Frequently asked questions
The 4th Annual Cochecho Challenge Half Marathon is rapidly approaching and we wanted to give you some important information about packet pickup and about the race itself.
We hope you are as excited as we are about race day!
We hope you are as excited as we are about race day!
When can I pick-up my bib and schwag bag?
|
Friday, August 31, 2018
from 2:00pm – 6:00pm at Runner’s Alley in Portsmouth Runner’s Alley is a running specialty store at 104 Congress Street in scenic Portsmouth, NH. The store will be open for business so you can shop for all your running needs. https://runnersalley.com |
or Saturday, September 1, 2018
from 6:30am – 8:00am at First Parish Church Registration is located inside the atrium of the church building with entry from the church parking lot on Central Avenue. The race begins at 8:30am. |
Directions to the race
The Start and Finish of the race is at First Parish Church, in the heart of downtown Dover (near the corner of Silver Street).
Set your GPS to find:
First Parish Church, 218 Central Avenue, Dover, NH 03820
Or, for more detailed directions, please visit our Directions page.
From any direction, First Parish can be spotted by its historic white steeple and brick façade.
(For specifics, please see the drop down list on “THE RACE“ tab on our web site for “Directions” ).
The Start and Finish of the race is at First Parish Church, in the heart of downtown Dover (near the corner of Silver Street).
Set your GPS to find:
First Parish Church, 218 Central Avenue, Dover, NH 03820
Or, for more detailed directions, please visit our Directions page.
From any direction, First Parish can be spotted by its historic white steeple and brick façade.
(For specifics, please see the drop down list on “THE RACE“ tab on our web site for “Directions” ).
Where can I park?
The church parking lot will be closed on the day of the race, but there will be ample on-street parking in the vicinity of the church on Locust Street and side streets off of Locust (except Nelson and Church Streets). There is also a parking lot behind the Dover Public Library that is conveniently located near the church, at 73 Locust St. Approximately .4 miles from the Church is the Orchard Street Parking lot and garage, and approximately .6 miles is the Amtrak Station parking off of Chestnut Street. For more parking information, see the City of Dover website http://www.drivingdover.com or for a map of Dover lots, see here.
The church parking lot will be closed on the day of the race, but there will be ample on-street parking in the vicinity of the church on Locust Street and side streets off of Locust (except Nelson and Church Streets). There is also a parking lot behind the Dover Public Library that is conveniently located near the church, at 73 Locust St. Approximately .4 miles from the Church is the Orchard Street Parking lot and garage, and approximately .6 miles is the Amtrak Station parking off of Chestnut Street. For more parking information, see the City of Dover website http://www.drivingdover.com or for a map of Dover lots, see here.
Can I pick-up someone else’s number?
Yes, we do allow you to pick-up a friend or relative’s number.
What about shirt sizes?
The streamline design of this year’s race shirt is form-fitting. If you prefer a more roomy feel, please order one size above your typical shirt size. For those who sign up after August 15th, we cannot guarantee that we will have a specific size in stock. The sizes are first-come-first-serve, so arrive to packet pickup early in order to get your first choice.
I registered after the cutoff for free shirts. Can I still get a shirt?
As posted on the registration site:
“Free T-shirts to the first 200 runners to register by August 15, 2018.
After August 15, we will have a limited supply of shirts for sale at $30 each.”
What Medical Safety plan do you have in effect?
The City of Dover Fire Department will have a Rescue Vehicle, Fire Truck and EMT personnel present.
Note that it can be hot in early September: stay hydrated!
Can I get a refund if I register but don't run?
Registrations are non-refundable and non-transferable.
If, however, you register and do not run, you may still pick up your race packet and shirt and join us in the fun.
Where is the start and how do I get there?
The Start and Finish of the race is at First Parish Church, 218 Central Avenue, Dover, NH.
(Please see the drop down list on “THE RACE“ tab on our web site for “Directions”). Or click here.
Will there be water stations?
Water will be provided at 4 water stations spaced evenly along the course.
Now that I’m hydrated, where are the port-a-potties?
There will be porta potties located in the church parking lot and restrooms inside the church just past the registration area. There will also be a porta potty approximately mid-way on the course at the Mason Lodge/Grange building, on the corner of County Farm Crossroad and Sixth Street.
Will there be a post-race celebration?
Celebrate your race with free food and drinks! Your bib will have a tear-off coupon for one free beer for those 21 and over.
Please make sure to have your photo ID with you when you approach the Beer Garden.
The excellent Beer that will be served was donated Dover's very own Chapel + Main Restaurant | Brewery
We will hold a brief awards ceremony for the top three male and female runners shortly after they finish.
These awards are cash plus a Gift Certificate to Runner’s Alley for a prize package worth $600.
For Age Group winners, we are awarding gift cards. Your name will not be called. Please see the results posted by Granite State Race Services. If you are in the top three runners (AFTER ANY OVERALL WINNERS), for your gender and age group please check in at the registration area in order to claim your age-group award.
A personal record (PR) is an important milestone to celebrate!
If you set or break a PR on race day, just check in at the registration area to claim a special gift to commemorate your achievement!
Are there mile markers on the course?
Yes. The course has been measured and it is a USA Track and Field Certified Course. There are marks on the road in white paint for the Start, Finish and every mile in between. There will also be signs posted for all even-numbered mile markers.
How do I stay on course?
For the lead racer, just follow the lead police vehicle. For the rest of us, our website shows a map of the course as well as a video to help you learn the way. We will also post a course map at Registration that highlights the race route.
Our course is well marked. There will be course marshals at every turn and orange liquid chalk arrows painted on the road surface. There will also be black and white signs with directional arrows. The City of Dover will have police officers posted at key intersections along the course, and we will have experienced course marshals stationed at other intersections and volunteers at every turn of the course, all to help make this road race safe and fun for everyone.
We ask runners to be cautious and alert while racing. The roads will be open for traffic. Please be extra cautious on the unpaved sections of Covered Bridge Lane and on the narrow foot bridge just after mile # 5 that crosses the Cochecho River. There will be volunteers stationed at the bridge to monitor the flow of runners. If at any point you need medical assistance, please report it to the nearest volunteer along the course.
As a reminder, we are asking that there be no dogs on the race course for safety reasons. Strollers must line up at the back of the start line.
We cannot guarantee police or course marshals after 11:30 AM. Participants who may want to walk the course are advised that they should pace themselves to finish within this timeline. Anyone on the course after that time may complete the race in a sweep vehicle or choose to finish at their own risk.
Do families get any special discounts?
Yes. The first registrant in a family pays at the individual registrant price.
After that, family members can sign up at $10 off on our registration site.
What does my entry fee go toward?
Your entry fee pays for a high quality, USATF certified event with police and medical staff presence, an awesome commemorative race shirt with specialized cuts for men and women, lightweight B-chip racing bibs, a professional race announcer, and an unparalleled post-race party.
We rely on donors, sponsors, and volunteer efforts to provide a high quality event and still give proceeds back to the community. With increased income, the Cochecho Challenge gives back to local missions like End 68 Hours of Hunger, Grab and Go, The Dover Food Pantry, The Red Cross, Alcoholics Anonymous, Girl and Boy Scouts of America, and many others. Please consider making a donation along with your registration by clicking on the tab at our registration website.
If you still have questions, please email Lesley Hocking at racedirector@cochechochallenge.com
Yes, we do allow you to pick-up a friend or relative’s number.
What about shirt sizes?
The streamline design of this year’s race shirt is form-fitting. If you prefer a more roomy feel, please order one size above your typical shirt size. For those who sign up after August 15th, we cannot guarantee that we will have a specific size in stock. The sizes are first-come-first-serve, so arrive to packet pickup early in order to get your first choice.
I registered after the cutoff for free shirts. Can I still get a shirt?
As posted on the registration site:
“Free T-shirts to the first 200 runners to register by August 15, 2018.
After August 15, we will have a limited supply of shirts for sale at $30 each.”
What Medical Safety plan do you have in effect?
The City of Dover Fire Department will have a Rescue Vehicle, Fire Truck and EMT personnel present.
Note that it can be hot in early September: stay hydrated!
Can I get a refund if I register but don't run?
Registrations are non-refundable and non-transferable.
If, however, you register and do not run, you may still pick up your race packet and shirt and join us in the fun.
Where is the start and how do I get there?
The Start and Finish of the race is at First Parish Church, 218 Central Avenue, Dover, NH.
(Please see the drop down list on “THE RACE“ tab on our web site for “Directions”). Or click here.
Will there be water stations?
Water will be provided at 4 water stations spaced evenly along the course.
Now that I’m hydrated, where are the port-a-potties?
There will be porta potties located in the church parking lot and restrooms inside the church just past the registration area. There will also be a porta potty approximately mid-way on the course at the Mason Lodge/Grange building, on the corner of County Farm Crossroad and Sixth Street.
Will there be a post-race celebration?
Celebrate your race with free food and drinks! Your bib will have a tear-off coupon for one free beer for those 21 and over.
Please make sure to have your photo ID with you when you approach the Beer Garden.
The excellent Beer that will be served was donated Dover's very own Chapel + Main Restaurant | Brewery
We will hold a brief awards ceremony for the top three male and female runners shortly after they finish.
These awards are cash plus a Gift Certificate to Runner’s Alley for a prize package worth $600.
For Age Group winners, we are awarding gift cards. Your name will not be called. Please see the results posted by Granite State Race Services. If you are in the top three runners (AFTER ANY OVERALL WINNERS), for your gender and age group please check in at the registration area in order to claim your age-group award.
A personal record (PR) is an important milestone to celebrate!
If you set or break a PR on race day, just check in at the registration area to claim a special gift to commemorate your achievement!
Are there mile markers on the course?
Yes. The course has been measured and it is a USA Track and Field Certified Course. There are marks on the road in white paint for the Start, Finish and every mile in between. There will also be signs posted for all even-numbered mile markers.
How do I stay on course?
For the lead racer, just follow the lead police vehicle. For the rest of us, our website shows a map of the course as well as a video to help you learn the way. We will also post a course map at Registration that highlights the race route.
Our course is well marked. There will be course marshals at every turn and orange liquid chalk arrows painted on the road surface. There will also be black and white signs with directional arrows. The City of Dover will have police officers posted at key intersections along the course, and we will have experienced course marshals stationed at other intersections and volunteers at every turn of the course, all to help make this road race safe and fun for everyone.
We ask runners to be cautious and alert while racing. The roads will be open for traffic. Please be extra cautious on the unpaved sections of Covered Bridge Lane and on the narrow foot bridge just after mile # 5 that crosses the Cochecho River. There will be volunteers stationed at the bridge to monitor the flow of runners. If at any point you need medical assistance, please report it to the nearest volunteer along the course.
As a reminder, we are asking that there be no dogs on the race course for safety reasons. Strollers must line up at the back of the start line.
We cannot guarantee police or course marshals after 11:30 AM. Participants who may want to walk the course are advised that they should pace themselves to finish within this timeline. Anyone on the course after that time may complete the race in a sweep vehicle or choose to finish at their own risk.
Do families get any special discounts?
Yes. The first registrant in a family pays at the individual registrant price.
After that, family members can sign up at $10 off on our registration site.
What does my entry fee go toward?
Your entry fee pays for a high quality, USATF certified event with police and medical staff presence, an awesome commemorative race shirt with specialized cuts for men and women, lightweight B-chip racing bibs, a professional race announcer, and an unparalleled post-race party.
We rely on donors, sponsors, and volunteer efforts to provide a high quality event and still give proceeds back to the community. With increased income, the Cochecho Challenge gives back to local missions like End 68 Hours of Hunger, Grab and Go, The Dover Food Pantry, The Red Cross, Alcoholics Anonymous, Girl and Boy Scouts of America, and many others. Please consider making a donation along with your registration by clicking on the tab at our registration website.
If you still have questions, please email Lesley Hocking at racedirector@cochechochallenge.com
