The B Strong 5k is held on the last Saturday in July. I assume that it is because it is the last weekend that Indiana High School cross country runners can run in road races until the season is over. The race is held at Bremen High School and starts and finishes right outside its main doors. It offers a 5k and a fun run mile. First 50 kids who finish the mile gets a medal.
Packet pickup is held the night before or the morning of the race at the high school. We choose the morning of the race. It was quick and easy. Included in the bag was your shirt (tech and gender specific), your bib with timing chip on the back (first year they did chip timing), a souvenir cup with race logo, and some other flyers.
The 5k starts first at 8:00, the 1 mile fun run starts at about 9:30 (depending on when the last 5k participant finishes.
The course is simple and the route is closed off to all traffic. You start heading east from the school, then you reach a park and run on some of the side walks through the park (can get a little tough to pass). Then it's roads the rest of the way. Basically think of it as a rectangle and that's the course. There is a hill that is called the B Strong Hill. It can be a tough one but not too bad. It's about at the half way point. Other than that, it's a flat course.
The race provides water at the 1st and 2nd mile marks, and a little odd, but Gatorade at mile 2.5. Just seemed like an odd place for Gatorade. Honestly, I don't think 5k races need to offer Gatorade at all. At the finish, the race had ice cold water, otter pops, fruit, and cookies for all runners.
Awards were held right after the 1 mile run. Not a bad idea to have the kids run last to give the race time to process results. Doesn't feel like there is as much down time waiting for awards. As soon as the last miler finished, the 5k awards began. The awards were scaled down from last year (probably to help pay for chip timing), but the medals were nice and custom made with the race logo.
My one and only complaint is the course was 3.17 miles (other runners measured the same). I am not sure how to change that except to have the start finish at two locations. Overall though, a very well run race and would highly recommend it.