Christmas Story 5K/10K

This will be my 12^th 5K run in the US and I have to say this is a race to experience!
Not only are people dressed up they also encourage each other to do well throughout the race! Great race for walkers too!
Even though I gave this 5 stars, this race still come with its cons. The line after the race to see the actual house is LONG! And the gift shop is awesome but also a very long line. The line to be bused back to the start line is also long. If you get cold easily… this is not a race for you.
Cleveland this time of year is very cold. Make sure to dress warmly depending on the weather. Great race!

Year number 2 of running the Christmas Story Race. If you live in Cleveland (like me), be smart and look at their website at least a week and a half before the race to see when the early bib pick ups are so you don’t have to fight the crowds on race day. I was stupid and didn’t check to see that the running store 10 minutes away from me had bib pick up the monday before the race. Whoops.
Parking day of: Got a spot in a lot close to the start. Not my fault the dude collecting the money wasn’t there for the first half of us who parked.
Pick up: at the Renaissance Hotel in downtown Cleveland. Fairly flawless but the bib and the timing chip that went on my shoe were different. The number was random for whatever reason
The start: behind the towers shopping facility (different this year than last year). Also the site of the finish this year.
The course: goes through downtown Cleveland, through Treamont and to the Christmas Story House. The 10K runners circled pack and headed back towards the start of the race where the old Higbees used to be. The course is a fairly flat course. Some hills, primarily when crossing the bridge downtown across from Progressive field and Horseshoe casino. When you crossed the finish, you get the obligatory bananas, bagels and water. They have Ovaltine hot chocolate at the end as well. Be ready to get your medals (though this year, slight glitch with not enough medals due to shipping errors).
Shirts: long sleeved which is a nice break from from the tech shirts
Be ready to look for people dressed up as bunnies, a one legged lamp, fragile boxes and whatever else floats the Christmas Story Movie boat. Also be sure to visit the Christmas Story House afterwards. Your bib gets you into the House for Free!