Event Type : Marathon

America’s Marathon has been designed for serious runners looking to run personal bests and achieve the sought after Boston and Olympic Trials qualifier. Runners will get their chance to achieve just this on 32 foot elevation change, pancake flat, lightning fast, wide open country roads course in Valley and Waterloo, Nebraska!

Saturday, April 24, 2021 will be a bittersweet day to many in Valley, Nebraska. A chance to band as ONE and host what should have occurred the previous two years.

Over the quarantine months, March 2020 – forever (so it feels), the Valley 7 Lakes Marathon took on a new look, a new name, and a few extra individuals added to the leadership staff.

The name evolved from Valley 7 Lakes to Valley O.NE Marathon. Keeping the Valley title prominent, it is followed with Omaha, a partnering community and the state in which the race resides, Nebraska. This change not only reflects a geographic reference but truly showcases the cooperation of multiple communities into ONE partnership.

The race committee has partnered with the Omaha Sports Commission, gaining additional event knowledge and new team members. We are all excited for the FIRST in-person race and look forward to creating a great experience for our runners, partners and volunteers!

We hope to see you all in April of 2021, IN PERSON!

We are pleased to offer a return to in-person racing after the 2020 event transitioned to a virtual race due to COVID-19. Runners who register for the 2021 race between now and midnight Feb. 14 do so RISK-FREE, as there will be a 100% refund (or deferral to 2022) for those who register by that date in the event the race needs to be cancelled (and that cancellation occurs before April 1) in response to health department directives.

There will be a cap on in-person registrations this year to accommodate health and safety measures related to the global pandemic. What does that mean? It means if you are interested in competing in the in-person race, you should not delay your registration.

As an alternative to the in-person race, there will be a virtual race component to the 44th Lincoln Marathon and Half Marathon for those who want to challenge themselves but aren’t comfortable competing in person due to health considerations.

Specific race fees associated with both the in-person race and virtual options, refund options and timelines can be found on the Lincoln Marathon and Half Marathon website and should be reviewed carefully prior to completing your registration.

HEALTH AND SAFETY 
Speaking of the global pandemic, please know there will be health and safety requirements in place on race day. This will include a mask mandate both pre- and post-race and an extended start chute for social distancing purposes.

There also will not be a Runners’ Expo, pre-race pastathon or post-race awards celebration. We know this is disappointing, but these changes are necessary health and safety precautions this year due to COVID-19.

Because there will be no Runners’ Expo, we are in the process of determining a new site for packet pickup. We will send more information on this as the race gets closer. However, you will be required to select a packet pickup time as part of your race registration process. This is another necessary requirement to provide for social distancing.

We won’t know all the specifics until closer to race day. We appreciate your understanding of the need for flexibility as we adapt our race in this COVID-19 environment. We intend to do all we can to provide for the health and safety of our runners and volunteers alike, while still providing the high-quality marathon and half marathon you’ve come to expect from the Lincoln Track Club.