RACE PARTICIPANT GUIDE
Welcome to the 52nd Annual Bay Area Runners Club's Bay City St Patrick's Day Races presented by Jolt Credit Union!
** THE INFORMATION BELOW IS IMPORTANT. PLEASE READ**
THIS YEAR’S RACE EXPO AND LEPRECHAUN RACES ARE AT BAY CITY CENTRAL HIGH SCHOOL!
RACE IS OUT-AND-BACK. PLEASE STAY TO RIGHT SIDE OF ROAD AT ALL TIMES
RACE BIBS MUST BE UNCOVERED AND WORN ON THE FRONT OF YOUR BODY
ALL AWARDS MUST BE PICKED UP ON RACE DAY (see info below)
STROLLERS, ANYTHING WITH WHEELS AND DOGS ARE NOT ALLOWED
IRISH DOUBLE PARTICIPANTS RECEIVE ONLY ONE MEDAL (after completion of the 5K Run event)
PLEASE TAKE NOTE OF BRIDGE CLOSINGS AND TOLL INFORMATION (see info below)
5K COMPETITIVE WALKERS MUST NOT START WITH THE 5K RUN EVENT. 5K Competitive Walkers who begin before their proper start time will be disqualified and will not receive timed results.
IF SIGNED UP FOR THE COMPETITIVE 5K WALK YOU ARE NOT ALLOWED TO RUN AT ANY TIME
THE TIMED EVENTS HAVE “SPLIT MATS”. ANYONE CAUGHT CUTTING THE COURSE WILL BE DISQUALIFIED FROM THIS AND ALL BAY AREA RUNNERS CLUB EVENTS FOR 1 CALENDAR YEAR
THE 5K RUN & 5K COMPETITIVE WALK EVENTS HAVE START CUTOFF TIMES:
5K Run Begins at 10:30AM - ALL Runners must cross the START LINE by 10:40AM
5K Competitive Walk begins at 10:40AM - ALL Competitive Walkers must cross the START LINE by 10:45AM
Runners and Walkers starting after the START CUTOFF TIMES will be disqualified and will not receive a finish time as the timing mats will not read when they cross the start line
**More information about all of these can be found below
Please read through this participant guide for answers to many questions participants may have to help make this weekend's race experience a great one.
If you have a question that is not answered in this guide, please refer to the INFO page linked at the top of this page.
RACE BIB # ASSIGNMENT
Participants should have received an email with your unique QR code for packet pickup check-in. Have that QR code pulled up on your phone, we'll scan it and get a bib # issued to you and your t-shirt.
Picking up for friends or family, give us their name at packet pickup and we'll get you their race bib and t-shirt! If you are picking up for more than 3 people, write down a quick list of first and last names for us.
Our fabulous volunteers are excited to see you!
ALL are welcome to pick up race packets at the B.A.R.C. Race Expo presented by Covenant HealthCare on Saturday - regardless of whether Sunday packet pickup was selected during registration.
Overall and Age Group Awards MUST be picked up BEFORE 1:30PM on RACE DAY under the tent located in the parking lot of the American Legion Post 18 (700 Adams St, Bay City, MI 48708). That is near the finish line. Even if you don’t think you’ve won your age group, please check online results using the QR code on your race bib after completing your race. We want everyone to receive their awards. If not picked up on race day, winners will incur a $20 fee to have them shipped (if desired).
Race Strollers, Baby Joggers (or any other wheeled item) and Dogs are NOT allowed on the race course for the 8k Run, 5k Run, or 5k Walk events. Please do not bring them. If found in the race corral or on the course, the participant will be asked to remove them. Failure to do so will result in bib number being recorded and participant being disqualified. Organizers reserve the right to ban those who break this rule from future events. For the single exception to this rule (inclusion in the my Team Triumph 8k event start), please refer to the FAQ page on the Race Website.
For the lucky participants who made it into the Irish Double, ID medals will be distributed under a tent after the 5k race. Look for the tall blue Irish Double wind flag! Please note that Irish Double medals will be distributed AFTER the 5K run. ID participants do not receive a second medal this year.
Irish Double Participants - Your events are the 8K Run and 5K Run. Please be sure to start your 5K Event with the Run at 10:30AM
Event Shirts - If you registered on or before Tuesday, February 25th you are guaranteed an event race shirt in your size. For those who registered after the 25th, a large number of additional shirts in various sizes were added to inventory for registrants to enter during the registration process on a first come/first serve basis while supplies last(ed). If a shirt doesn’t fit and if the event has extras, then participants may be able to swap for a different size. No promises!
Those new to 5k racing... It is perfectly ok to take a break from running and walk a bit if you are registered for the 5k RUN event. It is NOT ok to run ANY PART of the Competitive 5k WALK event. If you think you would like to run some of the race, then please sign up for the 5k Run event or for the Noncompetitive 5K Walk! Please see Guideline for Walkers for more information.
Sunday Morning Packet Pickup closes at 10:45AM. Any packets/shirts not picked up before then will be considered forfeit. Shirts will NOT be mailed and will no longer be available for pickup by participants after 10:45AM on race day. If unable to make the race, please arrange to have a friend pick your shirt up for you.
Awards: Awards MUST BE PICKED UP ON RACE DAY BEFORE 1:30PM under the BARC tent in the American Legion Parking lot (700 Adams St, Bay City). All OVERALL awards will be determined by “Gun Start”. AGE GROUP awards will be determined by chip timing. Awards will be distributed beginning at the following times:
8K Run - 10:15AM
5K Run - 11:30AM
5K Walk - 11:45AM
See AWARDS below for further information.
Expo Giveaways are being offered in limited supplies on a first come/first serve basis at expo booths. 2,000 race bags courtesy of SCJohnson and 2,000 pair of knit gloves courtesy of Bay Area Runners Club will be distributed. Reyes Coca Cola will be in attendance with a limited supply of Monster Energy Drinks for those of age.
EXPO, LATE REGISTRATION, & PACKET PICKUP
Saturday March 15th 10:00am - 2:00pm
The B.A.R.C. Fitness Expo presented by Covenant HealthCare will be held at Bay City Central High School, 1624 Columbus Ave, Bay City, MI 48708
The first 2,000 participants to pick up their registration packets will receive Drawstring Race Bags courtesy of SCJohnson and knit gloves courtesy of Bay Area Runners Club! Registrants must be present to receive the giveaways (i.e., those picking up for friends may NOT take a giveaway item for their friends).
LEPRECHAUN RACES
The Leprechaun Races, presented by Lebourdais Orthodontics, take place on Central High School’s track and will start at 2:00pm. PLEASE BE SURE TO ARRIVE AT CENTRAL HIGH SCHOOL EARLY ENOUGH TO PICK UP PACKETS AT THE RACE EXPO AND GET TO THE TRACK BEFORE RACES START. WE SUGGEST PICKING UP LEPRECHAUN PACKETS NO LATER THAN 1:30PM. The kids may participate in any or all of the events - .25 mile/.5 mile/1 mile - but we ask that they collect only ONE finisher medal each. We will begin with the .25 mile event (1 lap around the track) at 2:00. The .5 mile event (2 laps of the track) will follow as quickly as we can organize after the .25 mile event completion. Once the .5 mile event is complete we’ll begin the 1 mile event (4 laps). This event is untimed.
**PLEASE NOTE THAT FOOD AND DRINK ARE NOT ALLOWED ON THE SCHOOL TRACK!** Leprechaun participants will receive bottled water and a snack after exiting the track.
EXPO and LEPRECHAUN RACE PARKING DETAIL
Sunday March 16th 8:00am - 10:45am
Late registration and Packet Pickup takes place at the Bay Area Community Foundation Building, 1000 Adams St, Bay City, MI 48708. Please see the parking map below. There are several lots and street parking spots around the Foundation Building. We ask that you please DO NOT park in the lots marked below.
Anyone who does not pick up packets (shirt and race bib) at the Race Expo on Saturday MUST pick up their packets Sunday morning. The Foundation Building is approximately 2 city blocks from the start lines for both the 8K and 5K events. Please plan accordingly.
SUNDAY RACE LOCATION
The start and finish lines for the 8K & 5K events near the intersection of Center Avenue (M-25) and Adams Street in front of City Market. Address to use for navigation: 401 Center Ave, Bay City, MI 48708
We ask that all 5K Walk participants remain to the rear of the staging area as the 5K Walk starts will be separate from the 5K Run start. We will begin with the 5K Run at 10:30AM followed by the competitive 5K Walk at 10:40AM and then the 5K non-competitive walk at 10:45AM.
PLEASE NOTE THE DIRECTION OF PARTICIPANT TRAFFIC ALONG CENTER AVENUE. This is an out-and-back event. PLEASE remain to the right side of the road (for the direction you are traveling) and do not impede oncoming runners.
8K DETAILS*
myTeamTriump Start Time: 8:50am
8k Run Start Time: 9:00am
This course is flat and fast with 1 water station located at the intersection of Center Ave and Carroll Blvd. that runners will pass once on their way out (approximately 1.25 mile mark) and once more on their return (approximately 3.75 mile mark)
*NOTE - Start line for 8K Run closes at 9:10AM. Anyone starting after 9:10AM will be disqualified and will not receive a timed finish.
5K DETAILS*
5k Run Start Time: 10:30am
5k Competitive Walk Start Time: 10:45am
5K Noncompetitive Walk Start Time: 11:00am
*NOTE - Start line for 5K Run closes at 10:40AM. Start Line for 5K Competitive Walk closes at 10:55AM. Start Line for 5K Noncompetitive Walk closes at 11:05AM. Anyone starting after their event Start Closure Time will be disqualified and will not receive a timed finish.
This course is flat and fast! Both the 5K Runners and 5K Walkers will stage along Center Ave behind (to the west of) the “START” arch near the intersection of Center and Adams St prior to the 10:30AM start. We ask that 5K Walkers stage keep a distance from the Start Line until all 5K Runners have started. Once the 5K Runners have cleared the start line then the competitive 5K Walkers can line up for a 10:40AM Start. The Non Competitive 5K Walkers will begin at 10:45AM
NOTE: It is IMPORTANT that those signed up for the 5K Comptetive Walk begin ONLY after the 5K run has started and ONLY when the announcer gives the go at 10:40. 5K Runners, 5K Walkers and 5K Non-competitive walkers have different colored race bibs. For timing purposes, it is essential that 5K Walkers begin at the right time (and not too early). 5K Walkers who begin before their proper start time will be disqualified and will not receive timed results.
The 5K Events have one water station located at the intersection of Center Ave and Carroll Blvd.
RACE RESULTS
Results will be available for the Irish Double, 8K run, 5K run and timed 5K walk events. They are automated and are posted shortly after completion of the race. Use a mobile phone to scan the code on your race bib for instant results! Else you can find results HERE
RACE PARKING*
Street parking is plentiful in Downtown Bay City. There are numerous parking lots accessible too - and they are all open on Sundays! For those needing to pick up packets Sunday morning, please plan enough time to be sure you find parking at arrive in time for race start!
*A NOTE ON BRIDGE CROSSINGS
East Bay City has 4 primary road entries from those coming from the North and West sides of Michigan. One bridge is under construction and inaccessible. 2 others have tolls for crossing. The best way to take is along M-13 from South of the Saginaw River or over the Veterans Memorial Bridge (coming from US10). See the map below.
AWARDS - **IMPORTANT!**
Overall Awards are for OVERALL 1st-3rd Male & Female, MASTERS 1st-3rd Male & Female, and AGE GROUP TOP THREE Male & Female for 8k Run, the 5k Run and the 5K Competitive Walk. The 5k Non-Comptetive Walk participants are not eligible for awards. Age Group Award categories are listed below. ALL AWARDS MUST BE PICKED UP ON RACE DAY before 1:30 PM under the tent located in the parking lot of the American Legion Post 18 (700 Adams St, Bay City, MI 48708). The location of the tent is next to the start/finish arches. Even if you don’t think you’ve won your age group, please check online results using the QR code on your race bib to check after your race. We want everyone to receive their bobblehead awards. If not picked up on race day, winners will incur a $20 fee to have them shipped if they choose to receive them.
NOTE: Overall Award placing is determined by GUN START TIME. This means that the time for overall awards (and Masters Overall Awards) for the 8K Run, 5K Run, and 5K Walk events begins when the "GO" is given. Please position yourself at the start line accordingly if you are competing for overall awards. Age Group Awards will be determined by CHIP TIME. This means that your time for Age Group Awards will begin when you cross the start line and will end when you cross the finish line.
Age Group Awards Categories for 5K Run event - 1-9, 10-14, 15-19, 20-24, 25-29, 30-34, 35-39, 40-44, 45-49, 50-54, 55-56, 60-64, 65-69, 70-74, 75-79, 80-98
The Irish Double, 8K Run and 5K Competitive Walk events will have Age Group Awards for the following Age Breakdowns: 9 & Under, 10-14, 15-19, 20-29, 30-39, 40-49, 50-59, 60-69, 70-79, 80+
5K Non-Competitive Walk participants are not eligible for awards.
INCLEMENT WEATHER INFORMATION
We are aware that the weather forecast currently calls for less than ideal conditions. Cold, wind and rain are not cause for cancellation of the event. Weather forecasts in Michigan can change daily, so unless there is a very strong warning from weather centers for severe weather on race day (i.e., damaging winds, lightning, etc.) or lightning present 30 minutes before race start time, then the race will commence as planned.
There will be no refund or transfer of registration fees for this event. Cancellation for reason of force majeure i.e. due to occurrence of incidents that are beyond the control of the Organizer (including but not limited to ice, storm, rain, inclement weather, wind, act of God, terrorism or other conditions) or other instances which in the Organizer's opinion, renders it impossible or unsafe to hold the Event will not be cause for refund or transfer of any fees. Please read Participant Waivers thoroughly for additional details before registering.
Should the event need to be cancelled for any reason, Bay Area Runners Club Board Members and Race Management will convene immediately after the cancellation decision to determine a course of action for distribution of shirts, bibs and finisher medals so that registrants may complete the race “virtually” - without recorded results or awards.
LOCAL POST RACE ACTIVITIES
St Patrick's Day in Downtown Bay City is amazing! Check out our friends at Tavern 101, Old City Hall or Drift for post-race food and libation. Dry Dock with be open or check out Coonan’s Irish Pub for refreshment. Tri-City Brewing is offering $1 off your first beer by showing your race bib! Hang around at one of the many restaurants, bars or shops until the St Patrick’s Day Parade comes along!
Check out the sounds from our sponsoring media host DJ’s from Cumulus Media’s 102.5 WIOG, The Rock Station Z93.3, 96.1 WHNN and WHEELZ 104.5 at the Start/Finish Line on race day.
