Race Info – Frequently Asked Questions

See the Race Pricing Schedule for current race pricing information.

Registration Details:

Yes, you can. The website allows for one individual to register for as many or all five races at the same time? Watch for that option within the registration process.

No, each person must register separately to ensure we have all the correct safety and waiver information for each race participant.

All registrations are sent an email confirmation immediately after your registration is complete. The email comes from info@runstillwater.com and is sent to the address provided during sign-up. If you have a Run Stillwater account or created one when you registered, you may also log in to see the races for which you are registered.

BEFORE INQUIRING ABOUT YOUR REGISTRATION, please search your email and spam folder for info@runstillwater.com. If you still cannot find it, feel free to contact us at this same address.

Please note the registration process also asks for the runner email address. Future communications about a race event will be sent to the runner email provided, which may be different than the primary email associated with a registration.

“Processing” means your order is set and you’re ready for the event in the future. No worries; we’ve got you.

All registered participants will be sent an email Thursday before the race with your bib number and details about logistics, directions, etc. It will be sent from Mtec Results, our timing company. Watch for it and also save info@runstillwater.com to help ensure you receive important race information. If you do not receive it, you can look up your bib number at packet pickup. In the meantime, you can find all the information you may need on the race’s webpage HERE.

Registration is open for all races beginning in October the previous year. At this time, the field of runners is not limited in number.

For each race:

• Online registration closes at midnight the Wednesday before a race. Online registration ensures participants will receive their race shirt in the size they request at packet pickup before the race.
• Will Call registration is available online until noon Friday before a race. Runners registering as Will Call are assigned a bib number before packet pickup and receive their race shirt after the race.
• In-Person registration is available Friday and Saturday before the race at Packet Pickup. In-Person registrants are assigned a bib number at packet pickup and receive their race shirt after the race.

Registration for all Run Stillwater races is nontransferable and nonrefundable.

Runners Receive:

• Gender-specific, premium quality cotton blend shirt NOTE: Will Call and In-person registrants receive their race shirts after the event at packet pick-up (if your size is available) or in the mail following the event.
• Collectible medals to all finishers – each year Run Stillwater medals fit together as a set to commemorate your season
• Personalized race bibs up to 10 characters (Deadlines apply. See Race Pricing Schedule for details)
• Timing by Mtec Results (all distances) – a leader in race timing technologies and based in the Twin Cities
• Runner tracking using the Mtec Results app. Track and easily share participant performance, see current and projected runner locations, view chip and gun times, get real-time results including overall and division place, and more
• Bag drop at each start location with bags provided at the starts (clear, 15″ x 18″ with drawstring)
• Pacers for half marathon runners
• Staffed water stations to serve and cheer you on with water and Gatorade available (Race-day support staff is provided as part of Run Stillwater’s Volunteer for Donation program. Learn more HERE.)
• Restroom facilities at each start, the finish line and approximately every two miles on the course
• Finish line recovery food and beverages – fruit, protein bars, salty snacks, Gatorade and bottled water
• Selfie clock at the finish showing your name and time
• Video of you crossing the finish line – available at the MTEC results website
• Photos available to download at no charge from MTEC Results and the Run Stillwater Facebook page
• Keepsake age group awards, customized for each winner, are mailed to winners after the event – SEE 2023 EXAMPLE HERE – natural slate stone engraved with name, date, time, distance and division – for top three finishers in each age group (based on 10-year increments)
• Access to showers after the race at our sponsor, River Valley Athletic Club. Show your bib and bring your own towel, then hit the sites and enjoy everything Stillwater has to offer.
• A Buy-One/Get-One at Lift Bridge Brewing for a cold beer or beverage! Redeemable at Lift Bridge Brewing Company tap rooms in Stillwater and New Richmond

… and more

Course Information:

Course maps are available on the  Course Maps page.

USA Track & Field (USATF) Course Certification numbers:

Half – MN14016RR

10K – MN17007RR

5K – MN14015RR

Aid stations have water and Gatorade available.

Toilets are located at each start area, the finish area and approximately every two miles at or near aid stations along the course.

Packet Pick-up 2023:

Packet pick-up Friday, May 24, 3 p.m. to 8 p.m. (recommended)
Race day (May 25), 5:20 a.m.

Location: Water Street Inn; 101 Water Street, Stillwater, MN 55082

NOTE: Runners will be sent an email Thursday, May 23 with your bib number information. Remember this number. You will need it to pick up your packet.

Picking Up Someone Else’s Packet

You may pick up another runner’s packet as long as you have an agreement to do so. Please do not pick up another runner’s packet without their knowledge. Doing so can (and does) cause confusion at packet pickup when there is very little time to correct the situation.

If you paid for the Mail-My-Packet option, you can expect your packet to arrive within 10 days of race day. You will receive tracking information when your packet is mailed.

Changing Your Distance

You may change your distance at packet pickup. For guests moving to a longer distance, you’ll just pay the difference to move up to the longer distance. There’s no charge for moving to a shorter distance. Just pick up your packet as usual and bring it to the In-Person/Changes table to make the switch.

Shirt Exchange

You may exchange your unworn shirt for a different size after the race. Shirts are ordered based on the sizes specified at the time of registration. To ensure everyone gets the size requested, exchanges can be made after the race. Staff remains at Packet Pickup at the Water Street Inn until approximately 10:45 a.m.

Slow runners and walkers are welcome provided you maintain progress on the course and do not deviate from the course. The Half Marathon course has a four-hour time limit. Exceeding the time limit could mean race support is no longer available. Aid stations are available throughout the course to provide hydration, restroom facilities, and to assist with medical conditions or voluntary withdrawal from the race. Stopping for an extended period of time may result in disqualification from the race.

• Bag Drop is available at each start area with bags provided for your convenience
• Bag Drop pick-up is at the finish line area
• Bags provided at each start are clear and 15″ x 18″
• All Bag Drop items must be in a bag
• You may use your own bag provided it is approximately 15″ x 18″
• No large backpacks or suitcases are accepted in Bag Drop
• Race bibs have a tear-off tag with your bib number to be used for Bag Drop
• Place the bag drop tag INSIDE the clear bag where it is EASILY VISIBLE for sorting
• Your race bib and Bag Drop tag must match to pick up your items
• Bag Drop pick-up will be staffed at the finish area until approximately 11:00 a.m.
• Run Stillwater, Inc. is not responsible for lost or damaged items left in Bag Drop

Directions, parking recommendations and shuttle locations are shown on the map HERE.

The city of Stillwater is now using Passport Parking technology in most downtown parking areas. Kiosks are available to pay for parking or use the Passport Parking mobile app to make parking fast and easy. See the map for locations and check the city’s parking information for details about days and hours when fees are required.

Free parking is also available throughout the downtown area, as shown on the map. Parking is free until 10:00 a.m. in most downtown paid parking areas. Check area signage before you leave your vehicle. The city’s parking information has additional details about days and hours when fees are required.

Pacers for the Half Marathon:

The Stillwater Half Marathon will have pacers, provided by Midwest Pacers, for all half marathon participants to help runners reach their race day goals.

Great idea! There are plenty of reasons to spend some time in Stillwater before and after the race.

• America’s Most Picturesque Small Towns (North Carolina Traveler)
• Best Weekend Getaways in Minnesota (The Lora Hotel – Family Destination Guide)
• #1 Best Day Trip from the Twin Cities (Bring Me the News)
• Best US Towns for Antiquing (Fodors)
• Fall in Love with Stillwater (Samantha Brown’s Places to Love)
• Most Romantic Midwest Getaways (Midwest Living Magazine)

For hotels, we recommend our headquarters hotel: The Water Street Inn. Contact the Water Street Inn directly to book accommodations. More options can be found through Discover Stillwater.

Our sponsor, River Valley Athletic Club, offers all registered runners an opportunity to shower after each race. Show your bib and bring your own towel, then hit the sites and enjoy everything Stillwater has to offer.

Start Time:

7:00 a.m.:  All races start at the same time.

All start areas have portable restrooms, water and bag drop available.

• All runners will be shuttled to the start areas from downtown Stillwater
• Buses are marked with each start area they serve. Check before you board to be sure you are on the correct bus
• First shuttle leaves at 5:30 a.m.
• Last shuttle leaves at 6:30 a.m. SHARP
• Shuttles typically line up on Mulberry St. two blocks north of the Water Street Inn, but is subject to change. Watch for the specific location on the website and in email communications to runners as race day approaches

Transportation:

All runners are bussed to the start lines for all distances from downtown Stillwater. Buses are marked with each start area they serve. Check before you board to be sure you are on the correct bus.

We strongly encourage using the bus system. Drop off areas are congested and no parking is available for personal vehicles. There are no shuttles back to the start areas after the race. Buses will load on Water Street between Myrtle St. and Mulberry St. (subject to change) directly north of the Water Street Inn.

Busing to start lines will begin at 5:30 a.m. and continue until 30 minutes before start time of your race. The last buses to the start areas leave will be at 6:30 a.m. SHARP.

Weather Considerations:

Runner safety is our number one priority. The race will occur rain or shine. We have direct contact with the National Weather Service in the Twin Cities and rely on their forecasts in making decisions concerning weather and race-day conditions.

Parameters for weather considerations include the following:

• Electrical activity in the area
• Hail
• High winds
• WetBulb Globe Temperature (WBGT) conditions – a scientific measurement provided by the National Weather Service of the body’s heat stress in direct sunlight, taking into account temperature, humidity, wind speed, sun angle and cloud cover, and based on U.S.A. Track and Field guidelines for running events:
  • WBGT less than 65 degrees Fahrenheit is Green Flag/No Warning to runners necessary
  • WBGT 65 to 72 degrees Fahrenheit is Yellow Flag/Recommend participants at increased risk for heat collapse. Slow pace. Warn all entrants of increased risk of heat collapse
  • WBGT 73 to 82 degrees Fahrenheit is Red Flag/Recommend participants at increased risk for heat collapse withdraw from race, and other slow pace to match conditions
  • WBGT above 82 degrees is Black Flag/Cancel or recommend voluntary withdrawal

There will be over 65 course marshals and public safety officers stationed around the course to guide runners in good weather and bad.

Post Race Information:

Race results will be posted and updated close to real-time by Mtec Results. Go to www.mtecresults.com after the race.

Celebrate your victory with breakfast at the Water Street Inn. Come to relax and refuel with friends and family after a great race!

We will not hold an awards ceremony after the race. Keepsake age group awards – personalized with name, time, distance and division – for the top three finishers in each age group (based on 10-year increments) are mailed to winners after the event

The finish area is in Pioneer Park on the bluff overlooking downtown Stillwater. Runners typically park in the north parking lots and walk back to their vehicles. No shuttles are provided after the race.

There is a stairway from Pioneer Park down to Main Street (Laurel St. Stairs) for easy access to parking in the downtown area. See the parking information provided prior to the race and for more details.

Safety and Rules of the Road:

• For the safety of all runners and walkers, the following are NOT allowed on the course: Unregistered participants (including family, friends, assistants or pacers); bicycles; in-line skates; pets
• The following are allowed with prior approval from race staff: registered runner escorts for parasports athletes, adapted wheel chairs, jogging strollers, certified service animals. Contact us in advance to make arrangements. It’s important we are aware in order to accommodate you and alert race-day staff, shuttle support, etc.
• Headphones and earbuds are permitted, but runners are strongly encouraged to keep the volume down and NOT to use noise canceling features so you are alert to traffic and able to follow instructions from race officials
• The race courses are not 100 percent closed to traffic so we ask that you be aware of your surroundings at all times

We welcome adaptive athletes at our events. All athletes, including escorts, must be registered in advance and where a bib number. The following are allowed with prior approval from race staff: runner escorts for parasports athletes, adapted wheel chairs with runner escorts, jogging strollers, certified service animals. Please contact us if you need more information using the Contact Us page

Return/Refund and Privacy Policy

All Run Stillwater, Inc. races occur rain or shine. Fees are not refundable and race numbers and timing chips are not transferable to a different person than the individual to whom the bib number is assigned. Participants must agree to the terms and conditions of participation prior to entering payment information during the registration process. For details regarding the Run Stillwater, Inc. privacy policy, click HERE.