2023 ESTRS French 5KM Participant Guide
Race Date:
Wednesday June 21, 2023
Location:
French Regional Park
Plymouth, Minnesota
Registration Opens:
Sunday January 1, 2023
About This Page:
The information on this page and associated links comprise the official ESTRS French 5KM Participant Guide. It contains all of the information and links you will need in order to research, register for and run the race. Runners are required to review this page, along with the registration info page in their entirety prior to registering for the race. This information should then be referenced as needed in the months and weeks leading up to the race. Keep in mind that information may be updated and changed right up until the race, so a final review of the information about a week out is encouraged. Registered runners can expect a welcome email from us with any new / additional information the day before or morning of the race. This page contains the following sections:
GENERAL EVENT INFO
SETTING EXPECTATIONS FOR 2023
DIVERSITY, INCLUSION & EQUALITY
REGISTRATION INFORMATION
RACE SPECIFICS
COVID CONSIDERATIONS
COURSE MAP
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/ GENERAL EVENT INFO
Date, Time and Location:
Wednesday June 21, 2023
French Regional Park
12605 Rockford Road
Plymouth, MN 55441
Driving Directions HERE
Race Start Time: 6:30 PM
Once on park property follow signage to Skyview and Moraine Shelters. A site map with overflow parking options can be found HERE
Race Description:
The French 5KM consists of a fun and very runnable but rolling 5KM loop. The trails are primarily wide, non-technical, soft surface paths through the woods that act as ski trails in the Winter. There are no water stops for ESTRS races 5KM or shorter, so carry a water bottle if you think you need it. The elevation gain for the race is about 210 FT (68 FT per mile).
About the Endless Summer Trail Run Series:
Remember when you were young and the summer days were hot, relaxing and seemingly endless? Well, as adults we still get that, but usually only on weekends and holidays… until now. The Endless Summer Trail Run Series is brought to you by two passionate Minnesota trail-running main-stays – Rocksteady Running and Twin Cities Running Company. The series was created to provide low-cost and low-pressure trail running / racing opportunities for people of all ages, abilities and levels of experience. Whether you are a seasoned trail or road racer, first time trail-racer, need a tune-up for your next goal race, need to get in some speed-work or just want to enjoy some social time and refreshments with us at the finish – running one or all of the races in the series is for you. The Endless Summer Trail Run Series has garnered a strong local following and has gotten significant national media coverage as one of the best organized and most well attended trail running series in the country!
The Endless Summer Trail Run Series is organized by Rocksteady Running and directed by John Storkamp. Rocksteady Running produces several trail and ultrarunning races in the state of Minnesota. Our races are put on by longtime trail and ultrarunners. Our focus is on sustainability, runner safety, runner experience and giving back to the trail, parks and communities where our events are held. Our mission is to create experiences that facilitate connection. All credit is due to our army of volunteers and our wonderful Minnesota trail running community.
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/ SETTING EXPECTATIONS FOR 2023
In November of 2021, after hosting a season of Covid-modified races, I was updating our race website(s) for what we hoped would be (and thankfully was) a mostly “normal” 2022. While doing so, I decided to include a preface to our Participant Guide(s) titled “Setting Expectations for 2022”. It was a great way for Cheri and I to pull back the curtain and share our experience of the pandemic as race directors. It was a way for us to temper expectations for an upcoming season with many lingering unknowns. It also ended up being a valuable touchpoint for connection with you; our participants, volunteers and partners. I am taking the opportunity to do something similar again this year. In the interest of real-estate, it will not be front and center in the participant guide, instead it will reside in THIS blog post https://www.estrs.com/setting-expectations-for-2023 – we would appreciate it if you took the time to read it.
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/ DIVERSITY, INCLUSION AND EQUALITY
Rocksteady Running welcomes everyone to our events and into our broader trail running community. You are welcome and valued regardless of your race, gender, sexual identity, orientation, or preference, religious, spiritual, or political beliefs, socioeconomic status, age, how quickly or slowly you run. We love and respect all beings. We ask all of our participants to be kind, compassionate and open minded, and to help lift up their fellow runners.
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/ REGISTRATION INFORMATION
Registration:
Do not register until you have reviewed this page (ESTRS French 5KM Participant Guide) in its entirety. Once registration is open, complete details including entry fees, field limits, and the link to our registration page on UltraSignup (our third party registration provider) can be found HERE https://www.estrs.com/registration-info/
Refunds, Transfers & Switches:
Entry fees are not refundable under any circumstance. Race registrations are not transferable to other participants, to future years races or to other Rocksteady Running events. We do do not allow transfers between race distances. Please consider these factors carefully before registering.
Waiting List:
Once a race distance sells out, we do not keep a waiting list – instead we accept extra runners up front so that everyone has the same opportunity to train, make reservations, get a babysitter, etc. This means that a withdrawal from a sold out race prior to race day does not create an opening in the race field – it just brings us down to our predetermined field limit which is set in agreement with our permitor(s). We have found that a percentage of those who register will not make it to the starting line due to injury, illness, or other real life interventions and adjust the number of allocated spots accordingly year to year based on historical averages.
Cancellation Policy:
The Race Director reserves the right to modify or cancel the race or course for safety concerns, trail condition concerns, natural disaster or pandemic. In such cases there will be no refunds of race entry fees. Each athlete must accept any such risk of their entry fee paid. There is no complimentary race entry to a future race. Entry fees collected are used to develop and produce the event, starting well in advance of the race date – including course preparation, race supplies, permits and administration. We will make every effort to produce a fair and safe event for all participants. Any decision we make that impacts the race date or potential cancellation is carefully considered and based on the overall event safety, sustainability and manageability.
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/ RACE SPECIFICS
What’s Included:
A well marked course, a water stop at races 5KM and longer, chip timing and tons of friendly, experienced volunteers. Each nights giveaway will be a sticker. Hand out after for refreshments; soda, beer, hard cider and most importantly, fellowship! A heads up, we will NOT be doing pizzas in 2023.
Race Location:
French Regional Park
12605 Rockford Road
Plymouth, MN 55441
Driving Directions HERE
Parking:
Once on park property follow signage to Skyview and Moraine Shelters. A site map with overflow parking options can be found HERE
Check-In / Race-Number Pickup & Race Start :
You can pickup your race number starting at 5:00 PM on race day. The race will start promptly at 6:30 PM. If you are over 21 and would like to have a beer after, please bring your ID to check-in and you will be given a wrist-band. Due to rush hour, we strongly encourage you to leave work (or wherever you are coming from) early so as not to arrive late to the race – those who arrive after the start of the race will not be issued a number or timed but are welcome to go out and run on their own (and not cross the finish line) and join us after for refreshments!
Weather, Heat & Thunderstorms:
It’s Summer, it can be hot. For races over 5KM we will have a water stop around the half way point. For races 5KM and shorter there will be no water stop. Be sure to carry water if you feel you will need it. We expect that you will use your personal judgement in deciding if it is too hot for you to run. The race will be held rain or shine – however, severe weather is a different story. To date we have never called off a race early / in advance due to the potential for severe weather – hopefully, the worse case scenario would be a delay in the start time once unsafe weather conditions have passed. If sever weather were to persist after a reasonable amount of time we would call off the event.
Race Numbers & Timing Chips:
You must wear your race number and it must be clearly visible on the front of your body at all times. Your timing chip will be affixed to the back of your race number. Do not remove your timing chip. Do not bend or fold your timing chip or crumple your race number – this may break your timing chip. Your race number and your timing chip must be pinned on your outer-most layer at all times. Above guidelines must be followed in order ensure that your finish time is recorded. This chip is disposable and does not need to be returned. More info HERE
Course Markings:
The course will be marked with orange survey style pin flags, which will always be on the left hand side of the trail except in areas with two way traffic, in which case flags will be on both sides of the trail. Since our races take place at parks that are open to the public we DO NOT block off trails that you are not supposed to go down, instead we mark the route that you are supposed to take. It is unfortunate but is not unheard of at trail races that course vandalism has occurred and flagging has been intentionally moved or removed by small minded individuals – it is important that you study the course maps prior to running and try to have some concept of where you are going.
Race Course:
A map of the race course can be found HERE
Water Stops:
For races over 5KM there will be a water stop approximately 1/2 way through the course. There will not be a water stop for 5KM (3.1 mile) or shorter races. If you feel you will need water during 5KM or shorter races OR feel that one water stop for races over 5KM is not enough, please plan to carry a water bottle.
( Aspiring ) Cupless Race:
The Endless Summer Trail Run Series races are NOT cupless. Another way of saying this is that for ESTRS races with water stops, we WILL provide cups to drink water out of. All of the other non-ESTRS Rocksteady Running races are however, cupless. What this means is that at those races, if you want to drink water at the water stops, you have to have your own cup (or water bottle). If you would like to go green and / or practice for other / longer RSR races you can procure you own cup ahead of the race. If you are not familiar with these reusable cups they are easy to find and procure, HERE https://hydrapak.com/products/speed-cup-200-ml is one example.
Headphones:
Headphones are allowed. Please keep the volume low, or one earbud out so you can hear what is going on around you. Full awareness of one’s surroundings, and the ability to communicate with other participants, race volunteers, and trail users not associated with the event are critical to everyone’s safety.
Out-Loud Music:
Playing music out-loud from your phone or other speakers is not allowed.
Dogs:
You may not run the race with your dog. That said, on-leash dogs are welcome at the race with your family / spectators.
Littering:
Please help to keep the trail clean. Try not to drop anything, and if you see something that someone else has accidently dropped, please pick it up.
Results:
Results will be available on our website.
Awards:
We do not do specific overall winner or age group awards, however “war-stories” at the finish are encouraged.
Post-Race Festivities:
We will be serving soft drinks and Beer after the race. Please note that we will NOT be doing pizza in 2023. Please stick around after, this is what this race is all about, enjoying Summer to its fullest, meeting new people and enjoying our awesome local trail-running COMMUNITY! * Please note that if you would like to have a beer after the race, you will need to show ID just as you would have to at a bar / restaurant, once you show your ID you will get a wrist-band… we prefer you have your ID when you pick up your race number but you can show it later as well.
Volunteers:
For those interested in volunteering, more information can be found HERE https://www.estrs.com/read-first/
Mile in Mile Shoes (MiMS) Fundraising Opportunity:
Rocksteady Running is proud to have Mile in My Shoes as an official Endless Summer Trail Run Series charity partner. Get a free entry to the Endless Summer Trail Run Series, lots of great swag and support a great cause by becoming a Mile in My Shoes (MiMS) FundRacer! Learn more HERE https://www.estrs.com/mile-in-my-shoes/
Next Year’s Race Date:
The French 5KM is typically held in mid-June.
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/ COVID CONSIDERATIONS
It is important for registrants / runners to understand that should county, state or federal mandates surrounding Covid change, be modified or reinstated, that certain aspects of our events may need to change. This could happen at any time, without warning and could change the character of an event; i.e. take what is planned for a single day event and make it a multi-day event, take what is planned for a mass start race and change it to wave starts, change how our aid stations are set up / aid is provided, etc. Worse case we could see the cancellation of a race. Listed below are the current considerations dealing with Covid.
• Runners, spectators, volunteers and staff are required to stay home if they are Covid positive, have been exposed to someone that is Covid positive in the past 14 days, are not feeling well or are experiencing any of the symptoms listed HERE https://www.cdc.gov/
• All event activities will be outdoors.
• Proper and frequent hand hygiene will be encouraged and numerous hand sanitizing stations will be available.
• Touchpoints and surface areas will be routinely cleansed.
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