Hustle Up the Hancock Event Information

Hustle Up the Hancock begins at 7 a.m. Climbers take off in 8 second intervals creating staggered starts. There are two categories of the climb: the 94-floor climb and the 52-floor climb. The 94-floor and 52-floor climbs will be held simultaneously in two separate stairwells.

Hustle Up the Hancock is a ChampionChip timed event. Water stations are provided in the concourse area and throughout the stairwells. The stairwells will be mopped with water one week prior to the event to eliminate dust. No cleaning chemicals are used in the stairwells at any time. At the finish line participants enjoy the sights of the Windy City from John Hancock Observatory on the 94th floor. A post-event Expo and Celebration at the nearby Hilton Suites Chicago Hotel will follow your climb.

John Hancock Center stairwells turn to the left. While climbing, please pass on the right side only. Headphones and water bottles are permitted in the stairwell.

Only participants, staff and volunteers are permitted in the stairwells. The carrying of infants and small children up the stairs is prohibited.

This division is for the competitive athlete looking for the ultimate challenge of scaling 94 floors. Awards are given to the top three finishers for each gender, as well as to the top overall male and female finisher per age group. Due to the popularity of this event, pre-registration is mandatory. Availability is based on a first-come, first-served policy to those who have paid in full.

For those first-time climbers seeking a challenging workout, the half climb is ideal. Climbers will climb 52 floors and finish in John Hancock Observatory. Awards are given to the top three finishers for each gender, as well as to the top overall male and female finisher per age group.

You can become a Lung Health Champion by making a guaranteed commitment to raise $1,000 (per person) before the fundraising deadline of March 19, 2010.

Standard registration fees apply. Limited spots are available. For more information about Lung Health Champions, click here.

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Many climbers choose to form a team with other climbers. Teams must be comprised of members climbing in the same category. In other words, a climber in the half climb may not join a team in the full climb.

To form a team, the team captain must register FIRST and start the team. The team captain is responsible for paying a one-time team fee in addition to his/her entry fee. Once the team captain has started the team, other team members are able to join. Team benefits include: free team packet delivery to team captain approximately one week prior to the event, event technical shirt, consecutive start times, team photo and team massages.

**There is no minimum/maximum requirement on the amount of team members a team must have, however teams are NOT permitted to reserve climbing spots. Once the full climb fills to capacity, no other spaces are available for team members. Encourage team members to register early. Your team members that do not register before the full climb fills to capacity are welcome to form a team in the half climb. **

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**Team member registration information and entry fees must be received by Friday, November 13, 2009. (Unfilled spots will be forfeited without refund. Entry fees can be paid by the business or by each participant as determined by the company. Spaces are limited.)**

If you're among the fastest on two feet, you may be eligible to join the select Hancock Elite Climbers who receive priority start times.

50 spots in the much-coveted first hour of the climb will be assigned to racers who've demonstrated their stair climbing ability in a previous stair climb event. The Elite Climb will begin at 7:00 a.m. on event day, February 28, 2010. To be considered, you must have placed in the overall top 25 finishers, male or female, in one of the following stair climbs:

Register as an individual for the 94-floor climb and pay the $120 entry fee. General online registration begins Monday, November 2, 2009 at 8:00 a.m. The event fills to capacity--register early.

**Please note: it is not possible to be on a team and participate in the Elite Climb.

After registering for the event and prior to November 30, 2009, send an email to hustle@lungchicago.org with the subject heading "Elite Climb Application." In the email, include your name, contact information, qualifying event, and overall finishing place in that event. If you have competed in a comparable climb (greater than 50 flights) that is not listed above, please include the details of that climb (including a web address and/or the contact information of the race organizers.)

All participants in the Elite Climb will have their qualifying time verified. The Elite Climb will be comprised of the fastest 25 male and 25 female applicants. All applicants will be notified in early January 2010 as to whether they have been accepted into the Elite Climb. Please register as an individual in order to participate in the Elite Climb. After you are notified, if you were not accepted into the Elite Climb, you may choose to be added to a team. If this is the case, you will climb with that team at its designated start time.

On Sunday, February 28, 2010 Hustle Up the Hancock begins at 7:00 a.m. The last climber begins his/her climb at approximately 1:15 p.m.

Climbers are assigned to a "Wave" number. Waves begin every 15 minutes and climbers will be allowed to line up 15 minutes prior to their wave's starting times. Climbers are then released into the stairwells in 8-second intervals.

As one of the benefits of forming a team in the Fleet Feet Sports Team Challenge, all team members will be assigned to the same wave. (Start times will be included in race packets. They are not released prior to packet pickup days.)

*Due to the nature of this event, all participants should arrive one hour before their designated start time. In addition, participants do NOT have to check-in on event day. Just make sure to pin your bib on your shirt and you are ready to go!

Thursday, Feb. 25
12 noon-8pm
Fleet Feet Sports Chicago – Lincoln Square
4555 N. Lincoln Avenue
Chicago, IL 60625
773.271.3338

Parking/transportation info:
Large City of Chicago parking lot just steps south of store. CTA Ravenswood line stops at Western Ave Station, walk east to Lincoln and south to store. By bus, the Lincoln (#11) or Western (#49) stop at Lincoln & Wilson. Walk south to the store.

Friday, Feb. 26
12 noon-8pm
Fleet Feet Sports Chicago – Pipers Alley
1620 N. Wells St.
312-587-3338

Saturday, Feb, 27
10am-6p
Fleet Feet Sports Chicago – Pipers Alley
1620 N. Wells St.
312-587-3338

Parking/transportation info:
Discounted parking available for $2 for the first hour in the Pipers Alley garage
(with FFS validation), enter on North Avenue. CTA Brown line Sedgwick stop is just two blocks west of the store

Individuals climbers can do one of two things to get their packets:

(1) Come and pick up race packets during the packet pick-up dates listed above. Race packets (for those NOT on a team) may be picked up by a fellow climber. He/she must know the correct name spelling & the climb category (Full or Half) of all individuals for whom packets are being picked up!
OR
(2) Order Hustle Up the Hancock climb packet* for a $7 fee to be mailed to them before the climb. Individual packets will be shipped 1-2 weeks prior to the event and the deadline to order a Pre-race packet mailing is Friday, January 29, 2010.

There is no packet pick-up on event day! Individuals who do not pick up their race packet during the designated Packet Pick-up times will forfeit their climbing spot.

*Goody bags will not be sent in advance, but will be available for pick-up on event day at the post-event Expo and Celebration at the Hilton Suites Chicago Hotel. )

Team members: your packets will be shipped to your team captain prior to the event.

D-tags will be the official timer of your climb at Hustle Up the Hancock. The D-tag will be included in your race packets.

**Participants must use the D-tag that matches the number on his/her bib. D-tags must be worn on each Climber's shoe. No time will be given if the D-tag is not worn correctly.**

GEAR CHECK

There will be two Gear Check areas for Hustle climbers this year! Please plan accordingly when traveling to Hustle Up the Hancock.