Simply, to give runners the best race experience possible. If we do that, all else will fall into place.

On Saturday, August 28, 2021:

Half marathon run and walk, relay start at 7:00 AM

5K start at 7:15 AM

Yes, the 5K and half marathon races are held on USATF-certified courses. The process to certify a course under USATF guidelines is very rigorous and results in an extremely accurate race distance. USATF-certified courses are measured using Jones-Oerth devices while following the tangents on the road.

Mobile GPS systems record the wearer’s position every 1–20 seconds, then “connect the dots” to estimate distance. They do not take into account changes in elevation, and they are affected by such factors as cloud cover, tall buildings, and tunnels, all of which can alter measurement.

No runner in a given race will run precisely the same tangents that the course measurers have used, yet only that path covers the precise race distance. In a race with many hundreds of entrants, the great likelihood is that, due to the surrounding runners (and other variations, such as running to aid stations), a participant will travel farther than the official race distance, which is measured on the shortest possible course.

We hope that this information helps to explain why many personal GPS course measurements do not perfectly match the official race distance.

All events will start and end at Soldiers Memorial Field Park in downtown Rochester, MN.

Assuming no construction or COVID surprises, the course will be a very fast and flat course, with no hills, run mostly on city paved trails.

No, not in any of the races. Sorry the course cannot accommodate them and our insurance prohibits strollers in all of the events.

Yes in the start/finish line area at Soldiers Memorial Field. Be sure your bag is labeled with your name and race #. You must show your number to retrieve your bag. Please do not place any fragile or valuable items in your drop bag. We cannot guarantee any of those items in your bag and will not be responsible for any missing items. The bags are left in the bag drop area at your own risk. Any items left unattended at the start/finish line will be donated to a local charity.

Saturday, August 28, 2021 at  6:30 a.m.

For the 5K, the one water stop will have water and Gatorade. For the half marathon, the water stops will have both water and Gatorade in easily distinguishable cups. The half marathon will have seven water stops.

There will be porta potties at the start/finish area of the race and at the aid stations.

No, when running on the roads, there may be light traffic. The course route has very few roads. There will be course marshals along the way to guide you safely, as well as uniformed police officers to ensure your safety at critical intersections. The finish line inside the Soldiers Memorial Field track is void of any vehicle traffic.

Of course, with proper identification and authorization from the person whose packet you are picking up.

You will need to provide a valid ID and a copy of your race number confirmation. Typically, we do not need to see the confirmation unless there is an issue.  This is never known until you pick up your packet and there is a problem with your registration (rare).

Yes, or hop, skip, juggle, and dance your way to the finish. There will be a 4-hour limit for the half marathon.  Many folks will alternate running/walking, and some will walk the whole route.

We will have many, many course marshals, course directional arrows, and police officers along the course to make sure you do not get lost. Follow the directions of the course marshals and do not go where cones mark no entrance (usually at junctions).

The HHR volunteers will be wearing a highly visible white volunteer t-shirt. All areas staffed by volunteers will have a responsible adult or person age 14 and above with a cellphone or a radio to contact emergency personnel at all times.

For your safety and that of others, we do not permit the following items on the course: in addition to strollers, any wheeled conveyance to include inline skates, skateboards, bicycles, scooters. We also prohibit the accompaniment of animals with you unless they are service animals. We highly recommend NOT using an iPod or musical device. Even if you can still hear everything around you, folks around you are less likely to talk to you and cheer for you if you are wearing a musical device. You will also need to know what race officials are saying, along the course, and at the finish.

However, if you must wear a device that transmits music, please keep the volume at a low level so that you can hear other runners on the course and most importantly are aware of your surroundings and course marshal/police officer’s commands.

No, if you are unable to run you cannot give your bib to a friend. Your registration can be transferred to another participant up to one week before race day. Registration transfers can be done through the online registration page once logged into Race Roster. There is a $10 transfer fee along with any event price difference. There will be no registration transfers after the transfer deadline or on race day.

Free shuttle bus service is provided for runners from downtown Rochester (2nd Avenue SW, directly east of Zumbro Lutheran Church) to the Relay Exchange area along 20th ST SE and back again. The bus will run continuously from 6:30 AM to 10:00 AM The bus will load and unload on 2nd Avenue SW, south of 6th Street SW, between Zumbro Lutheran Church and the backside of the Family YMCA.

There is only one bus providing service. The round trip takes approximately 30 min, so please plan accordingly. We strongly suggest the 2nd relay runner be on the 6:30 AM shuttle to the exchange point.

Please keep in mind, if you choose to drive to the relay exchange area, parking is very limited.

The shuttle buses are for HHR participants only. Please no family or friends.

No. We are sorry, but the registration fee for the race is non-refundable.

Race fees are nonrefundable and cannot be transferred to next year’s race or another event. Sorry, no exceptions. Your registration can be transferred to another participant up to one week before race day. Registration transfers can be done through the online registration page once logged into Race Roster. There is a $10 transfer fee along with any event price difference. There will be no registration transfers after the deadline or on race day.

There is no reunion area designated, so we suggest you arrange with your friends and family prior to your race for a location to meet up with them.

Runners are asked to line up according to how they think they will finish – fast runners in the front, slow runners in the back, walkers behind the runners. This prevents congestion on the course. You want to be amongst runners who will be running the same pace as you. You don’t want to be passed by swarms of folks, and you don’t want to be dodging and weaving around people slower than you.

Please be honest with your abilities and what you honestly think your pace will be. Sure, we would all like to think that we are far faster than we really are, but it is all about the journey. Out of respect for all participants, please place yourself in the area of your expected pace per mile. The Terraloco Pacers will be on the course to help you maintain your desired pace throughout the half marathon and maybe even get you to the finish line with a personal best. Look for the pacers in the starting line crowd holding signs high in the air with their pace.

There will be some pre-race announcements, followed by the National Anthem.

Pickle Timing will be the official HHR 5K and half marathon timing company. Results will be posted as soon as they are verified at www.http://rochesterrunningclub.org/ and on the HHR website at www.healthyhumanrace.com/. The direct link where the results will be posted during the race: http://pickleevents.com/r/2021/humanrace

The posted results list the official, or “gun” time of each participant. This is the time elapsed from the actual moment of the start of the entire race until an individual runner crosses the finish line.

Net, or “chip” time is the time elapsed between that individual crossing the start and finish lines. For example, if it takes you one minute to cross the start line and you run the race in 45 minutes, your official time is 46 minutes and your net time is 45 minutes.

When you look up your results, both times will be listed.

The 5K and half marathon are timed events using chip technology. You will be issued a bib with a chip embedded on that bib. No need to return the bib or the embedded chip. Please be sure to wear your bib with the timing device on your front side.

HOWEVER, the relay runners will have a belt with their embedded chip bib. The belt will be passed from the 1st runner to the 2nd runner. The 2nd relay runner will need to return the belt shortly after crossing the finish line. Failure to return will result in a $30 loss fee. The bib chip will be activated when you cross the start line mats and stops timing when you cross the finish line mats.