The United States Association of Blind Athletes (USABA) is pleased to invite up to three international blind or visually impaired marathon athletes to compete in the 2013 USABA Marathon National Championships sponsored by VSP® Vision Care, Sunday 8 December 2013 in Sacramento, California. As many as 16 or more USABA blind and visually impaired athletes from Canada and the United States are expected to run the entire marathon.
 
The California International Marathon (CIM), a world-class running event certified and sanctioned by USA Track & Field, was established in 1983 by the Sacramento Running Association. The course developed then and still used today, provides runners a very fast, point-to-point, net-downhill marathon with a spectacular finish in front of the California State Capitol.
 
Selected international overseas athletes will receive up to $1000 reimbursable expenses which can be used towards offsetting the costs of airfare, registration, hotel and meals. Selected athletes from Mexico and Canada will receive $400 in reimbursable expenses.
 
How international Athletes Apply

All interested internationally IBSA classified marathon athletes (classified B1, B2, and B3) must send a letter of request and past marathon results which includes: full name, country, classification, age, gender and previous marathon results to Mark Lucas at [email protected] no later than 6 September.
 
Requirement:
 
Men: must have a time of 3 hours and 30 minutes or faster from a sanctioned marathon in the past 2 years.
 
Women: must have a time of 4 hours or faster from a sanctioned marathon in the past 2 years.
 
Additional information:

• The link to the CIM website is: http://www.runcim.org/
• The CIM blind and visually impaired division has grown in popularity: 2007 (2 VI); 2008 (3 VI); 2009 (11 VI); 2010 (15 VI) and 2011 (18 VI) and 2012 (31 VI);
• A VIP marathon experience for visually impaired and blind runners
  • Assistance from USABA with race weekend logistics
  • Assistance finding guides for those who identify the need in advance
  • Prize money for overall blind/visually impaired top 3 men/women, 1st place: $300, 2nd place: $150; 3rd place: $50.
  • USABA medals for top 3 male and female winners in B1, B2, and B3 classifications
• International arrivals should arrive no later than 7 December
• Race packet pick-up is on 6 & 7 December;
• All USABA and international athletes attend a pre-race pasta dinner on 7 December
• Ground transportation from the Sacramento airport to a designated hotel and return to be provided by USABA staff, VSP staff and the City of Sacramento Access Leisure

Mark Lucas, Executive Director
U.S. Association of Blind Athletes
1 Olympic Plaza
Colorado Springs, CO 80909
 
Phone:  719-866-3220
www.usaba.org