Are these future marathoners, accountants, or NYRR employees-in-training? Everyone has fun at the NYRR booth at the expo with the stellar staff there to ease your concerns and calm your nerves about transportation, spectating spots, and the race course; stop by for a copy of the Official Handbook, a course map, and to get all the answers to race-day questions.

 

 There's no shortage of treats at the ING New York City Marathon Health and Fitness Expo. Adults and kids alike are getting into the Halloween mood with costumes, freebies, and orange gear. It's hard to tell which pumpkins are excited about the ghouling tonight and which ones are running the ING New York City Marathon. Either way, they look great in orange. The Empire State Building will be following suit with orange, blue, and white lights on Sunday night to celebrate the marathon. Look up and enjoy the orange glow!

 

Legendary runner and two-time ING New York City Marathon champion German Silva will be talking with author and New York Times writer Liz Robbins at 3:00 p.m. at the NYRR booth inside the expo today. You can ask all your pressing questions about the race as well as get Robbins' book, A Race Like No Other: 26.2-Miles Through the Streets of New York, signed. Be part of the action at the New York Road Runners booth all day. Pick up Fred Lebow pins, postcards, and the official 2009 race poster while you're there!

Wondering if I caught you in a moment of confusion, concentration, or pure elation at the expo? Here’s what I was doing with my camera at the Jacob Javits Convention Center. If you haven’t gone to pick up your race materials yet, this is what's in store! Don’t forget to bring your registration e-mail and a photo ID, and prepare to have fun with the friends you bring as well as new ones you'll make from across the globe!

As promised in an earlier post, here they are:

How do I know what transportation I have?

Look at the sticker toward the bottom of your bib; it lists your name. To the left of your name is a black box with one of three options. BUS means you should catch the Midtown Manhattan Bus at whatever time is listed. SIF stands for the Staten Island Ferry, and the time your ferry leaves is listed. NJ BUS means you’re traveling to the start from the Meadowlands Parking Lot Drop-off location in New Jersey. For more information, try our website.

What can I do if I’ve changed my race-morning plans?

Go to the tickets and transportation booth at the expo—marked with yellow balloons, it’s right next to the T-shirts. Bring your bib, and explain your situation; they can help you.

What is Athlete Alert and how do I use it?

Athlete Alert, which send e-mails or text alerts about a runner's progress on race day, is closed; it has reached capacity. Instead, you can use Athlete Tracker to follow runners' progress on race day; see details below.

How can my friends and family track me on race day?

Athlete Tracker, which opens on race day on our marathon website will enable people to track any runner from a PDA or computer during the race. Simply click on the Athlete Tracker link that appears on the site on race day, and enter runners' names or bibs to track their progress throughout the race. The system will start working as soon as the runner you're tracking starts to run. But don't forget, this link won't appear and the system won't be accessible until race day. 

While at the expo, where do I get answers to my other pressing questions?

The NYRR information booth, near the entrance of the Jacob Javits Convention Center, is perfect for any questions you have about our D-Tag timing device—and even has a demonstration and a video to ease your mind. Inside the main expo, you’ll find a solutions desk, as well as two other NYRR booths where helpful staff and volunteers can point you in the right direction and give you advice.