Year number 2 of running the Christmas Story Race. If you live in Cleveland (like me), be smart and look at their website at least a week and a half before the race to see when the early bib pick ups are so you don't have to fight the crowds on race day. I was stupid and didn't check to see that the running store 10 minutes away from me had bib pick up the monday before the race. Whoops.

Parking day of: Got a spot in a lot close to the start. Not my fault the dude collecting the money wasn't there for the first half of us who parked.

Pick up: at the Renaissance Hotel in downtown Cleveland. Fairly flawless but the bib and the timing chip that went on my shoe were different. The number was random for whatever reason

The start: behind the towers shopping facility (different this year than last year). Also the site of the finish this year.

The course: goes through downtown Cleveland, through Treamont and to the Christmas Story House. The 10K runners circled pack and headed back towards the start of the race where the old Higbees used to be. The course is a fairly flat course. Some hills, primarily when crossing the bridge downtown across from Progressive field and Horseshoe casino. When you crossed the finish, you get the obligatory bananas, bagels and water. They have Ovaltine hot chocolate at the end as well. Be ready to get your medals (though this year, slight glitch with not enough medals due to shipping errors).

Shirts: long sleeved which is a nice break from from the tech shirts

Be ready to look for people dressed up as bunnies, a one legged lamp, fragile boxes and whatever else floats the Christmas Story Movie boat