As race organizers prepare for the Lincoln Presidential Half Marathon on April 4, the city of Springfi eld is asking motorists to be patient if their Saturday drive is delayed by throngs of runners. About 2,000 people are expected to run the 13.1-mile race through Springfi eld this weekend, meaning several roads will be fi lled with people until about 11 a.m. To avoid delays, try not to drive in the area bounded by Chatham Road, Sangamon Avenue, Ninth Street and South Grand east of MacArthur. The intersections expected to be most congested are Madison Street and Jefferson Street (where they cross Lincoln Avenue and Fifth Street), Lawrence Avenue, Monroe Street and Washington Street (where they cross Lincoln Avenue), Walnut Street and MacArthur Boulevard near Washington Park, and North Grand Avenue at both Rutledge Street and Third Street. A map is available online at bit.ly/lincolnhalf. By the way, the national magazine Runner’s World recently included the Lincoln half’s offi cial participant shirt, which depicts young Abe Lincoln as a runner complete with sweatband, on its list of “awesome” race shirts. The magazine also included the race in its “Your Perfect Half Marathon List,” touting the (mostly) fl at course and historical surroundings. Get more information on the race at runabe.net.