GENERAL INFORMATION

RACE DATE, TIME AND LOCATION

The Fifth Annual NPC-50 will take place on Friday, May 14, 2004 at the U. S. Secret Service Training Center in Laurel, MD, about 5 miles north of Washington, DC. The race will begin with a short Opening Ceremony at 8:15am. The first runners will take off at 8:30am. The final leg will begin at 10:45am. The race will be officially over and the course will close at 11:30am. The Awards Ceremony will follow at noon.

*** NEW START FORMAT IN 2004 ***
SEE “COURSE” FOR FURTHER INFORMATION

ELIGIBILTY

The NPC-50 is open to all full-time employees of a city, county, state, federal or military law enforcement agency. Each team must submit a Confirmation of Assignments letter (see Forms, below) by April 19, 2004 to verify the employment of all runners.

FORMS AND FEES

Entry forms are due NO LATER THAN Monday April 5, 2004.

The entry fee of $500 is due with the application. The fee is fully refundable through April 23, 2004.

Each team must submit a Run Plan listing the 10 runners and two alternates by April 19, 2004. (These are the names that will be listed in the Race Program.)

A Final Run Plan, with no more than five changes, must be received by the NPC-50 Race Committee by Friday, May 7, 2004. (All changes must be marked with an asterisk "*". If there are no changes, please fax a note with team name and "NO CHANGES".)

Each team must also submit a Confirmation of Assignment letter, verifying the official assignments of all runners, by April 19, 2004. (sample included under “Application and Forms”)

The team captain will be responsible for submitting a waiver, signed by each runner and alternate, the morning of the race (see “Application and Forms”).

TEAM CAPTAINS

Each team will designate a captain and co-captain. They will act as the only official spokespersons for the team. The Team Captain and/or Co-Captain must attend one of the Captains’ meetings the week before the race. Captains Meetings will be held on:

Tuesday, May 11, 10:00 am at USSS Headquarters, Washington, DC and
Thursday, May 13, 4:00 pm at USSS Training Center, Laurel, MD

TIMEKEEPING

A professional timing service will provide individual and team times using a chip timing system. These times will be considered the official times and will be the basis for all awards. Team times will be the sum of all 10 runners’ chip times. (See “Course” for information regarding new start format.)

MEDICAL ASSISTANCE

Immediate medical assistance will be available throughout the course from trained and licensed Emergency Medical Technicians.

REFRESHMENTS

Refreshments for runners, volunteers and support personnel will be available throughout the race in the Refreshment Tent, located near the Start/Finish line. Bagels, donuts, fruit and juice will be available in the early morning hours. Lunch will be provided by Outback Steakhouse.

TEAM NAME

Each team should select a name. Names will always be listed with a team’s department/agency, so there is no need to repeat the department/agency in the selected moniker. Names can be simple identifiers such as:

Homicide Division - Big City PD

or more creative, such as

The Flying Wollendas - Big City PD

Where appropriate, we will also list, or refer to, the officer in whose memory a team is running.

TEAM T-SHIRTS

Some teams choose to design their own t-shirts to wear during the race. We suggest that any artwork or logo be put on the back of the shirt so that it will not be covered by the bib number during the race. By selling extra t-shirts, teams may be able to defray the cost of travel to this event.

TEAM PHOTOS

The U.S. Secret Service will provide team photos for all participating organizations. Photos will be taken from 11:00 am – 1:00 pm, in an area to be determined.

RALLY POINT

We encourage teams to bring a flag or marker and establish an area where runners and supporters can gather.

WEATHER

Mid-May temperatures range from lows in the 50s to highs in the 70s. The race will be run rain or shine; however, the course will be closed and the race will be halted if lightning is sighted.

HOUSING

For teams outside the Washington, DC area, we strongly recommend that you make hotel reservations as soon as possible. With 10,000+ law enforcement personnel in town for National Police Week, available rooms will be scarce. Please call our office for a list of area hotels (703/904-8600).

PARKING/TRANSPORTATION

A limited number of parking spaces will be available at the race course. Each team will receive two parking passes for use on race day. Team buses or extended vans can be accommodated as necessary. Further information regarding access to the U. S. Secret Service Training Facility will be provided in later correspondence with team captains.