After very careful deliberation, we have made the extremely difficult decision to convert our 2020 event to a Virtual Race. The staff and board of Valley 7 Lakes Marathon along with our medical and public agency leaders believe this is the responsible action to take in an effort to keep everyone safe during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, and not take valuable resources away from our local health system. The health and safety of our participants, volunteers, sponsors, spectators, staff and community remains our top priority. We know this news is very disappointing, all of us at Grandma’s Marathon feel the same, but we know that this is for the best.

Taking into account all of the planning and preparation that is coordinated within our organization and with our partners in the community, unfortunately, postponement is not a viable option.

 

As a small, Nebraska Nonprofit organization with the assistance of our sponsors and community, we pride ourselves in our efforts to provide a world-class event with small-town charm.   In order to preserve our ability to provide the Valley 7 Lakes Marathon experience to the running community for years to come, we must uphold our no refund and no deferment policy. The time and effort that goes into planning for race weekend are well underway, and a significant portion of our expenditures have already occurred and are irreversible.

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We understand that the majority of our participants are well into their training programs with their sights set on crossing the finish line in Valley on April 25th.  While that will no longer be possible, we want to recognize all of the time, effort and commitment that you have already put forth by providing the following to currently registered participants:

• 2020 Virtual Race:  You will be automatically entered into the virtual version of your race. All you need to do is run your race wherever you want, whenever you want while following the safety measures that have been laid out by your local government regarding COVID-19.  Our Virtual Submission Platform provided by Run Sign Up will be activated on  April 20th, 2020.  An email will be sent to you in early May with a link to your personal results page on the Virtual Submission Platform where you can, upload your time, and view/download an official Finisher Certificate. The deadline for submitting your Virtual Result is May 31. All finishers who upload their result to the Virtual Submission Platform will earn their finisher shirt and medal. These items will be available in June 2020 to pick-up (locations TBA) or we’ll ship them to you

• Donation: As we are a Nebraska Nonprofit with 501(c)(3) status, your registration can be converted to a donation, which will enable you to claim the entry fee you paid as a tax write-off if you choose.

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By making this difficult decision to announce the cancellation now, we hope to relieve some of the pressure that you are feeling during this stressful time of uncertainty. If you have any questions or comments, do not hesitate to reach out to us. Please keep in mind that the current situation is frustrating and scary for everybody, our staff included. Again we ask for your continued patience, understanding and kindness as we all work through these unprecedented times together.

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Looking ahead, we sincerely hope you are able to run with us next year on April 24th, 2021! 

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Thank you,
Valley 7 Lakes Marathon Staff