FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
(last updated December 16, 2009)

GENERAL INFORMATION

How did the NorthCoast 24 Hour Endurance Run get started?
A few of us local (Northeast Ohio) ultrarunners decided to create it. We wanted to provide a venue where top ultrarunners as well as those who may be new to ultra-distances could run their best distance. In the process of creating the event, we also became a national championship.
Why was Edgewater Park chosen for the location?
It’s a beautiful park and it has a perfect .9 mile asphalt track for the event.
Why is it called “NorthCoast”?
The Great Lakes form the frontier of the United States with Canada. Cleveland, Ohio is on that coast. To those of us here south of Canada, it’s our northern coast.
Please describe the course?
It is a 10' wide paved asphalt oval with gentle corners. USATF Certified .90075 mile (Certification Code OH 09008 PR). This venue was chosen specifically to promote personal and national record-setting performances. We anticipate that the direction of travel will be CLOCKWISE around the course. The RD will monitor the weather prior to the start and make a final decision at that time.
Is the course closed?
Edgewater Park is state-owned public land and cannot be closed for the run. We will be sharing the venue with the public. However, park Rangers employed by the run, along with volunteers, will be out along the course to ensure that runners aren't distracted from their efforts. In general, the park will be much less crowded during our October weekend than in the summer months.
What are the rules?
Glad you asked. Please see the rules page.

 

GETTING AROUND THE CITY, LODGING AND EATING

 

Do I need to rent a car?
Not necessarily. Everything is accessible through some combination of hotel shuttle, light-rail train or taxi. All the downtown hotels are a short taxi ride to the run site. All hotels can be reached from Hopkins airport by low-cost shuttle and or train. Please ask your hotel for details, or contact race management for help.
What hotels are in the area?
Cleveland's a big city with many possibilities for lodging. We've included a range of options on the Hotels page of the website.
Where can I eat nearby?
We've compiled a list of nearby places to on the Restaurants page. All are within a fifteen minute drive of Edgewater Park.
What is the address of Edgewater Park?
Is overnight parking/camping allowed? 
Yes. Please see the Location page on this website for a detailed map of the site.
What are the locations of camping facilities?
Camping is available in the park while the event is in progress.
Is overnight parking allowed the night before?
No. The gate to the main parking area will open at 6am on race day.

 

THE EVENT

What meals will be served?
Post run breakfast for runners. Additional breakfasts $10/ea. One fully stocked aid station great ultra fare throughout the run. Pizza, mac & cheese, bean burritos, egg sandwiches, potatoes and soup will be served at various times. You won’t starve! Restaurants, coffee shops and convenience stores are within 1.5 miles of the park. Please see map of dining suggestions for the weekend.
Is there a entry limit?
Yes, there is a limit of 200 entrants in the North Coast 24.
What will be the awards?
The 3 men and women who cover the most mileage in the 24-hour time period will each receive a cash award and all runners will receive a commemorative medal and a tech shirt.
How will my distance be recorded?
The run will be using the ChampionChip system. Runners will be given credit for total distance traveled during the run.
How will my final distance be measured?
The number of laps will be counted and multiplied by the lap distance, which is just over 0.9 miles. Where you are on the final lap will be measured and added to the total.
What is the schedule of events?

 

What are the rules for leaving the course during the race?
A runner may step off the course at any time in order to receive aid from the volunteers, receive her/his own aid, rest, use facilities, change clothes, check progress, or for any other reason. Runners must return to the course at the same point that they exited it. It is important that all participants understand this rule. We do not want to have to DQ anyone for gaining advantage by cutting off any part of the course.
Where along the course is crew allowed?
Pretty much anywhere, as long as they are not in anyone else’s way.
Are pacers allowed?
No. Since The American Ultrarunning Association will not permit pacers.
Can I get to my car?
Yes, parking is close by. Also see the answer to the leaving the course
question above.
What restrooms/facilities are available?
There are restrooms in the park. If the race committee determines that porta-johns are needed, we will provide them as well.
What kind of aid is available?
There will be one aid station that runners will encounter every .9 miles. The food selection will be plentiful and satisfying for ultrarunners. Runners with specific needs should pack their own.
What about drop bags?
Runners may drop them at the race HQ Start/End area.
Will there be lighting on the course, or should I bring a headlamp?
There will be some lighting around the start/finish area, and there will be some ambient lighting from the nearby highway. There will, however, be some dark areas as well. Runners may indeed want to bring their own headlamps or other lighting devices with extra batteries.
Will there be medical assistance available? 
Yes, but please stay tuned: this is TBA. In 2009, Dr. Andy Lovy, physician to the US National 24 Hour Team, along with several of his assistants were present. In addition, Dr. Kathy Siesel along with a number of her students from the Ohio College of Podiatric Medicine were there to help runners with foot and other podiatry issues. 

 

OTHER

 

Where can I ask additional questions?
Other runners will benefit from your question(s) if you ask on the 
NorthCoast 24 Yahoo discussion group or the 
North Coast 24 Facebook group.
Will there be any training runs?
Yes, this is TBA.
Will I be able to run my best distance?
Only if you train for it. But we in the race committee are doing
all we can to help!
I've registered but I can't make it to the event. If it's past the refund date, can I transfer my registration to another person or can I apply it to next year's entry?
Sorry but the answer is no to both questions: no transfers to other people and we can't apply one year's entry to another year.