The 2002 race took place amid balmy temperatures. Head south this weekend!

Weather: Unlike the rest of the East coast, Williamsburg received only ONE inch of ice/sleet/snow, with the rest of the storm cold rain throughout the weekend. With temperatures this week predicted in the 40s and 50s, the winter accumulation will be long gone by the weekend. The Weather Channel forecast for Saturday is rain with temperatures in the upper 50s. The long- range forecast for race day on Sunday is party cloudy with highs in the upper 40s. THE COLONIAL HALF MARATHON WILL BE HELD AS SCHEDULED.

Time: No packet pickup or registration on Saturday. All packet pickup and late registration is Sunday, Feb. 23, starting at 10 a.m., inside William and Mary Hall (concourse of upper level).

1:00 p.m. - Start of half marathon race. Start is at Barksdale Field and Jamestown Road, approximately 1/2 mile from William and Mary Hall. Finish inside William and Mary Hall. No official times after 2 hours, 30 minutes.

1:10 p.m. - Start of 3 mile run. Start is behind William and Mary Hall. Entirely on the William and Mary campus. Finish inside William and Mary Hall. No official times after 45 minutes.

3:00 p.m. - Awards ceremony for all award winners in the three mile, and for the top 10 finishers in the half marathon (male and female). Random door prize drawing during awards ceremony.

Packet Pickup: From 10 a.m. to 12 noon for both the half marathon and 3 mile runs. Packets will not be available at the starting line.

HALF MARATHON CLOSED: ENTRIES FOR THE HALF MARATHON HAVE LONG SINCE CLOSED. Due to the narrow roads used for the out-and- back portion of the half marathon course, the race is restricted to 1,300 runners. THERE IS NO WAITING LIST. THERE ARE NO TRANSFERS OF RACE NUMBERS. The race takes into consideration that 10-20% of half marathon entrants will either no-show (due to injury, sickness or change of plans) or switch down to the 3 mile. For the safety of the runners, and to allow reasonable running room for the main pack of runners, we must have the entry limit. UNOFFICIAL RUNNERS ARE NOT ALLOWED ON THE HALF MARATHON COURSE.

For those runners who have entered, but are unable to run the half marathon or 3 mile, it is OK to have someone pick up your race T-shirt. T-shirts must be picked up at registration, and will not be mailed after race day. No race entry refunds.

In part due to a very favorable feature article in the February, 2003 issue of Runner's World magazine, this year's Colonial Half Marathon closed earlier than ever. For those who didn't get in this year, please try again in 2004, or run the 3 mile this year. Entrants in the 3 mile receive the same full-color, long- sleeve T-shirt as the half marathon entrants, and they have more time to enjoy the refreshments and post-race party.

Late Registration: FOR THREE MILE ONLY. There are still plenty of spots available in the 3 mile run (the limit is 500), and all entrants race day will be accepted for the three mile run. Registration (at $30) will begin at 10 a.m. and close promptly at 12 noon for the 3 mile.

Parking: William and Mary Hall parking lot.

Directions: From Richmond: Take Interstate-64 east to the Lightfoot Exit (exit #234). Follow Route 199 East to Monticello Avenue East. Follow Monticello Avenue through the traffic light at Ironbound Road. Take the next right (Compton Road) and follow to the William and Mary Hall parking lot.

From Norfolk and Newport News: Take Interstate-64 west to the Busch Gardens-Jamestown exit (exit #242-A or Route 199 West). Follow Route 199 to the 4th traffic light. Take a right onto Jamestown Road. Follow Jamestown Road approximately two miles (past Lake Matoaka on the left), then take a left onto Campus Drive. Down a hill, take a left at the next stop sign. Continue to follow Campus Drive while bearing right until you reach William and Mary Hall.

Half Marathon Course: Scenic, hilly, 13.1 miles. Through residential Williamsburg, then out Carter's Grove Country Road, with a 2 1/2-mile loop of Kingsmill and the Busch Corporate Center, then back on Carter's Grove road to the William and Mary campus and the indoor finish.

Race Confirmation: A number of runners have not received their postcard confirmation. If your race entry check has been cashed, that is confirmation that your entry has been accepted. If you did not get a postcard, please bring your cancelled bank check to William and Mary Hall on Sunday. If you have neither a postcard confirmation nor a cancelled check, then your entry may not have been received. You can either call the W&M Special Events Department (757-221-1599 or 757-221-3362), or if you have difficulty getting through, send an e-mail message to Rick Platt, and your e-mail will be forwarded to the Special Events Department (which has the race entry data base).

Changing Races: Runners may change from the half marathon to the 3 mile, but will NOT receive a refund. PARTICIPANTS MAY NOT CHANGE FROM THE 3 MILE TO THE HALF MARATHON.

Aids and Facilities: There are 4 water stops on the half marathon course. The entire course will be radio controlled and complete medical aid will be available from start to finish. There are shower facilities inside William and Mary Hall after the race.

Runners Expo: From 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on the concourse upper level of William and Mary Hall. Get the latest in running gear and apparel at bargain prices.

Awards: Half marathon
Top 3 overall men and women: $500, $300, $200 prize money. 4th through 10th overall men and women: Special awards. Top ten awards given race day at 3 p.m. Age group awards: top 3 in 5-year age groups from 19-and-under through 70-and-over (through 60-and-over for women). Half marathon age group awards in all categories will be mailed within two weeks.

Awards: 3 Mile
Top 5 overall men and women, and top 3 Masters (ages 40-and- over) men and women. No age group awards for 3 mile. These awards will be given race day at 3 p.m.

Results: Results of both races will be mailed to all finishers. Local finisher results, along with photos and feature race coverage, will be published in the Wednesday, Feb. 26 edition of The Virginia Gazette. For quick results check the Peninsula Track Club website.

Hotels: The following are official race hotels for the 2003 Anheuser-Busch Colonial Half Marathon:

Governor's Inn - $69 - 757-565-8690 or 800-261-9530

Best Western West Park - $39 - 757-229-1134 or 800-446-1062

Embassy Suites - $79 - 757-229-6800 or 800-333-0924

Travel Lodge Historic Area - $29 - 757-229-2000 or 800-544- 7774

Ramada Inn 1776 - $36 - 757-229-6220 or 800-782-3800

Ramada Inn Central - $49 - 757-565-2000 or 800-446-9200

Howard Johnson's - $55 - 757-229-6900 or 800-841-9100

Radisson Fort Magruder Hotel - $69 - 757-220-2250 or 800-225- 1533

Hilton Garden Inn - $59 - 877-609-9400

Race Information: William and Mary Athletic Department Special Events Office, (757) 229-1599 or (757) 221-3362. Race address: Colonial Half Marathon, PO Box 399, Williamsburg, VA 23187-0399.