by Larry Eder
WILSON BRIDGE HALF MARATHON FORCED TO
POSTPONE DUE TO U.S. GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN
Race organizers already had planned backup for a November 10date
ALEXANDRIA, VA – October 2, 2013 – Fallout from the U.S. Government shutdown has forced postponement of the fourth annual Woodrow Wilson Bridge Half Marathon originally scheduled for October 6, 2013 from Mount Vernon, VA to National Harbor, MD. The first eight miles of the course is on the George Washington Memorial Parkway, a national park. The decision was made by race officials on Wednesday evening as a resolution to the budget battle on Capitol Hill did not appear imminent.
The USATF-sanctioned race now has been rescheduled forSunday, November 10, 2013, 7 a.m., the day before the Veterans Day holiday. The race serves as the Road Runners Club of America National Half Marathon Championship.
“Our decision to postpone mid-week was very difficult, very complex, very strategic, very frustrating and very sad,” explained Steve Nearman, Event Director and Founder. “We wanted to hold off for as long as possible hoping for a budget resolution but at the same time we owed it to our out-of-town runners as well as the rest of our field to make a decision so that they could cancel and/or modify their schedules accordingly. We also wanted to give plenty of notice to our law enforcement personnel from six jurisdictions and to our multitude of vendors like the bus, tent rentals and the porta-john companies . We appreciate their patience and support.
“Our race management officials have been working together for nearly a year to produce another stellar, logistically-challenging 13.1-mile point-to-point footrace with more than 3,000 entrants. The total focus has been on the weekend of October 6. It truly breaks our hearts that we are forced to postpone but we feel fortunate that we found a weekend that works for all six of our jurisdictions and that all our government officials are tremendously supportive of our race and our participants.”
Registration will remain open for the next five weeks. All currently registered entrants will be offered an entry into the November 10, 2013 race or into the October 5, 2014edition of the Woodrow Wilson Bridge Half Marathon. As well, any runner who deferred their registration from 2013 to 2014 will be offered a bib number for the November 10, 2013 race in exchange for their 2014 entry. Runners who cannot make either date may exchange/transfer with a runner of their choice at no cost. As stated on the registration and confirmation pages, no refunds will be offered consistent with our policies.
This week’s Runners EXPO/Packet Pickup at the Holiday Inn Eisenhower Avenue in Alexandria will be conducted as planned. Runners can retrieve their bib numbers and embroidered spike bags and purchase items from a number of running-related vendors. Out-of-town travelers and new registrants opting for the November 10 race can retrieve their race packets on Saturday, November 9, 2013. More details to follow.
For more information, visit www.wilsonbridgehalf.comand Facebook wilsonbridgehalf
Ranked Amongst the 27 Best Half Marathons in the USA by Runner’s World magazine
