Mini FAQ
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How long is the McDonald's Mini Marathon?
What time does the McDonald's Mini Marathon start?
How old do you have to be to participate?
My kids are pretty young. Can I escort them? Do I have to pay a registration fee to escort them?
Do the kids wear timing chips like the other runners and walkers?
Do the kids get race shirts, medals and awards?
How do the McDonald's Mini Marathon participants receive their medals?
Do you take finish line photos of the kids?
Where and when can I see my child’s race results? Do you give out finisher certificates?
Is there an official awards ceremony on race day?
Do the kids have to pick up their race packages the same way adults do?
Are children free at the pasta party?
Will baby-sitting facilities be available while I do my race?
How long is the McDonald's Mini Marathon?
The McDonald's Mini Marathon is approximately a 3km course (it's the first 3 km loop of the course through Wascana Park), following the road beside the lake, around the Legislative building near the lake, then back up through the park to the Start/Finish line near the MacKenzie Art Gallery.
Except for the first and last few hundred meters, the course is not visible from the Start/Finish area.
CLICK HERE to download a McDonald's Mini Marathon course map.
What time does the McDonald'sMini Marathon start?
The McDonald's Mini Marathon race starts at 8:45 AM. The main race starts at 8:00 AM for the Full, Half and Relay events, and the participants make a 3 km loop through Wascana Park, pass by the Start/Finish area again, and then head out on the main part of the course.
Once the main body of the runners and walkers have gone past the Start/Finish area (at around 8:40 a.m.) we gather all the McDonald's Mini Marathon participants at the start line for their event.
How old do you have to be to participate?
The McDonald's Mini Marathon is separated into two age divisions. Please make sure you register in the appropriate category.
- Kids 5-10 (kids ages 5-10 as of race day)
- Youth 11-17 (youth ages 11-17 as of race day)
My kids are pretty young. Can I escort them? Do I have to pay a registration fee to escort them?
For the younger children, we encourage a parent or guardian to run or walk the 3 km course with them. The parent or guardian DOES NOT have to register or pay to do this. Just line up at the back of the McDonald's Mini Marathon starting pack with your child when we call the kid to approach the start line.
The course winds through Wascana Park and only the first and last few hundred meters are visible from the spectator area. There are course marshals positioned around the 3 km course, but if the child is quite young, it's best if a parent or guardian can accompany them. Besides, you’ll both have a ton of fun!
For safety reasons, no pets, strollers, baby joggers or wheeled devices are allowed on the course.
Do the participants line up at the starting line with all the other events? How do the kids line up at the starting line?
Participants in the McDonald's Mini Marathon event DO NOT line up at the starting line with the main pack. McDonald's Mini Marathon participants will be called to the starting line shortly before their race begins at 8:45 a.m.
To avoid any collisions at the starting line, we ask that the older (and usually bigger) 11-17 category participants line up towards the front of the starting pack, while the younger (and usually smaller) 5-10 category participants line up towards the rear of the starting pack, especially if they are being accompanied by a parent or guardian. That way, we hope to prevent some lightning-fast 16-year-old from running over a much younger child.
Please pay attention to the race announcer for starting-line instructions on the morning of the race.
Do the kids wear timing chips like the other runners and walkers?
Yes. CLICK HERE for details about the timing chips.
My small children are taking part in the McDonald's Mini Marathon and they have Velcro "shoelaces" on their little kid's running shoes. Do they need shoes with actual shoelaces in order to attach the timing chip?
The timing chips are best attached if you can thread actual shoelaces through them.
However, another way you can attach them is to go buy a couple of those little zip-tie things (like you would use to wrap up wires - you can find packages of them in the electrical section of Home Depot or any hardware store or computer electronics store) and then thread those through the timing chip and the Velcro shoe "laces."
Do the kids get race shirts, medals and awards?
McDonald's Mini Marathon participants receive a short-sleeve cotton shirt at race package pickup. Kids Unisex sizes S to XXL. Register by May 31st to guarantee shirt size.
Every finisher receives a custom-designed medal. Overall awards are presented to the top 3 overall fastest male and female finishers in each of the two divisions. There are no age category awards presented in the McDonald's Mini Marathon event.
CLICK HERE for more details on medals and awards.
CLICK HERE to learn more about what participants receive.
How do the McDonald's Mini Marathon participants receive their medals?
All McDonald's Mini Marathon medals are presented to participants as they cross the finish line.
Do you take finish line photos of the kids?
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Marathon-Photos.com is the official photographer of the Credit Union Queen City Marathon, and they will be at the finish line to capture that magical moment when you raise your hands in victory and shout: “Yay, I can stop now!”
For all questions regarding photos, please check out their Frequently Asked Questions section by clicking HERE.
Photo hint: Make sure your race bib is clearly visible on the front of your shirt, since photos are identified by race numbers and, if the camera can’t see your number, it’ll be hard to find your photos when you go to order them.
Where and when can I see my child’s race results? Do you give out finisher certificates?
CLICK HERE for details on viewing race results and finisher certificates.
Is there an official awards ceremony on race day?
Awards for the Top-3 overall fastest participants (male and female) in both age categories will be presented with their awards in the race infield. The precise location and time of the awards presentation will be announced closer to race day.
Do the kids have to pick up their race packages the same way adults do?
Yes, the procedure for picking up their race kit is exactly the same as for any other Credit Union QCM participant, with one exception: we do allow parents to pick up their child’s race package. The child does not have to pick up his or her race package in person.
CLICK HERE for race package details.
Are children free at the pasta party?
Yes, we give one to every person who comes through the door. Just kidding. Children 5 years of age and younger are allowed into the Pasta Party at no charge. Any child 6 and over must have a ticket to enter.
CLICK HERE for pasta party details.
I’m participating in one of the adult events, which starts at 8:00 a.m., but the Mini Marathon starts 45 minutes later. What do I do about my child, who is taking part in the McDonald's Mini Marathon?
If you are planning on doing the Full Marathon, Half Marathon or you are running the first leg of the Relay, which starts at 8:00 a.m., then I would recommend you have your spouse, partner, other family member or trusted friend go with your child to the McDonald's Mini Marathon race, which starts at 8:45 a.m. Your child can watch you start at 8:00, watch you go past the start line again a little while later, do their race at 8:45, and then watch you come across the finish line and get your finisher medal.
Will baby-sitting facilities be available while I do my race?
We regret that we cannot provide child-care and/or baby-sitting services.
