RACE PARTICIPANT GUIDE

Welcome to the 51st Annual Bay Area Runners Club's Bay City St Patrick's Day Races presented by Jolt Credit Union!


** IMPORTANT **

THIS YEAR’S RACE EXPO AND LEPRECHAUN RACES ARE AT BAY CITY JOHN GLENN HIGH SCHOOL!

RACE IS OUT-AND-BACK. PLEASE STAY TO RIGHT SIDE OF ROAD AT ALL TIMES

ALL AWARDS MUST BE PICKED UP ON RACE DAY

STROLLERS AND DOGS ARE NOT ALLOWED

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 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 10:45AM - ALL Competitive Walkers must cross the START LINE by 10:55AM

    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.  

  • 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 2PM on RACE DAY under the tent located in the parking lot of the American Legion Post 18 (700 Adams St, Bay City, MI 48708). 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 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 after the 8k race. If you choose not to run the 8k, please do not expect to receive your Irish Double medal when finishing the 5k event.

  • 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 27th you are guaranteed an event race shirt in your size. For those who registered after the 27th, a large number of additional shirts in various sizes have been ordered and will be distributed on a first come/first serve basis at packet pickup. We recommend arriving early the the Race Expo Saturday for your best chance at a shirt in your size.

  • 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 not 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 2PM 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 - 10:45AM

    • 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 buffs courtesy of SCJohnson will be distributed and 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 16th 10:00am - 2:00pm

The B.A.R.C. Fitness Expo presented by Covenant HealthCare will be held at Bay City John Glenn High School, 3201 Kiesel Rd, Bay City, MI 48706.

2024 SCJohnson Race Buff

The first 2,000 participants to pick up their registration packets will receive Race Buffs courtesy of SCJohnson!  Registrants must be present to receive the giveaway (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 John Glenn High School’s track and will start at 2:00pm. PLEASE BE SURE TO ARRIVE AT JOHN GLENN 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 AS THERE IS A CONSIDERABLE WALK FROM THE EXPO TO THE TRACK. 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

EXPO ENTRANCE DETAIL

LEPRECHAUN DIRECTIONS AND RESTROOM ENTRANCE LOCATIONS

Sunday March 17th 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 10:45AM and then the 5K non-competitive walk at 11AM.

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: 8:45am

  • 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 10:45AM Start. The Non Competitive 5K Walkers will begin at 11AM

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 10:45. 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

EnMotive Race results will be posted HERE within minutes of your finish and can also be found by scanning the QR code on your race bib.


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!


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 2:00PM under the tent located in the parking lot of the American Legion Post 18 (700 Adams St, Bay City, MI 48708). 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 8K & 5K Run events - 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

5K Competitive Walk event will have Age Group Awards for the following Age Breakdowns: 1-19, 20-29, 30-39, 40-49, 50-59, 60-69, 70-79, 80+

5K Non-Competitive Walk participants are not eligible for 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 libation. 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.



RACE EXPO VENDORS

  • Jolt Credit Union

  • Children’s Grief Center – Grit Your Grief 5K

  • Covenant HealthCare—Mary Bree Bed Rehab

  • Covenant Sports Medicine 

  • Lebourdais Orthodontics

  • Renue Physical Therapy

  • Runner’s Athletic Company

  • Cryokinesis Therapy Lab

  • United Financial Walleye Race

  • Magnum Opus Medical Spa

  • Team RWB

  • VitaMax RevIVe

  • Bzak Builders

  • Rx’d Physical Therapy and Wellness

  • Dow Great Lakes Bay Invitational 2024

  • Greater Midland Races (Greater Midland Community Center)

  • ATI Physical Therapy

  • Collier Chiropractic

  • Bauman’s

  • McLaren Bay Medical Foundation

  • Labadie Auto

  • Bay County DHHS

  • Girls on the Run

  • Hell’s Half Mile

  • Memorial Cub 2024

  • Cheesetown Races

  • Reyes Coca-Cola Bottling

  • Parkrun International

  • Dig Deep Race Events

  • Freeland Sports Rehab

  • Lake Effect Chiropractic

  • Driathlon – Bay City

  • Crim Fitness Foundation

  • Westlund Guidance Clinic

  • Mid-Michigan K9 Acadamy

SPONSORS

We would like to thanks all of the AWESOME sponsors who've helped tremendously in making the BARC St. Patrick's Day Races successful!  Please check them out!