ABOUT THE RACE
Join us this year for the Celtic Canter 5K on March 13, 2021!
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CELTIC CANTER
To provide a safe race environment we have made several changes to the 2021 Celtic Canter format. First, one of the biggest changes for this year is location. To make sure we can safely accommodate our entire field of dedicated runners while maintaining physical distancing we are temporarily re-locating the Celtic Canter to the former Wakefield Golf Course. This will provide us with plenty of space to adequately accommodate everyone who would like to participate in this premier running event.
RACE INFO
START TIMES
To stay within the Governor’s guidelines, we have organized three separate start times each accommodating no more than 200 runners. The start times will be 9:00 a.m., 10:00 a.m. and 11:00 a.m. Runners may select their preferred start time when they sign up. Start times will be available on a first come, first served, basis.
Each start time will be organized to keep runners or groups of runners from the same household 6 ft apart by instituting a rolling start. As in the past, Celtic Canter 2021 will be a chip-timed race accurately recording each runner’s start and finish time. Your time will not start recording until you cross the start line and will stop when you cross the finish line.
Participants can arrive any time during their assigned start time. However, for the safety of all participants, we ask that you arrive no earlier than 20 minutes prior to your assigned start time. You may only race during your assigned start time. Participants that do not start during their assigned times are subject to disqualification. To keep this event safe for everyone your cooperation is key. Please remember the State of Maryland has a face covering requirement. Everyone attending the event must always wear a face covering at all times EXCEPT when running.
PRICING
Registration for the Celtic Canter 5K is $15 per runner, if you are okay receiving last year’s shirt, or $32 per runner if you would like a new shirt. Register ONLINE or IN-PERSON at the Westminster Family Fitness Center - 11 Longwell Avenue. Registration increases on March 10 at 12:01 p.m. to $20 per runner, if you are okay receiving last year’s shirt or $37 per runner if you would like a new shirt.
5K registration includes a long sleeve t-shirt and individually packaged, to-go, post-race refreshments.
We are excited that races are successfully occurring again in a live “in-person” format. If we must cancel, due to COVID-19, you can expect the following fees refunded:
If you paid a:
- • $15 registration fee (last year’s shirt option), refund would be $12
- • $32 registration fee (new shirt option), refund would be $18
Those registering after 12:01 p.m. on March 10:
- • $20 registration fee (last year’s shirt option), refund would be $17
- • $37 registration fee (new shirt option), refund would be $23
PICK UP YOUR RACE PACKET
Athletes may pick up their race packets at the Recreation and Parks Department, 11 Longwell Avenue, Westminster, on Thursday (3/11) and Friday (3/12) from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Social distancing will apply. Participants will be temperature checked and screened before they can enter the packet pick-up area. See below for more information.
WIN AWARDS
Male and Female/1st & 2nd place in the following age groups: 19 & under, 20-29, 30-39, 40-49, 50-59, 60-69 and 70 & over.
Age group winners will be posted on the website after the race. There will be no in-person awards.
MEET THE ORGANIZERS
COVID-19 ACTION PLAN
We will continue to monitor the CDC and the State of Maryland’s COVID safety plans to ensure we are following the most up-to-date guidelines for participant safety. This action plan outlines the protocols we have put in place to ensure a safe and hygienic event, with the knowledge that these are subject to change based on updated information published by the CDC and the state of Maryland.
- Packet pickup will be held over two days. The sole purpose of packet pickup will be to pass out race packets to participants. Social distancing will apply. Participants will be temperature checked and screened before they can enter the packet pick-up area. Temperature checks will be performed on every customer/volunteer with a touchless thermometer. Customers with temperatures above 100 degrees Fahrenheit will not be granted entry. If anyone answers yes to the following questions they will be denied entry.
Packet Pickup screening questions regarding COVID-19 symptoms:
- Are you experiencing any of the common symptoms of COVID-19 including but not limited to cough, shortness of breath, or sore throat?
- Have you been around any COVID positive individuals in the last 14 days?
- On race day, all participants, staff, and volunteers will have their temperature taken upon arrival and will not be permitted to attend if their temperature is above 100.0 degrees Fahrenheit. No runner should participate if they have symptoms or if they have a known exposure to a positive COVID-19 patient in the last 14 days.
Race Day screening questions regarding COVID-19 symptoms:
- Are you experiencing any of the common symptoms of COVID-19 including but not limited to cough, shortness of breath, or sore throat?
- Have you been around any COVID positive individuals in the last 14 days?
- Staff, volunteers and signage will be located throughout the event footprint and race route, communicating the importance of social distancing, and wearing face coverings/masks.
- A pre-race briefing will be captured on video and sent to the runners 10 days before the event and again 48 hours before the event. There will be no in-person pre-race briefing the day of the event.
- Face coverings/masks will be provided by the Celtic Canter 5K and will be required to be worn by all participants (except when running), staff, and volunteers.
- A wave start (Start times: 9:00 a.m., 10:00 a.m. and 11:00 a.m.) will be in effect with no more than 250 runners per wave. Physical distancing of 6 feet or greater will be in practice while each wave gathers near the start and runners are queued at the start line. Cones will be placed every 6 ft. Runners or groups of runners from the same household, are expected to stand by a cone to ensure physical distancing. Runner will move to the next cone, as directed, until they reach the start line. Each wave will be 1 hour apart. Start times will be strictly adhered to; this will ensure no overlap, consistently keeping gathering size of 250 people or less.
- Participants will be issued a disposable face mask at packet pick-up. All participants will be required to wear a face mask that covers both mouth and nose. Face coverings must be kept on until you start running and/or are more than 6 ft apart on course.
- All volunteers will be required to wear face coverings/masks and gloves.
- Hand washing stations and hand sanitizer will be available at race headquarters, at portable toilets, at the starting area, and at the finish area.
- The Celtic Canter 5K will not tolerate activities that are dangerous. This includes spitting or droplet generating activities, such as coughing or sneezing without properly covering mouth and nose. This is for your safety, the safety of fellow runners, and the safety of staff and volunteers. COVID-19 may be spread by droplet and possibly aerosol means. Please strictly adhere to and abide by this rule.
- There will be not water stop along the Celtic Canter 5K Course.
- The finish chute will be located in a separate area away from the race start. The finish will have three lanes to keep finishers separated. Six-foot, physical distancing must be followed while in the finish chute. Face coverings/masks must be put on once you entered and while you are in the finish chute. If a runner enters the finish chute without a face covering/mask, staff will be present to issue a disposable mask.
- Post-race refreshments will be prepared and provided in grab and go bags so that participants can easily take items without touching other servings. Participants will be encouraged to vacate the premises as soon as possible to limit any over-crowding.
- Race results will not be displayed to avoid gathering. Results will only be available online. Awards may be picked up in person or sent via US postal mail.
- T-shirt swap will not be available this year so please be sure you are ordering the correct size shirt when you register.
Portable Restroom and Hand Sanitizing Stations:
Portable restroom facilities will be placed in two different locations. One for the runners waiting to run and one for the runners as they finish. Lines for those waiting to use the portable restrooms will be marked with cones spaced 6 feet apart and will not cross any other pedestrian traffic. There will be two hand wash stations located at each set of restrooms spaced at least 6 feet apart. There will be a total of 5 sanitizer stations, 1 at the welcome area, 1 at the volunteer check in, 1 at the start line, 1 at the finish line and one at the snack pick up. The port-a-pot facilities and the hand wash stations will have a monitor wearing appropriate PPE to wipe down/sanitize high-touch surfaces in between uses by a volunteer or a staff member using HydrOxiPro, a concentrated cleaner used to disinfect non-porous surfaces. This cleaner is on the EPA list to kill COVID-19.
