My first in-person race since Feb 2020!!! RaceMaker Productions put on a safe, fun, and friendly event in one of my favorite places to run in Indy -- White River State Park! They did such a great job with this COVID-friendly event that I ran with them again for the LoveStruck run! This race has an interesting approach -- you could sign up to run the 5k, or you could sign up to run the 50k with the idea that you could run either the 50k, or however many miles you can/want to in 4 hours.

Pre-Run:
I registered for this race a couple days before, and because of this, they had run out of sweatshirts/medals. The organizers were super nice and notified me that they had ordered more and would be mailing them out to those who registered later when they arrived. Parking was SUPER close to start, and everyone was socially distant. Packet pickup was quick, and due to new pandemic rules, the medals and sweatshirts (for those who registered far enough in advance) were given out before the race.

The Race:
The race organizers kept the race small, and runners were assigned to "waves" of about 20-25 runners in each wave. Runners lined up in spaces to stay distant and were counted off by the organizers. The course started by the NCAA Headquarters and passed by the IUPUI campus before crossing the bridge and looping back around the other side of the river near the Indy Zoo. From there, the course completed a short out and back down along the river before coming back up to the finish line. The out and back was a bit narrow and since it doubled back on itself, there was some slight bottlenecking happening. I ran with this organization for the LoveStuck run after this race, and they did make adjustments to the course to eliminate the out and back and give more room for runners -- much appreciated! Due to COVID, there were no aid stations on the course, but there were plenty of water bottles at the finish!

Post-Race:
COVID prevented any sort of major festivities after the race, but the volunteers were there to play music and take pictures! The nearby parking made the post-race exit a breeze!

Tips:
- There is PLENTY of parking nearby, but both of the close lots are pay lots, so expect to spend money if you want to park near the start/finish.
- Don't forget your mask! Due to the cold, I recommend doubling it up with a warm buff to keep your neck warm too.
- Watch out for ice on the bridge! People are tempted to pass in this area since some runners slow up to go up the incline, but watch your step!

Final Thoughts:
Loved the enthusiasm, COVID-friendly setting, and small, staggered starts! Overall, a wonderful time!