FAQs
Registration
How can I register?
Online - Registration online is exclusively through Premier Marathons. You can pay by credit card or check. For payment with a credit card, (Mastercard or Visa only - sorry we cannot accept debit cards or other brands of credit cards) all registration confirmations will be displayed onscreen and will be sent, along with your assigned bib number immediately by email to the email address of the registered person. If you register online and choose to pay by check, a confirmation email will be sent once we've received your check.
TIP: Don't forget you can register friends and family who are either too young to have their own profile or do not have access to a credit card or checkbook by adding them to your Profile Address Book!
There are a few possible reasons for this:
Some credit cards issued by non-UAE banks may not work due to security restrictions by the issuing bank. If in doubt please contact your card issuing bank.
Repeated attempts sometimes work - you could always come back to the site later and try again.
Your card has expired or has insufficient funds.
You entered your card details incorrectly; please try again checking each digit carefully.
For any other query regarding card payments online, please email support@premiermarathons.com
To register online you will need to create yourself a Premier Marathons Profile. This is free and takes no more than five minutes.
Step 1 - log on to www.premiermarathons.com by clicking on the Register button on the right of this page
Step 2 - fill in your email ID and name in the box marked 'Create Member Profile' on the left of the page under the Premier Marathons logo.
Step 3 - complete your personal information and if you wish your running details (this is optional and can be completed at any time in the future when logged in).
Step 4 - you will receive a Profile Activation email with an activation link that you must click to verify your email address is real and works. (if you have not received this email within 5 minutes of submitting your Profile, please email support@premiermarathons.com
TIP: Not received the email? Check your junk mail first, especially if you're using a Yahoo or btinternet email address.
Sure, but please first check the following carefully:
Your profile includes an accurate physical mailing address that our courier can deliver your race pack to - this is NOT a PO Box Number but a physical address (e.g. your office or home).
Your personal yellow (yellow ONLY please) ChampionChip code has been added/updated to your profile.
Yes, to register someone else with your profile, simply add them to your Address Book or use the Address Book feature on your Premier Marathons Profile (if they're already in there) - be sure you know their name, date of birth, contact details and nationality etc.
Can I register by mail/post?
No. There is no registration by mail although you can PAY your registration fees by mail. Please follow the instructions to register online and send payment by check.
Please send registration payments to: Premier Marathons, PO Box 34878, RAK, UAE.. We accept cash or check although we recommend crossed checks (a/c payee) as being a safer alternative to cash. Every participant, whether individual or team members, MUST provide a valid email address to receive their confirmation and bib number within 10 days. Incomplete applications will be rejected.
The Official Registration Partner of the RAK Half Marathon 2010 is Saucony/Orlando Sports.
Full details can be found on our Registration page. Please note if registering in person you can only pay cash or with a check. Credit cards are only accepted through our online registrations.
No, the Race pays all online transaction fees for you. In fact if you register online up until midnight on 30 June 2009, you'll benefit from the Early Bird Registration Promotion and pay less!
Your credit card will be processed online by Network International (Emirates NBD Group) and the fee will be charged in UAE Dirhams. Your credit card statement will show payment made to 'Premier Marathons'
For all queries regarding registration and/or payments in person or by mail, please contact our Registration Coordinator.
For all queries regarding online payments, please email
support@premiermarathons.comRace Packets
How do I receive my Race Packet?
Race Packets will be couriered to the address you have provided, either in your Premier Marathons Profile or on your physical registration form.
No problem, you can have your Race Packet delivered to a different address in the UAE just by editing your physical mailing address in your Premier Marathons Profile. After you receive your Race Packet you can change it back again.
TIP: Office addresses usually work best as the courier company will deliver during regular working hours only. In this case please edit your landline telephone number in your profile to your office landline number.
Any Race Pack that cannot, for whatever reason, be delivered or is returned to us, or where an address is incomplete, inaccurate or missing will be designated 'Orphan Race Packs'. Orphan Race Packs will only be available for collection in person in RAK during the dates and times of and at the Race Expo. Race Packs not collected by the close of the Expo on 18 February will be canceled from the race and will not be issued. Identification will be required to collect your Race Pack in person, for those collecting by proxy, a photocopy of the registered runner's ID (or Team Captain's ID) will have to be submitted.
There will be NO RACE PACK COLLECTION ON RACE DAY.
Orphan Race Packs (those undelivered for whatever reason) will only be available for collection in person in RAK during the dates and times of and at the Race Expo. Race Packs not collected by the close of the Expo on 18 February will be canceled from the race and will not be issued. Identification will be required to collect your Race Pack in person, for those collecting by proxy, a photocopy of the registered runner's ID (or Team Captain's ID) will have to be submitted.
To ensure that Team Race Packets stay together the four team Race Packets will be couriered to the Team Captain's mailing address on his/her Premier Marathons User Profile.
All Race packets should have been delivered by 30 January 2010. If you have not received your Race Packet by this date please email the Registration Coordinator with your full name, email ID you registered with and your assigned bib number (if known). If you registered in person, please include the serial number from your registration form receipt and the store location you registered in.
Your RACE PACKET should consist of an envelope containing your running number, timing chip/tie strap and safety pins for attaching your number to your shirt along with the Official Race Program (including Race Day Instructions) and your race t-shirt which you can wear on race day if you wish! Race Packets are distributed with Goody Bags. All Team Captain envelopes will also contain the ChampionChip ankle strap.
Volunteering
Will I get paid for volunteering?
No, sorry but volunteering means working without payment - it's what you do to contribute and be a helpful citizen - plus, it's great fun!
Yes, quite a few positions will mean that you'll have to attend a short training session (normally about 2 hours), in Ras Al Khaimah, a day or two before Race Day. Others will need to arrive extra early on Race Day to be briefed by the Sector Leaders.
As long as the other people you want to work with are within the age limits for the position then yes, we'll make sure you're grouped in the same position.
Yes, we would love you to have 'ownership' of your volunteer tasks - it's also great fun working in your team and provides for great photos!
For up to date information on this query, please email the Volunteers Coordinator.
No, all our positions are very important and thousands of people will be relying on YOU to make the right commitment and be there on the day. We know the hours are long and you may get tired, but we'll always try to make the time go as quickly as possible by giving you a great experience - and it's only once a year!
Yes, whenever you're volunteering with us for more than 5 hours, meals will be provided. Drinks will always be available. Breakfast will be available on Race Day.
Every volunteer will be given an official race t-shirt/bib that must be worn on race day - this helps people identify you as an official volunteer. We recommend that hats be worn to keep the sun off your head/neck. For those of you working overnight you'll need something warm as it gets quite cold at 4am - gloves are good too! Generally, you should dress in a comfortable manner, we recommend trainers as footwear as there's quite a lot of walking/standing involved.
No, there is always a lot to do at 5.30am on Race Day and runners will start arriving around 6am for the 7.20am start. Plus, the police will start closing the access roads around 6.30am so anyone arriving late will not be able to get near the course. Please only apply if you can meet the required timings.
We try very hard to put you where you want to work, occasionally it may be necessary for us to reassign you at the last minute. We reserve the right to reassign any volunteer to any other position within the age requirements according to necessity.
Start Positions
What is a Competitive / Preferred Start Position?
A Competitive / Preferred Start Position (CSP/PSP) is a preferential position when lining up at the start of the race. A CSP entitles the runner to line up immediately behind the elite runners while a PSP entitles the runner to line up immediately behind the CSP runners. Note: Only available up to 30 September 2009.
Runners need to qualify for a CPS or PSP to be awarded one of these preferential start positions. To be awarded one of these places you MUST submit proof of a previous recorded time as follows:
Competitive Start Position: Recorded time over a certified course not before 01/01/2008 of 1hr:30min or less (men and women)
Preferred Start Position: Recorded time over a certified course not before 01/01/2008 of 1hr:45min or less (men and women)
All proofs must be submitted by email to the Registration Coordinator before the close of registration, by mail to 'Registration Coordinator, PO Box 34878, RAK, UAE) to reach us no later than 30 September 2009. No request after this date can be guaranteed. In the case of over-subscription, the fastest times will receive their chosen start position. Those who do not provide proof or do not make it into their chosen start area will be grouped in the Mass Start. Register early and get your time proofs in early!!
Runners who completed the RAK Half in less than 1hr:30min during the 2008 event will automatically be awarded a CSP. All other runners will have to request a CSP/PSP during registration as their time performances may well have improved since then.
Your running bib will clearly indicate any preferential start position. This will be the only way of knowing as we do not inform people in any other manner.
