Final Runner Instructions

Race Day is almost here! Please read these instructions carefully and completely. It is especially important this year for our runners to be well-prepared.

Weather Forecast: The forecast is typical for this time of year. A bit on the warm side and chance of thunderstorms. We recommend that you take it easy in the heat, and scale back your expectations for a personal best on Saturday. Exertional heat illness is a risk in the summer and we want everyone to be safe.

As many of you have probably seen, there is a chance of thunderstorms in the forecast. In the event of storms with lightning strikes popping up in the period before the race start, the start may be delayed until the risk has passed. If a storm develops while you're out on the course, we recommend that you use your best judgment to seek shelter or make your way back to your vehicle at the race venue. If you cut the course short, please do not cross the finish line. We hope that any storms will pass quickly and we can get on with the race and the post-race celebration!

COVID Safety Procedures:

The CDC and our state and local boards of health are recommending masks and social distancing for individuals who are not yet fully vaccinated. We strongly recommend that our runners and volunteers adhere to these recommendations, although masking is not necessary for anyone while running/eating/drinking. We have designed the race venue and our processes to allow plenty of room for our runners and volunteers. Please avoid crowding and be aware of your distance from others.

We will have some extra masks at the Finish Line Med Tent, the Volunteer Check-In Table, and the Awards table if you forget yours or lose track of it.

If you are not feeling well or have any symptoms of COVID-19, please do not attend the in-person race. We may be able to allow limited late transfers to the virtual race for individuals who feel that they may be contagious. Contact us at info@frederickss8k.com.

The race procedures defined below have been designed with COVID safety in mind.

Race Day Reminders

Race Venue: Walkersville Volunteer Fire Company, 79 W. Frederick St, Walkersville, MD
Parking: Parking is in the lot behind the Fire Company. Please approach from the south end of W. Frederick St off of Woodsboro Pike (Rt 194) to avoid the start/finish line where our timer will be setting up. Follow signs and volunteer directions. Overflow parking will be available at Walkersville High School, adjacent to the race venue. (See Diagram below)
Bag Check is not necessary, since there is plenty of parking close on premises at the Fire Hall.
Packet Pickup: We will have your bibs, shirts, and pins prepackaged and ready to go starting at 6:00 pm. Know your bib number, select the correct line, and give others some room while waiting. Your bib number is at the top of this email, but can also be found on the RunSignUp registration site at: https://runsignup.com/Race/FindARunner/?raceId=55318
Shirt Exchange: We know that some of our late registrants may not have been able to select a shirt in their preferred size. Shirts that had been allocated to no-shows will be made available for exchange/distribution after the race at the Awards Table
Start Staging: When you proceed to the starting area on W Frederick St, look for the signs marking the corrals along the left. Line up behind the sign with your wave/corral number. Runners assigned to the Elite Corral should line up at the start line, ahead of Corral 1. While waiting in the corral, please use all the space and don’t crowd the front.
Start: We will not be doing a true wave start with wait periods between waves, but we would still like you to avoid surging the start line when the gun goes off. When the race starts, move forward slowly with your corral leader towards the start line and avoid bunching. There is NO hurry; your start time will be recorded when you cross the starting line. There will be a lead cyclist with an orange volunteer shirt for the front-runners.
Water Stops: There are three water stops along the course at mile 1.7, 2.5 and 4.0 miles. To protect our volunteers, the cups will be placed on the table and runners will need to grab them. Please take a cup, move away from the tables to drink, and avoid crowding as much as possible.
Finish Line: At the finish line we will have tables with Grab ‘n Go food bags and water/gatorade. Keep moving through the finish corral, grab your food bag and beverage(s) and exit the finish line area to make room for others. Proceed to the race celebration area. If there are items in the food bag that you don’t want, please don’t throw them away. We will have bins to return wrapped chips, cookies, etc so that we can donate leftover items. Food Return Bins will be located at the finish line near the food tables and in the celebration area at the non-alcoholic beverage table next to the beer tent.
Timing Chip: The race is timed using the chip on the back of your bib. Do not remove, fold, or mutilate the chip. Your finish time is calculated from the time you cross the start mat until you cross the finish line.
Not Allowed: Dogs, strollers, bicycles, and skates, are NOT allowed on the course and may result in disqualification.
Headphones: Enjoy the race and your fellow runners, and stay alert on the race course. For your safety and the safety of those around you, headphones are discouraged.
Bib transfers are not permitted. Please do not give your bib to someone else if you are unable to use it. Tabulating results with inaccurate identities just doesn't work well for anyone. (See the FSRC Policy)
Weather Policy: We love the summer season, but occasionally the weather can be uncooperative. At the discretion of the Race Director and Walkersville Town officials, the race may be postponed, changed to an untimed Fun Run, or canceled due to severe weather. Sorry, no refunds.
Results/Awards: in the spirit of not crowding, we will not be holding an awards ceremony, and we will not be posting race results at the race venue. You may check your results by scanning the QR code on your bib. Awards will be available for pickup (same location as packet pickup) as soon as results are finalized. We encourage you to check your results so that we have the opportunity to work with the timer to correct any discrepancies before awards are distributed.
Expo: Our sponsors help us to keep our race fees low so that we are able to continue our support of Blessings In A Backpack. Please stop by their race-night booths to thank them.
Recycling: We understand that races can have a larger environmental impact than any of us would like. To minimize that impact, we will be recycling plastic bottles and beer cans. There will be a recycling bin at the food/water distribution area at the finish line, and two more bins in the celebration area. Please help us out by placing ONLY plastic bottles and beer cans in these bins. If trash is mixed in, the whole bag will wind up in the landfill.

Race Night Party:

We are thrilled to offer a first-class party this year. Runners over the age of 21 are provided with a ticket (attached to the race bib) for one Flying Dog beer. You MUST bring your ID to get a wristband in order to be served. NO EXCEPTIONS. We don’t care how old you look!

ID Check will be available before the race next to packet pickup and after the race at the Beer Ticket tent.
Additional beer tickets can be purchased by runners, volunteers, and spectators for $5
Beer Service is scheduled for 7:30-10:30pm
Other Beverages: We will have water and other non-alcoholic beverages available in the celebration area (free). Stay hydrated!
Food: If you’re going to stick around and the snacks in the race food bag aren’t quite enough, we’ll have a food truck onsite (EATHOS by Flik) serving Mediterranean food. We encourage you to support them. Also, Brusters will be onsite with free Italian Ice for all.
Triple Lindy is an awesome local band. They will be playing from 8:00-10:30pm. Bring a chair or a blanket and settle in for a fun night. We greatly appreciate the band’s support of the race and Blessings In A Backpack.

Happy Running!

Harriet Langlois
Race Director, Frederick Summer Solstice 8K
Frederick Steeplechasers Running Club

2021 SS8k Venue Map, including parking.j