Red Shoe 5k. Sunday, May 2, 2021. 10:15 am. Sunny, 70 plus degrees. Location moved to City Park

Registration: Available online, then closed the day before the race. However you could register on race day. I think the price remained a flat $35. I registered a couple of days before race day, as the wording on the registration page still said it could go to a virtual event. The shirt option was sold out. I could add a pair of socks to my registration for $7.

Expo / Packet Pick up: There was no expo. You could pick up your packet days before at Scheels and on the day of the race at City Park. I received a bib with timing strip and a plastic bag full of items - including a drawstring bag, hand sanitizer, race map, notepad.

Pre-Race: There were 2 events taking place, and each race was at a different start time. So as each race started there were announcements and music on a loud speaker.. The kids dash started at 10, with the 5k following at 10:15am. There was plenty of free parking in the nearby lots, but the road to access them was never closed.

Participants were told to line up, encouraging walkers and those pushing strollers to the back of the pack. Social distancing was encouraged, but the race started on a sidewalk and not the road. The National Anthem was sung.

Race / Course: The 5k starts at City Park, then loops through a neighborhood and finishes back up in City Park. While the course is marked with some arrows, signs and chalk on the cement, I was never certain if the marked course was to be on the sidewalks or the roads.

-Mile markers
-paved / asphalt
-roads were open to traffic
-a few people were outside their homes cheering
-appeared to be a photographer at the start/finish
-one water stop, plastic bottles with a recycling receptacle near by
- there were hills
-Police at road crossings

Finish / Post Race: An Arch, timing mat, clock and announcer greeted people at the finish. The post race food was near a shelter: paper sacks filled with a banana, clementine and a granola bar. Bottles of water were set on a table. There was a tub of hard boiled eggs on ice. McDonald's provided apple slices, chocolate milk and I believe a juice box. There were containers marked for recycling or trash.

Results were posted on a TV screen from the race timing trailer, awards were available to pick up.

My race: While I am a little nervous for my first in person race in over a year, I have run this race or volunteered for this event throughout the years. I should be training for a marathon, so I ran to the event. This also meant I carried a hydration pack. I arrived with plenty of time to spare. I walked up to get my bib, which was super quick and easy. This area was not crowded at this time. It was encouraged through all pre race communication to wear a mask when in the park. I stuffed my bag of crap in my pack, and went to get away from the gathering crowd to log more miles. Well that didn't go as planned as I ran into a running friend and we started chatting, and before then it was time to start the race.
As we stood around listening to the announcements, it was hot! I tried to keep my distance from others while finding shade to stand in. This is when I felt a little uncomfortable, there were so many people and not many masks. We are all outside, but being my first crowded event, it was just weird. Starting on a narrow sidewalk didn't help and no matter how many times you tell slower paced participants to get to the back, it will never happen.
It was go time, I had a BUFF on my face to do my part, but the heat was tough, plus the start was a slow uphill. I did my best to keep going, and eventually lost my mask.
The first mile was also tough because the road we were running along side was not closed, but the sidewalk was soooo narrow and congested. Then we crossed a street and into a neighborhood with less busy streets, but again I wasn't sure if the marked course was on the sidewalk or in the street. I tried to follow the turns and what not so I could make sure to get a more accurate 3.10 measurement.
After I hit mile 2, I was toast. It was too hot for me and I had started way too fast. I was glad I had water with me. I slowed it down and took my time so I could make it to the finish.
I approached the finish and put my BUFF back over my face, the announcer even made some comment about it - well that is the rule around a crowd.
It was not my best time, but it was nice to be at an in person event again. I had a 31:17, which had me at 6th in my age group.
I did like that the finishing food was pre-packaged, except the hard boiled egg, which I passed on.
I did see more running friends afterwards and chatted with them. This is the part of these events I miss the most, and I need to be careful not to get to wrapped back up in that and keep my distance.
My biggest take away as in person racing returns, people are going to do what they want. I just have to stick to what I feel comfortable with. (this is no reflection of the race)

Overall: Great charity to support, but not a bucket list event. I really think this event feels so different year after year as the RD position changes hands so often.