge Sponsor

2011-11-01T16:08:00.000-07:00

We would like to welcome our newest sponsor, Slendertone. This line of ab toning belts is the presenting sponsor of the Gold Medal Challenge. Slendertone uses Electronic Muscle Stimulation (EMS) technology to create strong, deep, comfortable contractions in your muscles. It mimics the body's natural muscle movements; signals are sent between the pads, engaging the nerves that control your muscles and causing them to contract naturally. EMS technology has been used for over 40 years in hospitals, clinics and physical therapy practices around the world to strengthen and rehabilitate muscles.

We are very excited to have Slendertone on board as the presenting sponsor of the Gold Medal Challenge and we encourage Icebreaker participants to give their product a try. For more information, go to their website at www.slendertoneusa.com.

Need An Icebreaker Tune-up?

2011-10-31T17:46:00.000-07:00

For those of you looking for a nice warmup for the Icebreaker, check out the inaugural New Balance Girls on the Run 5k race. The event will be held on Sunday, December 4 at the Pettit Center. The race is open to everyone and will benefit Girls on the Run, which is a very deserving charitable organization. Register today by clicking on this link.

Gold Medal Challenge Full

2011-10-29T04:29:00.000-07:00

Yes, we have found 40 people who are crazy enough....I mean brave enough, to tackle the Gold Medal Challenge. For those uneducated folks, that means running the Half Marathon on Saturday and the Full Marathon on Sunday. And yes, the field includes both two-time defending champions, Steve Tietz and Mary Flaws.

All-PRO Sponsor!!

2011-10-24T16:32:00.000-07:00

This week's featured sponsor is Performance Running Outfitters. PRO is the Milwaukee area's fastest-growing specialty running store with three locations: Brookfield, Oconomowoc and Shorewood. They are the title sponsor of the Half Marathon.

PRO has a crazy big selection of running shoes, apparel and accessories. They cater to beginning and casual runners as well as the serious ones. Perhaps their most valuable assets are their skilled employees who are known for providing excellent customer service and for giving great shoe fits. See for yourself at one of their three convenient locations and make sure to thank them for sponsoring the Icebreaker Indoor Marathon.

New Sponsor

2011-10-20T03:32:00.000-07:00

Over the next week we are going to feature some of our 2012 sponsors. The first one is Revolution Natural Running, which is sponsoring the 5k race. Revolution is the Midwest’s first shoe store dedicated to minimalist footwear for runners and walkers of all ages, abilities, and experience levels. They follow the science behind footwear, and blend their health care expertise and running knowledge to help improve runners' performance and keep them running and walking injury free. Revolution Natural Running is located at 11702 W. North Avenue in Wauwatosa. You can also check out their booth at the Icebreaker packet pickup. Please support our sponsors!

Marathon Sold Out

2011-10-17T03:39:00.000-07:00

The Marathon is now filled up. There are still 5 spots left for the Gold Medal Challenge. The heavy action has been in the Half Marathon lately and there is now less than 100 spots left for that and they are going fast. Still plenty of spots left in the 5k and the Marathon Relay.

Another Update....

2011-10-12T16:08:00.001-07:00

Just 2 spots left for the Marathon and 6 for the Gold Medal Challenge! By the time you read this, they may be gone!

Going, going.......

2011-10-03T16:51:00.001-07:00

Just 12 spots left for the Gold Medal Challenge and 18 for the Marathon at the Pettit Center. We don't expect them to last much longer.

Having Trouble Registering?

2011-10-03T16:46:00.000-07:00

Over the past several weeks there have been some people who had trouble registering through the Indoor Marathon website. When they click on the registration buttons, nothing happens. There is a reason for this, but we aren't sure why it's happening. If you experience this problem, here is a direct link to the registration site.

Latest on Registration

2011-09-19T17:31:00.001-07:00

Spots are still open for all Icebreaker-Pettit Center events. There are just 27 left for the Marathon and 14 for the Gold Medal Challenge. The Half Marathon still has 158 openings.

The registrations for the Utah Olympic Oval event have picked up the past week, but there are still plenty of spots left in all races.

To register, go to the Indoor Marathon website.

Registration Update for Pettit Center Event

2011-09-05T12:24:00.001-07:00

Just 16 spots remain for the Gold Medal Challenge and 34 for the Marathon. Plenty left for the Half Marathon, Marathon Relay and 5k.

Boston Update

2011-09-05T11:30:00.000-07:00

We should have some more news to share later this week about the Icebreaker's Boston qualifying status. We may get a one-year extension for the Pettit Center event. Keep all fingers crossed!

Icebreaker In the News

2011-09-05T11:28:00.000-07:00

Kim Cowart wrote an entertaining post on the Icebreaker last month in the Deseret News, which is Utah's second-largest paper. Kim has entered our Gold Medal Challenge so she will get to experience the inaugural full and half marathons at the Utah Olympic Oval next February.

Boston Qualifying

2011-08-20T10:57:00.000-07:00

I received an email from the folks at the Boston Athletic Association informing me that our event is no longer considered a Boston Marathon qualifier. I have appealed this decision, but I am not very hopeful that it will be reversed. If you have registered for this year's race and want a refund because of this, please contact me.

Registration Update

2011-08-20T10:39:00.000-07:00

For the Pettit Center event, the Gold Medal Challenge and Marathon are about half-full. The Half Marathon is about quarter-full. There are still plenty of spots open for the Utah races.

We typically see a big surge of registrations after the fall marathons (Sept-Oct) so you may want to sign up before then to assure a spot in the field.

Utah Sponsor

2011-07-31T08:04:00.000-07:00

We are excited to have Salt Lake Running Company on board as a sponsor of the Utah event. They have been voted one of the top 50 running stores in the country. We looking forward to working with them to make the inaugural Icebreaker Utah event a huge success.

Early Registration

2011-07-30T11:54:00.000-07:00

We are using a new registration service this year and didn't realize that once we post the registration links, people can actually sign up. So feel free to start using the links in my previous post to register for the Icebreaker Wisconsin or Utah events. We are open!

Registration Links

2011-07-28T16:21:00.000-07:00

Here are the links for the registration pages:

Wisconsin

Utah

Registration opens on Monday, August 1 at 9 a.m. CST, which is 8 a.m. in Utah.

Prices are the same as last year for the Marathon ($90), Half Marathon ($60) and 5k ($30). The Marathon Relay was increased to $120 per team. As always, we cover your registration processing fee, so $90 means $90, etc.

Registration Update

2011-07-24T17:14:00.000-07:00

We are expecting to open registration on August 1 (next Monday). I will be adding a link to the registration page here and on the main website, www.indoormarathon.com. This will be for both the Pettit Center and Utah events.

Heading West

2011-05-09T16:01:00.000-07:00

We are excited to announce that we will be starting a second Icebreaker Indoor Marathon & Half Marathon next year. We will be expanding to the Utah Olympic Oval in Kearns, Utah. The event will be held Feb. 9-11. Watch for more details.

Shirts and Awards

2011-02-05T15:20:00.001-08:00

If you are waiting for a new shirt or age-group award to be mailed ot you, please be patient. They should be out in a few weeks. Hope everyone enjoys the Super Bowl!

One More Thank-You....

2011-01-26T17:40:00.001-08:00

While I was pounding out 9 miles in the pitch black darkness of this morning, I realized that there was someone I forgot to thank in my race re-cap from the other day. That person is Dave Jesse. Dave is the only individual to have participated in every one of our races. Yep, every single one of them. That would include three marathons, two half marathons, two marathon relays and one 5K. Addtionally, Dave recruited a lot of runners and volunteers for our races, and also provided coaching services for our runners through DCS. Thanks Dave!

The Blogosphere's Reaction to the 2011 Indoor Marathon

2011-01-26T17:26:00.000-08:00

For those of you who can't get enough of this crazy indoor marathon thing, here's more:

Marathon Relay blog post from Anne

Marathon & 5K blog post from Emily

Water table volunteer blog post from Jamie

Winner's race report from Mary

Journal Sentinel article from Tom Held

And this just in.....Lake Country News Sun reporter Dan Moran participated (and seemingly enjoyed) our marathon relay. Here's his column.

Indoor Marathon Race Directors

2011-01-25T05:13:00.000-08:00

Thanks to Bill Flaws from Running In the USA for taking this picture of me and Dick Daymont, the race director of the Zoom Yah Yah!, which is the original indoor marathon (the Icebreaker was second). Dick ran our race on Sunday. It was his 92nd marathon and he hopes to have 100 down by July.

Icebreaker Comments

2011-01-24T04:07:00.000-08:00

I would encourage the marathon and half marathon runners to leave comments about the race on Marathon Guide (of course only if they are positive!). This is probably our best way of spreading the word about our race. Thanks!

Icebreaker Recap

2011-01-24T03:28:00.001-08:00

We had another successful event this year. The addition of the 5K race went well. It was low-key with only 41 runners and served as an excellent "dress rehearsal" for the weekend. Saturday was chaotic as usual with over 600 runners, including 400 marathon relay runners, taking part in the races. And then yesterday's marathon - our marquee event - went off without any problems.

I would like to congratulate all of the runners, including our winners: Dana Schulz (17:09) and Dawn Kussow (21:15) in the 5K; Eamon McKenna (1:09:26) and Julie Faylona (1:28:05) in the half marathon; Rodiez's Running Store in the marathon relay (2:16:58); Albertus Rohling (2:45:58) and Mary Flaws (3:15:56) in the marathon; and Steve Tietz (4:12:01) and Mary Flaws (4:49:05) in the Gold Medal Challenge. Albertus and Mary both finished 2nd in the marathon last year so it was nice to see them win, and Steve and Mary were repeat winners in the Gold Medal Challenge.

We had a very diverse field of runners which included many top area runners and people from 21 states and four countries (U.S., Germany, Denmark and the U.K.). The relay featured some national-class runners as well as a bunch of "weekend warriors" who were out there having a great time. The relay has turned into quite a show!

Everybody seemed to love the retro football jersey shirts that were given to the marathon and half marathon runners (although some of the women's shirts appeared to be a few sizes too small!). Hopefully next year we can find a way to come up with even cooler shirts.

If you are looking for photos of this year's event, go to Running In the USA. I would like to thank Bill Flaws for hanging around all weekend to take pictures and Mary Flaws for baking 60 dozen cookies in the shape of the United States that we gave out to runners all weekend. If you find any pictures that you like, you can purchase them right from the website.

I would also like to thank the race staff: Dana Schulz, Jaime Lee, Jeff Ferris, Brian Volkman and Bill Schneider, and Tracey Gessner and Anne Munkwitz from Fit Milwaukee. And thanks to Jenna Ochsenwald for your leadership role in packet assembly and packet pickup.

The sponsors also deserve our thanks: Running in the USA, Kwik Trip Stores, the Chiropractic Wellness Group, Serenity Now! Massage Therapy, GU, FRS Healthy Energy, the Give Shirt, Great Harvest Bread Company and of course the title sponsor, InStep Running & Walking Centers.

Special thanks goes to Rob Multerer, Randy Dean and the staff at the Pettit Center for making us feel so welcome. You went far beyond what was expected of a host venue.

We appreciated the folks from Bell Ambulance for hanging around all weekend and helping out with some medical concerns.

I would also like to thank:

Brew City Promotions and Jason Hisey for coming up with the retro football jerseys
Bay Six for the cool red tech shirts
Jamin, Erin and Sean at PT Timing for an excellent job of scoring the race (as I always say, a race is only as good as the scorers)
Larry at Technique Web for posting the results to the Indoor Marathon website in such a timely manner and for maintaining our website
The 50+ volunteers who helped with packet assembly, packet pickup, the water tables and other areas
The MedalCraft mint and Susan for the awesome finisher medals
Ruma Sports in Union Grove and Anne for the awards
TS Customs in Waterford for the signs
Rusty and Laurie at Fleet Feet-Brookfield for promoting the marathon relay in your store
Melinda Pedersen for picking out the coffee mugs and water bottles

Most of all I would like to thank the 800 or so runners who participated this weekend; this event would not exist without you. I know I have forgotten some others that played a key role in making this year's event such a success; there were many of you and your help is appreciated.

One of the highlights of the weekend was yesterday when Jenny Crain made an appearance at the race. For those of you who don't know Jenny, she is a world-class runner from Milwaukee who was seriously injured when she was hit by a car while running a few years ago. She has made a miraculous recovery and it was inspirational to see her at the Pettit Center yesterday with her mother and therapist. Thanks to runner and Lakefront Marathon race director Kris Hinrichs for your role in Jenny's surprise visit.

Based on the feedback I received from everyone this weekend, it was another successful event and we look forward to building on this next year.

Let the Races Begin!

2011-01-21T02:52:00.000-08:00

It's race day! With a high of 6 degrees and wind chills at 25 below zero, I'd say this is perfect weather for running indoors!

Wall Street Journal Article

2011-01-21T02:51:00.000-08:00

The Icebreaker Indoor Marathon is mentioned briefly in this great article about indoor marathons on the front page of yesterday's Wall Street Journal.

Packet Pickup Info

2011-01-18T17:29:00.000-08:00

Packet pickup starts Friday at the Pettit Center. Here are the hours:

Friday: 5 p.m. to 8 p.m.

Saturday: 6 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Sunday: 6 a.m. to 7:30 a.m.

I received a call today from a Pettit Center employee, who said that some runners have been coming there to pick up their packets the past few days. The packets aren't ready and won't be until Friday.

For relay teams, remember that the team captain or another designated team member should pick up the packets for all team members at the same time.

Race Week Is Here!

2011-01-18T03:23:00.001-08:00

Greetings runners! It's race week!! I hope everyone is getting as excited for the race as I am. As you can see, my prediction of a Packers-Bears NFC Championship game has come true. Let's hope everyone is done in 6 hours so we can all get home and watch the game! If not, maybe we can get the Pettit Center to pipe in the audio from the game over the speakers.

If anyone has questions on packet pickup, let me know. The times are posted on the website at www.indoormarathon.com under the Events tab. See everyone this weekend!

Indoor Marathon Podcast

2011-01-11T17:45:00.000-08:00

I was interviewed today for The Marathon Show podcast. It was a ton of fun! Here's a link if you're interested in listening.

Volunteers Still Needed

2011-01-06T09:45:00.000-08:00

We are still looking for volunteers for race weekend. We have lots of fun jobs available. Our water table is a riot....and lap counting can be fun despite what you'd think. If you're interested, email me at chris@indoormarathon.com.

Race Director Ramblings, Packers-Bears NFC Championship Game

2011-01-05T04:22:00.000-08:00

Happy New Year everyone! The race is less than 3 weeks away. I hope everyone's training has been going well. My one thought and concern on this cold January morning is that my beloved Packers could be playing the hated Bears in the NFC Championship on marathon day. Even though the game doesn't start until well after the marathon will be over, I may need the entire day to mentally prepare for a game like that! Just the thought of it makes me excited. Hopefully I remember to show up on race-day!

In the News....

2010-12-27T17:02:00.001-08:00

There was a nice article on indoor marathons in the St. Paul Pioneer Press over the weekend.

Indoor Marathon Merchandise

2010-12-26T08:47:00.000-08:00

We have a limited supply of Indoor Marathon running beanies and coffee mugs that will be for sale at the race. The hats are light-weight and perfect for running in the Pettit Center. They are $20. The coffee mugs are actually "tumblers" (the kind they sell at Starbucks now) and will be $18 apiece.

5K Full

2010-12-17T02:10:00.000-08:00

The 5K race filled up yesterday so now there are no openings in any of the events. Thanks everyone for making this such a hot ticket!!

Half Marathon Starting Times

2010-12-07T04:17:00.001-08:00

If you got two emails, each with a different starting time for the half marathon, I apologize. That's what happens when you talk on the phone and attempt to send out mass emails at the same time! Email me at cponteri@runinstep.com if you want me to clarify which race you're in. Sorry about that!

5K Update

2010-12-05T09:21:00.001-08:00

There are about 15 spots remaining for the 5K.

Update on Half Marathon Starting Times

2010-12-05T09:19:00.001-08:00

Some of the Half Marathon starting time emails were sent out this morning, and the rest should be sent tomorrow night. This is done through Active.com and the system only allows you to send one batch per day. If you don't see an email by Tuesday, check your junk mail box or contact me at cponteri@runinstep.com.

Half Marathon Starting Times

2010-11-29T17:34:00.000-08:00

We will be emailing everyone's starting times for the Half Marathon in the next week.

Marathon Relay Is Full; 5K Still Open

2010-11-29T17:33:00.001-08:00

The Icebreaker Indoor Marathon Relay is now filled up, joining the Marathon, Half Marathon and Gold Medal Challenge. The only event still open is the 5K. There are about 25 spots left.

Marathon Relay Update

2010-11-25T04:16:00.001-08:00

Only spots for 7 teams remain for the Indoor Marathon Relay.

The Latest

2010-11-12T16:53:00.001-08:00

The Half Marathon is now full. Last year it filled up in early December.

Half Marathon Update

2010-11-11T16:32:00.000-08:00

Only 7 spots remain......

Get Ready for the Coolest Race Shirt Ever!

2010-11-08T16:39:00.000-08:00

We haven't finalized anything yet, but we are close to placing an order for the awesomest race shirts ever, thanks to our creative friends at Brew City Promotions. So you folks who are registered for the Marathon and Half Marathon, you are in for a treat. For the Marathon Relay and 5K, don't worry...you are still getting a cool tech shirt.

Gold Medal Challenge is.......

2010-11-08T16:38:00.000-08:00

Full!!!! And it filled up three days earlier than last year, in case anyone other than me keeps track of those things.

Fit Milwaukee Sponsoring Marathon Relay

2010-11-07T05:01:00.000-08:00

Fit Milwaukee is now the official sponsor of the Icebreaker Indoor Marathon Relay. The event will be known as the Fit Milwaukee Marathon Relay.

Fit Milwaukee is a online community devoted to fitness activities in the Milwaukee area. We thank Anne and Tracey from Fit Milwaukee for their support of our event!

5K Capacity Change

2010-11-07T04:59:00.000-08:00

We have decided to reduce the size of the field for the 5K from 100 to 50. We made this decision after talking to the owner of the timing company. We think it will be easier to manage from a timing standpoint with just 50 runners. If it goes smoothly, we will increase the size for the 2012 event. Even with the smaller field size, there are still plenty of spots left.

Half Marathon Spots Going Quickly

2010-11-07T04:58:00.000-08:00

There are less than 30 spots left for the half marathon, and just two spots remain for the Gold Medal Challenge.

More Numbers

2010-10-29T04:38:00.001-07:00

Marathon - sold out

Half Marathon - 84 spots left (averaging 8 registrations per day the last week)

Gold Medal Challenge - 8 spots left

5K - 42 spots left

Marathon Relay - 80 teams left

Marathon Is Full

2010-10-18T16:32:00.001-07:00

The marathon has filled up in record time. Thanks to everyone who has registered!! There are still some spots left for the other events, including the Gold Medal Challenge.

And then there were 3.......

2010-10-17T16:48:00.000-07:00

Yes, only three spots left until the marathon is filled. They will go fast.

Hotel Information

2010-10-17T14:26:00.000-07:00

Our host venue, the Pettit Center, has arrangements with several area hotels. Participants in the Indoor Marathon & Half Marathon are welcome to take advantage of these deals. For more information, click here.

Marathon Almost Full!

2010-10-16T13:52:00.001-07:00

Attention: only six spots left in the marathon. Get 'em while they last!!!

The Latest....

2010-09-29T18:44:00.001-07:00

32 spots remain for the Marathon, 19 for the Gold Medal Challenge

Sponsor Update

2010-09-29T18:41:00.000-07:00

We are pleased to announce that Running in the USA will be a sponsor of the Icebreaker Indoor Marathon & Half Marathon again this year. Running in the USA is the online leader in race listings, results and photos. We are glad to have them back for another year and appreciate their support.

The Latest Numbers.....

2010-09-22T17:17:00.000-07:00

Marathon = 50 registered, 40 spots left

Gold Medal Challenge = 17 registered, 23 spots left

Plenty of spots left for Half Marathon, Marathon Relay and 5K.

Registration Update

2010-08-16T17:42:00.001-07:00

Registration is open and spots for the Marathon and Gold Medal Challenge are filling up quickly. As of today, we have 38 of 125 spots filled for the Maratnon, and 11 of 40 spots for the Gold Medal Challenge. FYI.....we are running slightly ahead of last year's pace when both of those events sold out in November.

Indoor Marathon Gets "Off the Couch"

2010-07-30T16:52:00.000-07:00

The Icebreaker Indoor Marathon got some press in today's "Off the Couch" blog in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Read it here. Thanks to JS reporter Tom Held for helping spread the word about this wonderful event.

Registration Information

2010-07-30T16:42:00.000-07:00

Registration opens on Sunday, August 1 at 8 a.m. CST by following this link.

For the Marathon Relay, the team captain should sign up all team members at once. You should know each person's name, address and shirt size. Teams should be 2 to 4 members. The cost is $100 per team. Each participant will receive a shirt and goody bag.

For the Gold Medal Challenge, you do not have to sign up for the marathon and half marathon separately. There is one registration event for the Gold Medal Challenge. The cost is $150.

Last year the Marathon, Half Marathon and Gold Medal Challenge filled up well before race-day. We expect them to again this year.

If any has questions, please email the race director at cponteri@runinstep.com

Important Updates for 2011

2010-07-18T14:29:00.001-07:00

First, I would like to announce that the InStep Icebreaker Indoor Marathon is officially a Boston Marathon qualifier!!!

Secondly, registration for the 2011 event opens on August 1 via Active.com.

Thirdly, we have added a Friday Night 5K for 2011. It will be limited to the first 100 registrants.

Visit our official website at http://www.indoormarathon.com/ for complete information.

USATF Video

2010-02-01T18:02:00.001-08:00

This is a great video piece that the guys from USATF (Juris and Neal) did while in town for the indoor marathon. It's worth watching all the way through.

2011 Registration Information

2010-01-30T08:23:00.001-08:00

Registration for the 2011 InStep Icebreaker Indoor Marathon will open on August 1, 2010. We have some exciting changes in store for next year's race weekend.

The Complete Race Report

2010-01-28T18:20:00.001-08:00

This is about as good as it gets when it comes to a race report...and a running blog. Thank you Shirley!

http://humbletriathlete.blogspot.com/2010/01/instep-icebreaker-indoor-marathon.html

Check This Out

2010-01-25T17:03:00.001-08:00

More fine reporting by Tom Held of the Journal Sentinel.

Video from Relay

2010-01-25T14:46:00.000-08:00

The teams from Fit Milwaukee brought their own videographer to the Marathon Relay on Saturday. You can view his work here.

Help!!

2010-01-25T07:51:00.000-08:00

If you enjoyed the event this weekend and you want to take a few minutes to help us, please go to MarathonGuide.com and leave some positive comments. This is very important way for us to market the race since we are a small event and don't have much of an advertising budget. If you go to the site, just search for our event and it directs you how to leave feedback. It's very simple and you don't have to log in. Thanks!!

Race Coverage in Journal-Sentinel

2010-01-25T06:23:00.000-08:00

Today's Journal-Sentinel online has great coverage of yesterday's events. Check it out here.

Race Director Thanks

2010-01-25T05:49:00.000-08:00

Thanks to everyone for making another great InStep Icebreaker Indoor Marathon, Half Marathon & Marathon Relay possible. I am going to start a list here of all of the people I would like to thank for helping me pull this off. I will add to the list often so keep checking back.

Rob Multerer and the staff at the Pettit National Ice Center for opening up their house to us. They have one of the most unique facilities around and to be able to host an event like this there is a real honor.
My staff: Jaime Lee, Dana Schulz, Jeff Ferris and Brian Volkman. They are as dedicated to this event as I am, and it showed in their work. Brian, your announcing was a terrific addition to the event.
All of the volunteers....there are too many to name. The most frequent compliment I got from runners yesterday were about the volunteers and the energy they bring to the races.
Jeanette Seitz and Olu for performing the national anthem at the start of each day.
Paul at Saucony for all of the wonderful things you did for us....the jackets, hats, gloves, shirts....for manning the InStep table. Thanks!!
Our sponsors......Lakefront Wellness Center (awesome massages!), Milwaukee Adventure Boot Camp, Zym, SweatVac.
Bill Flaws from RunningIntheUSA.com for capturing the events in pictures.
Bill Schneider, who not only completed the Gold Medal Challenge, but also provided much guidance in the days and weeks and months leading up to the race.
PR Medal Engraving for providing such a valuable service to our runners.
Angela C. for helping take my mind off race-directing for a little while each day.
PT Timing for the excellent race scoring. An event is only as good as the timers and they were spectacular.
Don Weyer for measuring the course(s) again this year.
Neal and Juris from USATF for picking our little race to include on your tour. You guys are true road warriors!
My family for their patience as I sat in front of the computer in the kitchen every night for the past month working on spreadsheets with song lists, runner lists, bib number lists, etc.
My co-workers and co-owners at InStep who provided much assistance.
Ashley Kumlien and Andrew for letting us be a part of MSRuntheUS for a few days, as well as Thomas with the Give Shirt.
Sue at Salute, Inc. for all you do to help our veterans!
Anne at FitMilwaukee.com for helping spread the word about the Marathon Relay and also fielding a few teams.
Tom Held at the Journal-Sentinel for excellent reporting in your Off the Couch blog.
Larry @ Technique Web for not only designing the new Indoor Marathon website, but being there whenever we needed quick changes. If anyone reading this ever needs a website designed, I could not make a stronger recommendation. Go to http://www.techniqueweb.com/.
Dave Jesse, who not only competed in all three events, but also lined up the singer for the national anthem and sent us a bunch of volunteers. You are our Superman!
And most of all, thanks to the runners who participated in the event. You are why we do this.

Age Group Awards

2010-01-25T05:47:00.001-08:00

If you finished in the top three in your age group and did not pick up your award at the race, we will be mailing them to you.

Marathon & Gold Medal Challenge Results

2010-01-24T18:32:00.001-08:00

The marathon results and Gold Medal Challenge standings are available. Thanks to all for a fantastic event and congratulations to our winners: Matt Sveum (overall and men's) and Julie Spencer (women's). You are both great champions! Also congrats to the Gold Medal Challenge winners: Stephen Tietz (men's) and Mary Flaws (women's).

Half Marathon & Marathon Relay Results

2010-01-23T17:34:00.000-08:00

Here are the results for the Half Marathon and Marathon Relay. Thanks to everyone for some great races today. What a wonderful day!

Freeway Construction Cancelled

2010-01-22T13:11:00.000-08:00

The good news: the freeway construction scheduled for this weekend has been cancelled.

The bad news: the reason it has been cancelled is because freezing rain is in the forecast for this weekend.

Drive safely!

Olympic Speedskaters Are Here!

2010-01-22T12:33:00.000-08:00

Seven of the 18 U.S. Olympic long-track speedskating team members, including Gold medalist Shani Davis, train at the Pettit Center. Some of them are here right now and many will be skating here this weekend. We will have our announcer introduce them to the runners and spectators so we can send them off to Vancouver in style. The XXI Winter Olympics start in just three weeks!

Packet Pickup Is On!

2010-01-20T17:27:00.000-08:00

You can pick up your packets tomorrow at InStep Running & Walking Centers, 403 E. Buffalo Street, Milwaukee, between 10 a.m. and 7 p.m. And while you're there, make sure to buy a pair of running shoes!

Relay Registration Closes Thursday Morning

2010-01-19T17:58:00.000-08:00

Registration for the Marathon Relay will close on Thursday at 10 a.m. (CST). There will be no race-day registration nor will be be able to add new runners to existing teams on race-day.

USATF Coming to Pettit Center

2010-01-18T19:40:00.001-08:00

I just got word that the USA Track & Field (USATF) mobile tour is coming to the Icebreaker Indoor Marathon this weekend. This is great news. They were in Houston last weekend for the Chevron Houston Marathon, and stopped in New Orleans today to visit a running store. Their next stop will be Milwaukee and the Pettit Center before they head to NYC for the Millrose Games, which is the oldest track meet in the nation.

The 60-foot long truck and trailer will be rolling into the Pettit Center sometime on Friday. They will then set up shop inside the Pettit Center where they will be selling USATF Nike merchandise and other items. For more information on the USATF tour, click here.

Warmups

2010-01-15T16:15:00.000-08:00

The running track will be open for runners to do warmups for 30 minutes prior to each race. However, if there are still runners on the track from the previous race, make sure not to wear your chip while doing your warmup run. This could cause headaches for the timers.

Public Skating Hours During Race Weekend

2010-01-15T16:13:00.000-08:00

The Pettit Center's skating oval will be open for public skating from 1 p.m. to 9 p.m. on Saturday and 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. on Sunday. There will be speed skating during the mornings.

Beware of the Orange Barrels Next Weekend

2010-01-15T10:34:00.000-08:00

There is going to be major road construction on the Zoo Interchange (just west of the Pettit Center) next weekend. If you are coming from the west or southwest, you may want to find a different route.

Here's the message from the DOT:

Traffic alert: The first full weekend closure of one system connection in the Zoo Interchange is scheduled for the weekend of Jan. 22-Jan. 25, announced the Wisconsin Department of Transportation (WisDOT). The following movements will be closed Friday, Jan. 22 at 9 p.m. to 5 a.m. on Monday, Jan. 25

· I-894/US 45 northbound system connector ramp to I-94 westbound
(During this closure, traffic will be detoured onto eastbound I-94 and will exit to 84th Street to turn around and head back onto westbound I-94 )
· I-894/US 45 northbound left lane (lane to I-94 westbound ramp) closed at Greenfield Avenue
· I-894/US 45 southbound right lane closed between the ramp to I-94 westbound to just south of the I-94 eastbound bridge
· Wisconsin Avenue westbound entrance ramp to US 45 southbound
Closures are subject to change due to weather. Additional law enforcement will be patrolling the detour routes to help maintain safe and efficient traffic operations.

The contractor, Milwaukee Constructors, will use this time period to place embankments for the new ramp locations. Dirt hauling operations will take place continuously throughout the weekend.

Further Clarification On Water Bottles

2010-01-14T18:44:00.001-08:00

I was told tonight by my assistant race director that the water bottles will not be put in the race bags as I previously indicated; they will be handed out on race-day at the Pettit Center. Still, we encourage you to bring your own bottles if possible, but we will be able to provide each runner with one bottle.

Clarification On Water Bottles

2010-01-10T12:07:00.000-08:00

I have been getting some emails about the water bottle situation and there seems to be some confusion. We will be providing each runner with a water bottle. You may also bring your own. You can have as many water bottles as you would like. You can fill them with the beverage of your choice prior to the race or you can have one of the volunteers fill them with water or Powerade during the race. There will be tables where you can keep your bottles. We will also provide runners with a means to identify their bottles (we will probably use those stick-on name tags and you can write your bib number on them with a marker).

As for drinking, my advice is to grab your bottle on your way past the table, and carry it with you for a lap or two. Then just put it back on the table when you're done. The volunteers will keep the bottles in the right order and make sure they are filled if you want more. I know this sounds a bit confusing but it will all work smoothly on race-day.

One final word of advice on this subject: make sure to stay properly hydrated. It is deceptively cool inside the Pettit Center and I would recommend taking in plenty of liquids.

Message to all Participants

2010-01-09T15:07:00.001-08:00

We sent all email to all registered runners today. Since these emails tend to get caught up in junk mail filters, I am re-publishing the email below:

Greetings runners! With the race being just two weeks away, I wanted to provide an update on several important topics.

Packet Pickup - please check the race website at www.indoormarathon.com for packet pickup times and locations. You can pick up your packet on race-day or in advance at the locations listed on the website.

Chip Pickup - note that the races are all chip-timed and runners will have to pick up their chips at the Pettit Center before their race. Chips will not be given out at packet-pickup. There will be a table in the Pettit Center lobby just for chip pickups. For the relay, each team gets one chip. The team captain should get the chip.

Runner Arrival - please plan on getting to the Pettit Center about one hour before your race. If you show up too early (especially for those running in the first half marathon on Saturday morning), the building may not be open yet. We will try to open approximately 90 minutes before the first race on each day.

Water Bottles - each runner will receive one water bottle in your race bag. However, you may want to bring your own. There will not be any cups allowed due to spillage concerns. We will have plenty of water and Powerade at the aid tables.

Storage - for the marathon and half marathons, there will be a designated spot next to the track for each runner to store their "stuff" such as gel packs, extra clothing, food, etc. You are also welcome to keep your beverages in this area, but there will be tables where you can keep your bottles and have them refilled.

Age Group Awards - we are giving out awards to the top three runners (male and female) in 10-year age groups for the marathon and half marathon. However, we are not going to present these at the awards ceremony due to time concerns. When the results are posted, if you see that you have won an award, you can pick it up that day in the "food room", or we will mail them to you. The award ceremonies will be at noon each day and we will present awards only to the top three overall male and female finishers.

Weather - the event will go on snow or shine! If for some reason we get socked with a big snowstorm on the day of the race (remember this is Wisconsin in late January), we will still hold the races. In fact, a snowstorm would provide a perfect backdrop for an indoor running event!

Race Rules - please go to the event website at www.indoormarathon.com and click on the "race director's blog" link at the bottom to access the race rules. Remember that portable music devices are not allowed. Violators will be assessed a 500-lap penalty!

Miscellaneous - there will be a ton of action in the lobby of the Pettit Center before, during and after the races. Some of our sponsors will have tables and will be selling cool things. We will also be selling The Give Shirt, which will benefit MS Run the US; and Salute, Inc., a non-profit that supports military veterans, will also be on hand. And we just found out that massage therapists from the Lakefront Wellness Center will be ready and willing to give runners post-race massages!

I would also like to take this opportunity to thank our sponsors. Saucony, in particular, has really stepped up for us this year, and that is much appreciated. They have donated gloves and hats for the volunteers, and also jackets for the race staff. Runners will also notice that the race shirts are high-quality, performance shirts from Saucony.

For last-minute updates, please go to www.indoormarathon.com and click on the "race director's blog" link at the bottom of the homepage.We look forward to seeing everyone in two short weeks! Until then, happy running!Chris Ponteri, Race Director

Announcement

2010-01-07T17:23:00.000-08:00

After much deliberation, we have finally decided exactly what will be showered upon the winners of the Gold Medal Challenge. The male and female winners, as determined by lowest combined time in the half marathon and full marathon, will each have their name put on a large banner that will hang from the rafters of the Pettit Center. It will be similar to the banners that list the US Olympic Speedskating Teams. The winners will also receive free entry into the event of their choice for the 2011 InStep Icebreaker Indoor Marathon and will get a plaque. We hope that's enough!

And Now a Word (or Two) From Our Sponsor

2010-01-07T15:47:00.000-08:00

One of our favorite sponsors is the Lakefront Wellness Center in Pewaukee. They offer a host of services for distance runners including massage therapy, nutrition consultation and yoga. But one of their more interesting specialties is sports psychology. Here is a piece on this topic from one of their psychologists that I thought might be appropriate for Icebreaker Indoor Marathon participants.

What is sport psychology?
By Dr. Beth Johnson

It is the science of human behavior as it applies to sport. Sport psychologists are interested in finding methods to overcome normal and abnormal thought processes that interfere with athletic performance.

Anxiety is a normal emotional response to competition. This normal response can become abnormal if it interferes with performance…

· One triathlete became so nervous that she hyperventilated in the swim portion of the triathlon. She needed to be rescued from the water.
· A marathoner became so nervous at the start that he ran the first three miles one minute under his race pace. He struggled for the next 10 miles because he didn’t keep on pace.
· A racer had reached her best time in the 5K but has never reached it again. She has become preoccupied with the time and beating it. The result has been that she has lost time.
· An athlete over-trained for the triathlon and had to drop out because of a knee injury. He did not feel that he was prepared enough unless he completed a triathlon at every workout.
· A gymnast was told she needed to lose 5 pounds to eliminate an unsightly bump in her abdomen. The gymnast started to restrict her diet and developed anemia.
· A high school cross country runner wanted to make varsity. She was within 10 seconds of reaching this goal. She ran varsity during practice but focused excessively on her teammates’ times and “psyched” herself out in competition. She was always one spot away from making varsity.
· A natural athlete engaged in self-destructive behaviors and was kicked off the team.
· A soccer player learned to hate his sport because it caused arguments with his father.

The examples are as limitless as there are athletes. The sport psychologist doesn't offer “cookie cutter” solutions. Sport psychology offers the expertise of a doctor of psychology who specializes in personality assessment. Strategies are developed and tailored to meet your needs and utilize your strengths. Sport psychology requires an interaction between you and the expert-it can’t be accomplished by reading alone!

Age Group Awards

2010-01-05T17:47:00.000-08:00

We have lined up some very nice age group awards and will be giving them to the top three finishers (female and male) in 10-year age increments in both the half marathon and full marathon. However, we will not be presenting the awards to winners at the race-day ceremony; only the top three overall finishers (female and male) will be presented with their awards at the ceremony. However, once results are posted, if you see that you have finished in the top three in your age group, you are free to pick up your award. They will be in the same room as the post-race food. As much as we would like to personally present them to each age group award winner at the ceremony, it is not logistically possible. If you aren't able to pick your award up, we will mail it to you.

Race Rules

2010-01-03T17:59:00.000-08:00

Here is a list of race rules. Keep in mind that these are subject to change.

1. Runners will need to complete 95.37 laps for the marathon and marathon relay, and 47.68 for the half marathon.

2. MP3 players or any other type of portable music players are not allowed. Violators will be disqualified.

3. There are two lanes on the track. Runners should try to stay in the outside lane unless you are passing a slower runner. If you are coming up behind a slower running in the inside lane, use the word “track” to indicate that they should move aside.

4. The race will be chip timed. There will be a timing mat at the finish line. Runners can ask a volunteer to give them a lap count, which they will get the next time they cross the line. Lap counts will also be provided to runners on a regular basis toward the end of the race.

5. There will be an aid station at the northeast corner of the track. Runners will need to bring their own bottles (one will be provided in the goody bag). Volunteers will be able to fill the bottles with water or Powerade during the race. Each runner will have a designated area to place their bottles during the race. Cups or other open containers will not be allowed due to spillage concerns.

6. There will be a separate designated area next to the track for runners to keep extra clothing, gel packs or other items.

7. Runners can accept items such as food, drinks, clothing from spectators, but only next to the designated aid station. Violators are subject to disqualification.

8. There will be two bathrooms near the track. Runners are asked not to leave the track area for any reason. The bathroom in the Pettit Center lobby is for spectators.

9. For the marathon relay, each team is given one chip. Teams will consist of 2 to 4 runners and can switch runners as often as they would like. The chip will have to be exchanged between runners each time there is a runner switch. Each team will have a designated chip exchange area along the side of the running track.