Runner's High is proud to announce the 2020 Ice Cream Race. Due to the concern and restrictions created by the Covid 19 pandemic, it will be the only race of the QUAD to be run in 2020.

Due to PA Covid-19 restrictions, the field will be limited to the first 250 on-line registrants.
Given the fact that this race typically attracts 700 or more runners and the fact that there are very few races on the regional schedule, it’s anticipated that the field will reach capacity in a very short period of time.

On-line registration will open at 12:01 pm (noon) on Saturday, July 25, 2020
Entries will close at 11:59 pm on Wednesday, August 12th unless the field limit has been reached.
No day of race entry.
No mail-in entries accepted.
No kids race this year.

OPTIONAL VIRTUAL EVENT
If the entry limit is reached, or you feel that you want to be part of the tradition, but are tentative about the Covid 19 pandemic, you can register for the virtual 5K on the website. Details below.

Courtney's Ice Cream Race
August 19, 2020 at 7pm

LOCATION:
First Baptist Church, Cranberry Rd, Grove City, Pennsylvania (Mercer County)
Across the street from AHN Grove City (formerly Grove City Medical Center)
Near intersection of Cranberry Road and Route 173 on north edge of boro
Follow blue "H" Hospital Signs from Grove City exits of I-79 and I-80.
Cranberry Road closes at 6:15pm, so come early.

5K REGISTRATION:
Registrations limited to the first 250 on line registrations

On-line registration will open at 12:01 am on Saturday, July 25, 2020
Entries will close at 12:01 am on Sunday, August 9th unless the field limit has been reached.
No day of race entry.
No mail-in entries accepted.
No kids race this year.

OPTIONAL VIRTUAL EVENT:
If the entry limit is reached, or you feel that you want to be part of the tradition, but are tentative about the Covid 19 pandemic, you can register for the Virtual 5K on the website. The entry fee is only $10.00. The first 100 virtual entrants will be mailed a cloth souvenir mask and you'll be able to download a finisher's certificate.

If you run virtually, you must run your Virtual 5K on Monday, Tuesday, or Wednesday (17th, 18th or 19th) of race week. After you complete your virtual 5K, you can return to the registration platform and electronically submit your time. You will then be able to download a finisher’s certificate with your name and time.

The deadline to register for the Virtual event is Wednesday (19th) at midnight. You’ll be able to submit your times anytime that week until Thursday at midnight. Later in the week, your time will be merged with all the other runners who ran in the Wednesday evening event.

No Race Day Registration
All entries must be made on-line before midnight August 9th unless field limit has been reached.

Entry fee includes bib number, timing chip, souvenir safety mask and access to the Ice Cream Distribution Area (ICDA)
Your bib number, safety pins and mask will be sent to you in the mail prior to race day.
Timing chip will be attached to the back of the bib.
Bibs and chips do not need to be returned.
No need to check in when you arrive at the race.
PARK, WARM-UP, PUT YOUR NUMBER ON, ADHERE TO SOCIAL DISTANCING RULES (6’) and RUN (starting at 7pm)

5,000 Meters (3.1 Miles)
Out-and-back, rolling 5K course with gradual 1/2 mile downhill finish

The 5K course will be similar to the one used in 2010 when bridge construction near the start required an adjustment. The start will be moved forward toward the Cranberry Rd entrance of the hospital. About a tenth of a mile into the race, runners will turn right onto Dogwood Lane and make a half mile counter clockwise loop of the development before exiting and turning right onto Cranberry Rd. The turnaround will be before the typical turnaround at George Junior Road. Instead of finishing on the hospital’s side entrance, runners will turn right into Mark and Debbie Courtney’s driveway and finish by the famed Big Foot statue.

HYDRATION
Bring your own pre-race hydration
No water stations on the course (Covid Precautions)
Water bottles will be provided at the finish.

RESTROOMS
Limited portable toilets will be located in the church parking lot.
Please maintain 6’ social distancing while in line.

MASKS
Your entry fee includes a custom printed reusable mask as a unique souvenir.
Masks will be mailed with your bib packet prior to race day.
Masks must be worn prior to the start of the race and after crossing the finish line.
Masks may be removed while running, eating and/or drinking
Do not discard masks on the course.

STARTING LINE PROCEDURES:
We may implement a staggered start, either 5 waves of 50 runners or a rolling start of 4-5 runners every 5 seconds in starting chutes. Your pre-race instructions (included with bib number and mask) will describe the finalized starting line procedures.

You will be asked for a 5K time from your 2018 /2019 QUAD races. Numbers will be assigned with the faster runners starting first to help with social distancing on the course. Although your final time will be a net chip time, we encourage you to line up near runners who have race numbers near yours.

FINISH LINE PROCEDURES
The driveway splits immediately after the finish line. We encourage runners to split themselves and maintain social distancing. Bottled water will be available in both chutes. You are invited to roam around the pond and property as you cool down.

All registrants will receive a souvenir mask in the mail with the race bib.
All finishers receive a laser engraved wooden coaster

Top 5 male and top 5 female finishers; Top Masters male and female finishers
No age group awards this year (to limit mass gathering at a ceremony)
Times submitted virtually do not qualify for awards.

Event is open to walkers and runners.
No specific awards for walking division.

SHIRTS
There will not be a separate shirt option this year.
Your custom printed face mask is your souvenir.
We may have a variety of leftover shirts from prior Ice Cream Races available at dirt cheap prices.

AHN Grove City (Formerly Grove City Medical Center) had to step back as the venue for this year’s race due to pandemic concerns. They have expressed no opposition to us moving the pre-race festivities across the street to the First Baptist Church. The church has cooperated with us in the past for overflow parking. They have graciously given us permission to use their ball fields again for parking and their entry canopy for pre-race staging.

Parking will not be permitted at the hospital. Please do not park there.
Additional parking will be in Mark and Debbie Courtney’s front yard and the front section of the Howe’s Distribution Center (next to Mark’s property)
Please do not park on Cranberry Rd.

Timing and Scoring by Runner's High
RaceResult Timing Technology
Timing Chip is attached to the back of the race bib. (Do not remove or damage.)
Wear race number on the front. Must be visible at all times.

Timing Mats at each mile (unique for most Runner's High events)
No printed results posted to prevent close gathering.
Results will be posted online at runhigh.com.

ICE CREAM BUFFET
An Ice Cream Race wouldn’t be an Ice Cream Race without ice cream.

Our legendary ice cream buffet will not take place as in the past, but......................

Individually packaged ice cream containers will be distributed at multiple tables in the parking lot
Volunteers will dispense toppings.
The lines should move quickly, thus aiding with social distancing.
Feel free to spread out around the grounds.

No one knows what the future of road racing holds. Security at mass events changed with 911 and with the Boston Bombing incident. We have learned to deal with and respect that. We anticipate that road racing will not return to Pre 2020 standards for quite some time. This too, must be dealt with and respected.

We aim to provide an enjoyable, healthy and safe event. However, when dealing with people, it can be challenging. Anyone registering for and attending this event must realize that he or she must be held accountable for his or her actions and reactions. We must be responsible and abide by restrictions set by our staff, community and government.

If you feel that the health risk of attending this race is greater than the anticipated benefit, we request that you do not register for this event. If state mandated guidelines change before race day to the extent that the event must be cancelled, your entry fee will not be refunded. We have significant expenses coming into the event, and runners must realize that it is a risk that they must take when registering. The entry limit is expected to fill in a relatively short period of time, so don’t gamble too long in delaying to register.

This is the 37th year for this event, and the last thing we want to do is cancel it. It’s the longest continuously run 5K in the county. We will do anything in our power to hold it. Please be cognizant that some things just may be out of our control.

For event-related questions, please click on the Contact the Organizers button on the left-hand side of this page.