Race Weekend Guide – 5K and 1 Mile Walk
Thank you for entering the 5th running of the Santa Fe Thunder Half Marathon, 5K and 1 mile fitness
walk! The following information is intended to help make your race experience fun, positive and
memorable. If after reading this guide you have any questions, please contact us at
[email protected] or visit santafethunder.com for additional information.
Packet Pickup / Global Running Festival – Saturday 9/19 11AM– 4 PM
Fort Marcy Baseball Field in Santa Fe (490 Bishop’s Lodge Road – see map). Parking and entry are
FREE. The Festival will include the following activities:
Packet Pickup and Registration for all events
Race packet/T-shirt/goody bag pickup and Chip Check (make sure your bib is correct!)
Please print your bib information from www.chasing3.com/sfbt and bring it with you to packet pickup.
This will speed up the lines for everyone. Check your bib information and email any issues to
[email protected]. When you pick up your number, you’ll be able to check your chip (which is
disposable and embedded in your bib) and make sure your information is correct. Fitness Walk bibs
do not contain a chip.
Questions?
Please see a volunteer at the questions table rather than trying to resolve them with the volunteers
handing out bibs. It will keep everything moving more smoothly, for you and for us!
Free Kids’ Events
The Global Footprints Youth events are FREE and are an example of Global Running Culture’s
mission to improve the lives of youth through the power of sport. If you are interested in having your
child participate, please visit http://www.newmexicosportsonline.com/events/details?id=29215 for
online entry.
Fun! International arts and crafts, and world music!
Members of the Tarahumara tribe of Copper Canyon, Mexico will be selling hand made arts and
crafts as well as their famous ultra-minimalist tire sole huaraches at the Festival. In addition, there
will be New Mexican, African and Native American craft vendors. All proceeds from the Sports
Authority Pavilion will be donated to Global Running Culture. You’ll be able to get last minute race
items and check out the Strong Ones T-shirts featuring the Hopi, Navajo and Kalenjin peoples http://www.werunstrong.com/ Also, check out the brand new Fiat Official Pace Vehicle!
Pre-Race Evening – Saturday 9/19
We will not be holding a pre-race dinner this year. Here are some restaurants that we are happy to
recommend!
Dining at Buffalo Thunder
The Shed – Santa Fe – New Mexican food
Andiamo – Santa Fe – Italian
Il Piatto – Santa Fe – Italian
Il Vicino – Santa Fe – Italian
Thunderbird – Santa Fe – American
Race Day – Sunday 9/20
Start Time – All events starts at 8 AM
5K and 1 Mile Walk – 8 AM
Start on the west side of the Buffalo Thunder Resort & Casino in the Pueblo of
Pojoaque 5K runners and walkers will start and finish at Buffalo Thunder. See map.
Parking
See attached map. Keep an eye out for the yellow “Race Parking” signs as you approach the resort.
You will take a left on the frontage road rather than going straight in to Buffalo Thunder. If you
reach the roundabout, you’d gone too far - go all the way around the Resort, head back out and then
take a right on the frontage road, so that you can park with everyone else.
Sweats Bags
You may either put your sweats in your vehicle, or write your bib number/name on your goody bag
with a Sharpie marker at the Sweats Bag pick-up area, leave them with the volunteers and pick up
your bag after the race.
Global Running Culture will not be liable for any lost items. We will have a lost & found at the
Information Table. After race day, please email [email protected] about any lost items.
Race Day Registration and Packet Pickup
5K runners and 1 mile walk participants may register at the start/finish line area at Buffalo Thunder.
Entries for the 5K and 1 mile walk will close at 7:40 AM. 5K runners and 1 mile fitness walkers –
do not get on a bus! Your event takes place at Buffalo Thunder.
The 5K and 1 Mile Walk Course
The 5K and 1 Mile Walk will begin and end on the west side of Buffalo Thunder and will make a loop
up the (paved) Butterfly Trail. A map of the new 5K course and 1 mile walk course is attached.
1 Mile walkers – you will start at the same time and with the 5K runners. Please keep an eye out for
the 1 Mile Walk turnaround sign! You will receive a finisher’s medal at the finish line.
Photos
There will be 3 photographers along the race course taking candid photos They will be made
available for free download. Check santafethunder.com after the race for more information! Also,
please post your favorite photos to our Facebook page. If we use your photo for race promotion, we
will provide attribution and a prize!
The Finish Area
The finish area has been designed with the needs of runners and spectators in mind (please see the
attached map). The area immediately behind the finish line is for runners only! Volunteers will assist
runners as they finish, helping address their immediate needs. Please vacate the finishers’ area when
you are able, as more finishers will be arriving.
Food and Drink Race sponsor Whole Foods Market will have a food tent near the finish line
featuring FREE fresh snacks and popsicles for finishers. Also, Verde Juice will be providing free fresh
cold-pressed Thunder Recovery juice!
Spectators - please don’t sample the free items - they are for the entrants and running out before all
the finishers arrive would be bad karma for everyone. Spectators and finishers can purchase
breakfast burritos and beer at the Hilton tent east of the finish line.
The Official Fiat Pace Vehicle, from our friends at Fiat of Albuquerque, will be on display in the finish
area – be sure to check it out!
Participant Services The finish line map shows the location of the following participant amenities
– first aid, port-a-pottys, massages, entertainment and results. Maps will be posted in the finisher’s
area and all volunteers will have finish area maps to help you get where you’re going.
Results
Chasing 3's state of the art timing system brings race results in real time to the finish area and
internet! Results for the 5K and Half Marathon will be posted as they are produced in the trailer next
to the timing area. Please check and see if you won an age group award, which can be picked up at
the awards table.
Results will be posted Sunday morning on Chasing 3’s website! Send the following link to friends,
family and Facebook so everyone can find out how you did! www.chasing3.com/sfbt
Awards
Finishers’ Medals All 5K and 1 Mile Walk finishers will receive medals, designed by Jemez
Pueblo Artist Bernice Gachupin. Bernice also created the Race T-shirt design!
Top Finisher Awards Awards will be presented to the top finishers in the 5K will receive gift
certificates from REI.
Age Group Awards Age group awards will be available for pickup near the results area. Please
show your bib number to receive your award. There will not be a formal age group award
presentation.
Handmade medals will be awarded to the top 3 finishers in 14 age groups in the Half Marathon and
5K. The handmade clay medals have been designed and made by Jemez Pueblo artist Bernice
Gachupin, Delia Gachupin and Bertilla Gachupin.
If you win an age group award, but are not able to pick it up, please contact us at
[email protected] and we will mail the award to you at the address shown on your entry.
It will take a couple of weeks for us to mail the awards.
Volunteers and Sponsors
Global Running Culture is an all-volunteer organization, and we could not present this event without
the generous support of our race volunteers and sponsors. This is truly a community event and we do
our best to support members of the community who have donated their valuable time to help ensure
that our participants’ needs are addressed. We are so grateful for you all.
The following Credit Unions have each adopted one of the six aid stations: Zia Credit Union, Del
Norte Credit Union and the New Mexico State Employees Credit Union. In addition, volunteers from
the Santa Fe Community College Student Ambassadors will also be adopting aid stations. The
Pojoaque Valley High School Cheerleaders and the Silver Bullets youth organization will be helping at
the finish line. Volunteers from Wings of America, Girls on the Run, and the Santa Fe Striders, will be
providing tremendous support for the Global Footprint Youth Runs and activities at the Global
Running Festival on Saturday, September 19.
Also, staff from the Pueblo of Pojoaque Wellness Center will provide support at the Global Running
Festival, provide certified lifeguards with emergency medical experience at each aid station, and
provide registration and packet pickup support at the Global Running Festival and on Race day.
Please take the opportunity to thank these volunteers as well as our sponsors (not recognized above)
El Ice Plant (providing ice for the events), The Water Boyz (course water!), Classic Party Rentals
(providing tents) and Buffalo Thunder Resort & Casino (providing the finish line venue & water) and
Fiat of Albuquerque.
Partial funding for event advertising was granted by the City of Santa Fe Lodger’s Tax and the County
of Santa Fe’s Lodger’s tax. Special thanks to the Pueblo of Tesuque for hosting a portion of the race
as it travels through Pueblo of Tesuque lands.
Thank you again for your entry, participation, and support of our cause. We look forward to seeing
you and wish you a memorable, fast, safe and fun race!