FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Packet Pickup and registration is located inside the atrium of the Church building with entry from the Church parking lot on Central Avenue. We will also be able to sign up new registrants on Friday and Saturday.

Yes, we do allow you to pick up a friend or relative’s number.

The first 200 runners who register by August 1st, 2024, will receive free long sleeve Tech T-shirts. We will have a very limited supply of shirts for sale on the day of the race.

Registrations are non-refundable and non-transferable. If, however, you register and do not run, you may still pick up your race packet and shirt and join us in the fun.

The Church parking lot will be closed on the day of the race, but there will be ample on-street parking in the vicinity of the Church on Locust St. and side streets off Locust (except Nelson St. and Church St.), and in St. Mary’s parking lot (just off Church St.).

There is also a parking lot behind the Dover Public Library that is conveniently located near the Church, at 73 Locust St. Approximately .4 miles from the Church is the Orchard St. Parking lot and garage, and approximately .6 miles is the Amtrak Station parking off Chestnut St. For more parking information, see the City of Dover website http://www.drivingdover.com/ for a map of Dover lots.

The Start of the race is on Silver St., just around the corner from the Church. You can use 11 Silver St. in Dover, NH for an approximate GPS location.

The half marathon has water provided at 4 water stations spaced evenly along the course. At the Finish line there will be ample cold, bottled water and Gatorade.

There will be porta potties located in the Church parking lot and restrooms inside the Church just past the registration area. There will be a porta potty around mile 5, just after the foot bridge over the Cochecho River. There is also generally a porta potty at the fourth water station, which is the Horne Street School (but not guaranteed).

Celebrate your race with free food and drinks! Thanks to our sponsor, Chapel + Main in Dover, you can collect a beer token after the race at the Awards table inside the Church. The token entitles runners with a valid ID to a free beer at Chapel & Main located 5 minutes from the Church in downtown Dover. The token will be valid after the race or anytime presented.

We will hold a brief awards ceremony for the top three male and female runners shortly after the half-marathon winners finish. These awards are cash plus a Gift Certificate to Runner’s Alley for a prize package worth $650.

Yes. The course has been measured and it is marked with signs for all miles. Caveat: Sometimes they disappear, especially mile 6, but we do our best!

For the half marathon leader, just follow the lead police vehicle. For the rest of us, our website shows a map of the course. Note that near the end of the race, runners will make a right turn on Belknap Street (instead of Atkinson Street, which is very busy with vehicular traffic). We will also post a course map at Registration that highlights the race route.

Our course is well marked. There will be course marshals and signs with arrows at every turn. The City of Dover will have police officers posted at key intersections along the course to help make this road race safe and fun for everyone.

We ask runners to be cautious and alert while racing. The roads will be open for traffic. Please be extra cautious just after mile # 5 on the unpaved sections of Covered Bridge Lane and on the narrow foot bridge that crosses the Cochecho River. There will be volunteers stationed at the bridge to monitor the flow of runners.

If at any point you need medical assistance, please report it to the nearest volunteer along the course.

As a reminder, we are asking that there be no dogs on the race course for safety reasons. Strollers must line up at the back of the start line.

We cannot guarantee police or course marshals after 11:15 AM. Participants who may want to walk the course are advised that the police may not be available to help with street crossings after this time. Runners are still welcome to finish the race at any pace that is healthy and comfortable for them. We will offer a race sweep vehicle for anyone who prefers to get a ride as well.

Your entry fee pays for a high quality, USATF sanctioned event with police and medical staff presence, an awesome commemorative medal and race shirt (with specialized cuts for men and women), lightweight B-chip racing bibs, a professional race announcer, and an unparalleled post-race party.

We rely on donors, sponsors, and volunteer efforts to put on this event and still give proceeds back to the community. With increased income, the Cochecho Challenge gives back to missions like End 68 Hours of Hunger, Grab and Go, The Dover Food Pantry, Friendly Kitchen, Community Help Desk, Warming Shelter, Alcoholics Anonymous, and many others. Please consider making a donation by clicking on the tab at our Cochecho Challenge Registration website.