Take pride in our city - please keep it clean and do not drop anything on the ground anywhere on the course. Please be courteous, and do not litter.
The Blue Cross Arena will be open before, during and after the race, which means the restrooms on both levels will be available for use.
Race Date & Time
Sunday, April 23rd
National Anthem/Opening Remarks: 7:20AM
Rochester Regional Health Half Marathon Start Time: 7:30 am
Wegmans Family 5K Start Time: 7:45 am
Kids 1/2 Mile Start Time: 10:30 am
Blue Cross Arena at the War Memorial
100 Exchange Blvd, Rochester, NY 14614
Start & Finish Line Details
The Half Marathon Start is on the south side of the bridge due to construction on Broad Street. This is the side closest to Blue Cross Arena. Please give yourself time to get to the start line as it MUST Be BACK LOADED via the sidewalk. Look for the Brand New Arch that says Half Start.
The 5K Start is 300' in front of the Half Marathon start. You will have to wait until AFTER the Half Marathon is started, and then you MUST BACK LOAD into the starting corral via the sidewalk. Look for a Brand New Arch that says 5K Start.
The Kids 1/2 Mile Start is at the corner of Exchange and Court Street. Look for the Kids Run Wild Flags.
The Finish Line is located right outside of the main entrances to the Blue Cross Arena on Exchange Blvd.
Timing Details - Half Marathon, 5K & Kids Race
Your timing chip will be on the back of your bib. YOU MUST MUST MUST WEAR YOUR BIB VISIBLY ON THE FRONT OF YOUR TORSO. If you lose your bib, forget it, misplace it etc, there is a $5 replacement fee. No chip, no time. You will get the Bib Chip during packet pickup. Be sure to wear your bib chip visibly on your torso, not your shorts, not your back, not your arm, not under a jacket etc. In addition, don't place your water bottle belt, hydration vest nor other obstruction over the top of it and be careful hitting stop on your watch as you cross the finish line, as systems have a hard time reading through the human body. Also, no bib no medal!
Virtual Race Details
All virtual participants have from April 23rd to April 30th to complete your event. You will receive several emails on how to submit your time. Please be sure to check your spam and if you unsubscribed from Run Sign Up, unfortunately we are unable to change that. You can also go into your profile on Run Sign Up. Go to Flower City event and submit your time that way. You are more than welcome to get your packets at the expo on Friday and Saturday. They will not be at the race site. Otherwise, we will mail your virtual packet sometime mid next week.
Race Day Directions & Parking
For information on directions to the Blue Cross Arena and parking information, please click here. There are multiple lots around the vicinity. Please know we have no control if fees are charged or not.
Course Maps
Wegmans Family 5K Course Map can be found here.
Rochester Regional Health Flower City Half Marathon course map can be found here.
Participant Shirts, Bibs & Medals
Shirts: Sizes for shirts were guaranteed if registered by April 1st. The sizing for participants who registered on April 1st or later will be first come based on when you register.
- Half Marathon participants will receive a gender-specific, long sleeve tech top
- 5K participants will receive a unisex tee
- Kids 1/2 Mile - Those that ordered a tee will also get their tee with their bib
All finishers with a bib will receive a unique finishers medallion as they cross the finish line.
Post Race Services
Once you finish you will receive your medal and water head inside Blue Cross Arena for post race food by Wegmans on the 3rd floor just beyond the Fleet Feet Recovery Zone on the 2nd floor by Rochester Regional Health and North East Chiropractic College. The Recovery Zone is FREE and a great opportunity for a post race workup.
There will also be a live band (Sinzibukwud) plus several new backdrops and structures to take photos in front of to save your memories. This includes our new 13.1 structure such this if you did the 13.1 you stand in front of the entire structure and if you did 3.1 stand in front of that part of the structure.
Participant Photographs
Flash Frame will be at the race to take photos of participants that will be available to purchase after the race. This should be made available by mid week after the event.
Half Marathon - Course Time Limit
There is a 3 1/2 hour course limit for the Half Marathon (a 16 minute/mile). If you are not keeping up to pace, you will be asked to move to the side of the road or sidewalk, so traffic can resume. At this point, the course will no longer be supported by traffic control, Road Marshals, Water Stops or finish line. So please be sure to plan accordingly. The finish line will close at 11:00 am sharp.
Half Marathon - Aid Stations
There are 5 Aid Stations approximately 2-3 miles apart. Aid Stations will have water. Be sure to thank the volunteers!!
- Mile 2ish - Frontier Field
- Mile 4ish - George Eastman House area
- Mile 6ish - Goodman St by Rite Aid
- Mile 8ish - as you enter Cemetery
- Mile 11ish - on River Path, past newest pedestrian bridge
Porto Potties will be located at
- Approximately the 5K mark
- At Water Stop #3 (Mile 6ish - Goodman St)
- Just before you enter the cemetery (approx 8 mile mark)
- Around mile 11 by the U of R
Awards
This is the first race in the Fleet Feet Grand Prix Series Presented by HOKA. We are so excited to be able to bring back cash prizes for top athletes in the Half Marathon plus other events throughout the year. In addition, age group winners get into the series and could race the remainder of the series and win a pair of HOKA Footwear. Details about the
Fleet Feet Grand Prix Can Be Found Here.
There will not be an awards ceremony on race day pre se (see below), but there will be a spot on the first floor of the Arena for award pickup. This will be the only time athletes can pick up their awards. We will be doing a special Overall Male and Female 5K finisher and Top 3 Male and Female Half finisher recognition at the times noted below for each event. At which point our photographer will take the overall winners photos on the new Top Finisher Podiums.
Half Marathon Awards:
Half Marathon Awards will be available from 9:05AM to 10:30AM at the Awards Table inside the arena on the first floor. Please keep in mind we will get printed lists as we go.
Top 3 Male and Female in the Half please be at the Awards Table by 9:15AM so we can do a special recognition group photo on the New Podiums
Half Awards are:
Overall
- First M/F: $250.00
- Second M/F: $100.00
- Third M/F: $75.00
- Fourth M/F: $50.00
- Fifth M/F:$25.00
Age Group Award: Top 3 Male and Female in 5 year age groups (19 & under, 20-24, 25-29, 30-34, 35-39, 40-44, 45-49, 50-54, 55-59, 60-64, 65-69, 70 & up)
All Cash Award winners Must Fill out the provided 1099 Form in order to receive the cash prize in the form of a check mailed to the address on the 1099 Form. There will be a deadline for each race as to when the form must be returned in order to receive the cash prize.
5K Awards:
5K Awards will be available from 8:30AM to 10:30AM at the Awards Table inside the arena on the first floor. Please keep in mind we will get printed lists as we go.
Top Male and Female in the 5K please be at the Awards Table by 8:45AM so we can do a special recognition photo on the New Podiums
- Overall Male and Female
- Top 3 Male and Female in 5 year age groups (14 & under, 15-19, 20-24, 25-29, 30-34, 35-39, 40-44, 45-49, 50-54, 55-59, 60-64, 65-69, 70 & up)
Road Closures
There will be some road closures & delays the morning of the race. We appreciate the efforts of the Rochester Police Department, who along with volunteer road marshals will do their very best to lessen the impact to the community while keeping the runners and walkers out of harm's way. Click here for the traffic advisory.
