Dear Runners;  Lets talk about the first two kilometres of the County Marathon because once you have done them - well you are committed to do 40.2 more so maybe they are important.  We are a point to point race (if you haven't been here before).  On race day you will be parking in Picton and getting on one of the First Student buses leaving the Parking Lot near the Crystal Palace at the Picton Fair Grounds - to be safe you should be ready for 6 AM.  However rather than take you to some dark lonely road in the middle of no where you will end up at the Essroc Cente in Wellington - yes this is the home of the Wellington Dukes. 

Its warm, and dry of course with multiple real washrooms, water and an indoor track.  May I suggest if you opt to 'run' on it that you run/jog the straights and walk the corners.  Maybe its because I have a few years on my feet but it doesn't take long to feel the corners if you run them...and its just too early in the day to feel your joints.  It is a pleasure to run this track though - so do give it a try - just up one set of stairs or the elevator if you are 'delicate'.

You will find lots of assistance here - Race Crew members are ready and willing to help.  In the meantime while you wait there is lots of room to sit down and collect your thoughts before the race.  As we get closer to 8AM you will want to head over to the start line - its about 200 metres south west of the Esrroc Centre.  I have included a bleak picture of the start line just so we don't over sell the weather

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And doesn't that just look like great running weather....The start line will look like the photo on our home page - there is a corral we will herd you into just before 8.  Rick Scott will be blasting out some great blues (as he has for the past 10 years) - we will thank our sponsers (look at the bottom of this page) and you will be off on your way back to Picton.

Just as a bit of a note - if you are travelling with someone not in the race there is lots of parking at the Essroc Centre but if you drive yourself please don't expect a shuttle back to the start when you finish your race - there isn't one.  But back to the course.  You will start out heading west toward downtown Wellington.  At Wharf Street you will turn left and head down to Main Street.  We would like you to look to your right just as you make that turn - Scotiabank has been a key sponsor for many years and we so appreciate their continued support.

Now you are heading the right direction, on your right about 100 feet from the intersection you will see our town park and the 1st KM marker

yes its around here somewhere.  The next point of interest is the 1 mile marker its in front of an old stage coach stop now a small Inn.

Its at the storm grate in the road you can see just past the Inn.  Now you are all set.  On pace both minutes per km and minutes per mile. Our first water station with a washroom, of course, is at the 2 KM point.

right at the 50 KM sign - give or take.  West Lake is out there, in fact by now this will have been your second lake having seen Lake Ontario earlier.  Perhaps the weather will be nice this year - for now we are keeping both lakes under a veil of fog... More Ks to come!  Cheers for now, and thank you!