Here's a random list of things you need to know about racing and/or the Her Times 5K:
* The race goes on -- rain, snow, sleet -- nothing can stop it but lightening and thunder.
* If you picked up your packet & race number early, you need not check in anywhere...just report to the start line (on Lakefront road directly across from the bathhouse) before I yell "go" at 9 a.m. NOTE: you can pick up your t-shirt before or after the race -- it's up to you.
* If you've not picked up your packet & race number, you need to do that first. Go to the tents in front of the bathhouse and stand in the line that says pre-registered. You need a number to race.
* You must have your bib number and it must be pinned to the front of your coat, sweatshirt or pants.
* We start at 9 a.m. sharp -- unless there's a giant backlog at the registration table, in which case we may wait 5 or 10 minutes for them.
* Bathrooms will be open! No porta-potties -- rejoice!
* There's plenty of parking at Beach One. My advice to you is to skip the first one or two turns into the Beach One area & go down to the third or fourth entrance to the parking lot & walk to the bathhouse.
* The registration table will be in front of the Beach One bathhouse. This is where you'll get your packet and bib number (if you haven't already handed it out) and your t-shirt.
* If the t-shirt line is long before the race, you can pick it up after the race.
* Day of Race registrants will not get a t-shirt on race day. We will, however, order you one and you'll have to pick it up at the newspaper in two weeks.
* Goody bags are for the first 300 registered women. Day of Race participants will not get a bag since we have almost 300 women preregistered now.
* There will be a pre-race warm-up led by Shannon Vance from Saint Vincent. Plan to get there a bit early and join in. She'll start at 8:45 and lead warm-ups thorugh two songs.
* SafeNet will be at the race selling their "You Can't Beat A Woman" t-shirts and butterfly pins. Bring some bucks if you want to shop a bit.
* DJ Kelly will be there to play all our favorite woman-power songs!
* The course is out-and-back -- meaning you run out towards the Nature Center (you'll run past the Nature Center), 1.5 miles, turn around and come back. There will be a volunteer, and orange cone and a sign at the turn around, so you shouldn't miss it.
* We'll be starting the walk & run at the same time and using the same course. Runners will be asked to line up in the front, walkers in the back, please (so that no one gets trampled).
* I'll give a pre-race welcome and a few race instructions/rules before the race.
* If you are running, you will likely not need more than tights (pants) and a long-sleeve t-shirt and gloves. You may want to add a windbreaker, too (depends on how cold it is) -- you should be COLD at the start line. If you're comfortable, you are overdressed and will wish you weren't a mile into the race when you're sweating and feeling overheated. Bring a fresh, warm sweatshirt and a warm coat to change into after the race (especially if you're staying for awards) -- when your sweat cools you will be unbelievably chilled. Bring warm clothes for after the race.
* If you're walking, dress for the weather. The run is on Lakefront Road and it will be chilly. Again, depending on the temps, bring a warm coat, gloves, hat, scarves -- whatever you feel you need.
* Do not go out too fast. This is the most often made mistake new runners make. Do not try to keep up with the front of the pack (unless you can). Pace yourself. Push yourself to do the best that you can do -- pay no attention to who else is around you or what they are doing.
* When you finish, you will go under the big clock and into the "chute" where the volunteers will tear the bottom portion of your bib number off -- this is how we compile results. It's imperative that you stay in line when you enter the chute (don't worry, the volunteers will remind you of this!).
* We have finisher's ribbons for each finisher. A volunteer will hand you one at the finish line.
* We have custom-labeled bottled water and we'll have some fruit and (likely) cookies.
* The awards ceremony begins around 10:30 a.m. -- or shortly after the last walker finishes. I will announce winners using the DJs sound equipment -- we will not be indoors. If you cannot stay to get your award, we will hold it for you at the Erie Times-News for you to pick up later.
* Results will be posted as soon as they are printed. They'll also appear (top finishers in the age catgories) in the Erie Times-News' sports pages on Sun., Oct. 15. The entire list of race finishers will appear in a Thank You advertisement in the Erie Times-News the following Sunday (Oct. 22) and will also be posted on-line at www.hertimes.com and at www.erie-runnersclub.org.
* There will not be an ambulance on-site, but we will have a first-aid kit and most volunteers will have cell phones to call 911 if needed.
* The people who will be helping at the race are all volunteers -- from the registration line to the road marshalls to the people cutting up fruit -- please be patient and courteous with all of them.
* This is my first try at the race-director gig and I'm sure that I'm bound to make a few mistakes, please bear with me and rest assured that I'm learning plenty of things that will help me make next year's race better. If you have any complaints, problems, suggestions or compliments (yes, compliments are nice) after the race, please feel free to email them to me. Sometimes I overlook the obvious and if you see a way to improve the race or registration process, please share it with me.
* Be advised that the babysitting area is a tent -- without sides -- so please dress the kids for the weather. If I could think of a way to do it somewhere warm, we would, but ... our options on the penninsula are limited. We will have a tent and activities (games, coloring sheets), but it's not enclosed.
* You must have signed up for babysitting in advance.
Any other questions I need to answer? Email me at heather.cass@timesnews.com or post a comment here and I'll respond ASAP.