Make sure you enjoy your Bellin Run experience

May 13, 2013

There are a number of things you can do to ensure you’ll have a fun, safe experience at the 37th annual Bellin Run.

Follow these tried and true tips and have an awesome race day.

  • Get there early. You’ll be headed to the Bellin Run at the same time as a few thousand other folks. Plan a little extra time for finding your corral, navigating through traffic, parking, shuttle lines, warming up and other pre-race action. Getting to the race at least an hour before it starts is pretty sound advice.
  • Be honest when providing your estimated finish time. Doing so allows organizers to properly group you in a corral best-suited for your running pace.
  • Wear something battle tested. Road-test everything you’ll wear before race day.
  • Stay off the course if you’re not an official registrant. Runners that are not registered take away from race resources and course support that registered runners have paid for and are expecting.
  • Participate with a buddy of similar running/walking ability. It will be more fun with a pal.
  • Running with a group? Don’t block the course. Try staying single-file. Shoulder-to-shoulder running makes it tough for faster runners to slip past you.
  • Start off slowly. Unless you’re an elite runner vying for a Top 3 finish, you should start off slowly. Don’t get caught up in the moment and completely blow your pace. Stick to your plan and post a finish you’ll be pleased with.
  • You’ll get passed by others. Don’t sweat it. It happens, after all, you’ll be sailing by other runners as well.
  • Water, water everywhere. Stay hydrated. Grab some H2O or Gatorade at any of the well-stocked water stations along the course. You’ll be glad you did as you get toward the end of the race.
  • Toss your water cups and other trash off the course. Be courteous and leave a clear, clean path for runners and walkers behind you. Toss those cups off to the side.
  • Use the “facilities.” If you have to use the restroom, use one of the many Porta-Potty facilities positioned along the course. Ducking behind a bush or tree – not cool.
  • Look around before you spit or sneeze. If you really need to spit, do so way off to the side and out of the path of others. It’s rude to spatter or spray someone with your bodily fluids.
  • Don’t suddenly change directions or cut off other runners. Glance around before switching directions or pulling off the course. You don’t want to be the sole cause of a 10-runner pileup, right?
  • Don’t come to a dead stop or suddenly start walking in the middle of runner traffic. If you need to stop on the course, carefully make your way to the side of the road. Don’t get trampled by those coming behind you.
  • No cheating. You’re only cheating yourself if you “pave” your own course to the finish line. Stay within the designated course and keep safe.
  • Keep moving. Throngs of runners and walkers will cross the finish line and immediately seek water and refreshments. Grab what you need and keep moving toward Astor Park, the designated post-race gathering area.
  • Think of others when taking post-race refreshments. Race refreshments are available based on the number of participants. If you take more items than you need, you are taking away from the people that finish after you. Tsk, tsk, tsk.
  • Do have fun. Enjoy your Bellin Run experience. It comes once each year and then it’s done, so make the most out of your training, your race day experience and the post-race events. Have fun and we’ll see you at the finish line.