Racers are sorted by expected pace into corrals. Arriving at the start point via shuttle buses, the racers can grab bagels and fruit and water and then line up in their assigned corrals. Portable toilets were located alongside the corrals. At the starting gun, the corrals with the fastest runners are released, one every minute or so. The 2009 event sold out with 25,000 participants. The final corral waited over an hour to start.
But a racer's time doesn't start until they cross the timing mat at the starting line, so there is no penalty for being in a later-starting corral. The race allowed four hours to complete the half marathon and seven hours for the full marathon, starting at time of release of the last corral.
