this is what i received from them:
2003 USA Men?s Marathon Championship
Saturday, February 8, 2003
Birmingham, Alabama
Join us on Saturday, February 8th, for a truly unique experience as we host the 2003 USA Men?s Marathon Championship during the Mercedes Marathon weekend as a separate race on a different, ?criterium? course. The course is designed to allow spectators to see the elite American runners pass by three to four times as they complete the 26.2-mile race for the title of U.S. Champion. It will be a great preview of the 2004 Olympic Team Trials ? Men?s Marathon that will run on the same criterium course on the day before the 2004 Mercedes Marathon & Half-Marathon. Visit the race website at
www.mercedesmarathon.com
for updates on who will be running. Don?t miss the excitement and this chance to test the course before the Trials.
Weather in Birmingham
The weather on the day of last year?s Mercedes Marathon was ideal: 54 degrees at the 7 am start, dropping about a degree an hour, partly cloudy with diminishing slight winds. A cold front moved in and skies cleared later in the day.
The average mean temperature in Birmingham during the month of February is 46 degrees Fahrenheit, with the average high temperature of 56 degrees and the average low temperature of 34 degrees. The sunrise on February 8th is around 6:36 a.m. Perfect temperatures for a marathon!
Entry Standards for the
2003 USA Men?s Marathon Championship
Qualifying marks must be attained between January 1, 2001 and January 18, 2003. Entries must be submitted no later than January 20, 2003. Travel stipends are will be based on past performances and are only available for travel within the United States. Hotel information will be provided upon receipt of entry form. At least one of the following marks must be attained for entry in the Championship race:
Marathon: 2:30:00
Half-Marathon: 1:12:00
15K: 49:00
10K: 32:00
The prize structure is as follows:
1st $10,000
2nd 6,000
3rd 4,000
4th 3,000
5th 2,000
6th 1,500
7th 1,200
8th 1,000
9th 800
10th 500
Performance incentives:
2:12:00 $5,000
2:13:00 3,000
2:14:00 2,500
2:15:00 2,000
2:16:00 1,500
2:17:00 1,250
2:18:00 1,000
2:19:00 750
2:20:00 500
To be eligible for the USA Championship, you must be a current member of USATF and a U.S. citizen. Visit
www.usatf.org
for information on USATF membership. For more information on elite participation, contact
runner@trakshak.com
.
2003 World Championships Marathon Team Selection Procedures
1) The top three finishers at the 2003 USA Marathon Championship hosted by the Mercedes Marathon in Birmingham, Alabama on February 8 will receive automatic spots.
2) The top finisher from this year's USA Marathon Championship (Twin Cities) also will receive an automatic berth: Dan Browne.
3) The rest of the five member men's marathon team as needed will be selected from the top times run from January 1, 2002 through April 21, 2003.
Paris hosts the 2003 World Championships from August 23-31 with the Men's Marathon on Saturday, August 30 (2:20pm start).
2004 Men?s Pre-Olympic Trials Training Program
The 2004 Pre-Olympic Trials Training Program provides the opportunity for athletes to come train in Birmingham prior to the 2004 U.S. Men?s Olympic Marathon Trials on the actual course. This $50,000 development program is open to ?A? qualifiers only on a first come, first serve basis.
Qualifying athletes will receive $250 per week stipend plus free housing for a maximum of 6 weeks (or $1,500) beginning December 28, 2003 and ending with the Trials.
To apply for participation in this program, contact
runner@trakshak.com
.
2003 USA Men?s Marathon Championships
Saturday, February 8, 2003
Birmingham, Alabama
Official Entry Form (Please complete and mail to: BMI, 2839 18th Street S, Birmingham, AL 35209)
1) 2) // 3) USATF Member number__________________
Age on race day Date of Birth
4)
First Name Last Name
5)
Street Address
6) 7) 8) -
City State ZIP Code
9) 10)-- (Please check one)
Country Phone Home Work Cell
11) Shirt Size 12) Direct Payment License Number__________________________
M L XL
13) Affiliation / Team _________________________________________________________________________
14) Social Security Number --
15) @ .
Email Address (Very important!)
Each participant must meet certain qualification standards. Please refer to the website
www.mercedesmarathon.com
for a list of these standards. Also, please include your most recent bio/resume, proof of qualifying performance and recent photograph with your application. Applications must be received by January 15, 2003.
There is no race day registration. BMI reserves the right to refuse any registration.
LIABILITY WAIVER AND RACE AGREEMENT: I know that running a road race is a potentially hazardous activity. I will not enter and run unless I am medically able to do so and properly trained. I assume all risks associated with running this event, including but not limited to the effects of weather, traffic, course conditions and course surfaces, falls, and contact with other runners, volunteers and spectators. I am aware that medical support for this event will be provided by volunteer personnel who may be called upon to provide assistance, including first aid, to me during or after the event. I authorize any such volunteer to assist me or to perform such assistance as in the opinion of such person may be necessary or appropriate. I understand that Birmingham Marathon, Inc., the Mercedes Marathon, USATF, Mercedes-Benz U.S. International, MBUSA, The Trak Shak, the Alabama Sports Foundation, the City of Birmingham, the sponsors, the volunteers, and all others assisting in the operations of the event and its supporting and related activities assume no responsibility or liability with respect to my participation in the run or in any related events. I agree to obey and accept the rules of this race and any related events as published or otherwise made known to me, and to abide by the decision of any race official concerning my ability to safely complete the event. Having read this waiver and release, and knowing these facts, and in consideration of the acceptance of my entry, I for myself and any person entitled to act on my behalf do hereby release BMI, USATF, Mercedes Marathon, MBUSA, MBUSI, The Trak Shak, Alabama Sports Foundation, the City of Birmingham, all sponsors, volunteers, together with their employees, contractors, subcontractors, directors, officers, agents, attorneys and representatives from all claims of liabilities of any kind or character arising from my participation in this event or in any related activity, even though liability may arise from negligence or carelessness on the part of persons or organizations named in this waiver and release. I consent to the use of photographs, video, film and sound recordings of all Marathon events for all legitimate purposes. I give permission to be contacted by interested media.
_________________________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________
Signature of Applicant