Mermaid Run 5K & Mermaid Mile Fun Run

The inaugural Mermaid Run will be held on Saturday, August 22 at 8:00 am - Start and finish line at Festival Park in Aberdeen, MD. We are excited to be out for a live race!

Advance packet pickup will be held at 2 times:  Sunday, August 16 from 3-5 pm and Thursday, August 20 from 4-6 pm in Festival Park (under or near the pavilion). Packets will be distributed in a contactless manner.  Please make every effort to attend one of the advance packet pickup times and assist us in avoiding group gatherings on race day. For those of you who are unable to attend the advance packet pickup we will have packets available on race day under the pavilion.  Please wear a mask and observe social distancing at all times.  If you are picking up for another person, please be prepared with that person's name and bib # and be prepared to show us a note, text or email from that person giving you permission to pick up their materials.

If you are a local virtual racer we also ask you to attend the Advance packet pickup if you are able.  If you need to have your items mailed to you, please let us know in advance.

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Race Day Protocols:

Masks will be required at all times prior to the race start and after the finish; you may remove your mask while on the race course.

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Course marshals and staff members may remind you to create space between yourself and other participants.

Race day packet pickup will begin at 6:30 am at the park pavilion, with one-way entrance and exit.

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• Race start and finish - this race will be conducted with a Rolling Start. Start line and finish line are at the corner of Parke St. and Franklin St.

• Beginning at 8:00 am participants will be allowed to cross the start line at a rate of no more than 10 at a time. Adequate distance between runners will be allotted between starts.

• Please see the race personnel at the start corral, who will direct you when to start. This will be first come/first serve. Participants will be expected to wear a mask/face covering and maintain adequate distance from other racers in the start corral.

• Please make sure your race bib is visible on the front of your outermost layer of clothing. Anyone who does not have a visible race bib will be asked to leave the start corral. The race start line will remain open until 8:15 am

• Please keep to your right and remain aware of oncoming runners as we may have finishers coming in while others are first starting.

• If you are running with a partner or small group, you may stay together with them but otherwise remain 6-ft apart from other participants.

• No spectators in or around the Start/Finish area

• There will be a water stop on the course - it will be self-serve bottled water. If you take a water, please be sure to carry it with you until you reach a trash can on the course or in the finish area

• Mermaid Mile participants will be directed to start their race once the 5K runners have all started. They must keep to the right and be cautious of 5K runners who may be returning to the finish line

• As you complete the race, please proceed to the medals table to pick up your finisher’s medal. This will be self-service with an attendant.

• Water and snack items will be available for finishers.

• There will be NO afterparty/costume contest or award announcements on site. Results will be on-line at www.bluecheetahtiming.com and award winners will be notified after all results are completed and verified.

• Please leave the race area within 15 minutes of completing your distance. We are discouraging crowds and group gatherings at all times.

• Virtual racers have an additional time period to submit their results and will be scored/posted in a separate listing.  Virtual racers may submit their results through the end of August. Please submit by sending a photo of your running app, sports watch or treadmill readout showing time/distance to andrea@bluecheetahtiming.com

You may change to the virtual race at any time up to the race start time. Please email andrea@bluecheetahtiming.com to change to a virtual racer. 

Please do not attend the live race if you are not feeling well, have been recently exposed to someone with CoVid-19 or symptoms, or are experiencing any of the following symptoms:

Fever or chills

Cough

Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing

Fatigue

Muscle or body aches

Headache

New loss of taste or smell

Sore throat

Congestion or runny nose

Nausea or vomiting

Diarrhea

This list does not include all possible symptoms. People with COVID-19 have had a wide range of symptoms reported – ranging from mild symptoms to severe illness. Older adults and people who have severe underlying medical conditions like heart or lung disease or diabetes seem to be at higher risk for developing more serious complications from COVID-19 illness. Complete information on COVID-19 can be found on the CDC website

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We’d love to have you stay and celebrate the race, but it is not yet the time to do that. We hope you all stay safe and healthy, are out there running and walking, and we look forward to a future of organized events.

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Please feel free to reach out with any questions!

Advance Packet Pickup - for the Mermaid Run on Saturday, August 22, we will be holding two advance packet pickups.  We strongly encourage everyone to come to one of the advance packet pickup if you are able to do so in order to eliminate any gathering of crowds on race morning.  Please help us to stay within the guidelines and manage everyone's safety.

• You will receive your bib # by email on Thursday, August 13

• We will be at Festival Park in Aberdeen on 

  • Sunday August 16 from 3-5 pm and 

  • again on Thursday August 20 from 4-6 pm

• We will be under or near the pavilion

• When you arrive at Festival Park, please wear a mask and observe social distancing; remain 6-ft apart from others while you wait your turn.

• Tell us your bib number and you will receive your items in a contactless manner; our staff will be wearing masks

• If you are picking up for more than one person, please be prepared with the name and bib # of that person as well.

• If you are a local virtual racer, please come to packet pickup if you are able.  If you are unable to attend either packet pickup, please let us know.  Out of town virtual racers will have their items mailed to them.

Day-of Race packet pickup will be at the Park pavilion.  Race bibs/shirts will be bagged and numbered, arranged in order.  Please know your bib number when you come to the pickup area as this will be self-service.  

1. No more than 10 people will be allowed under the pavilion at any one time, and this area will be monitored by a staff person. 

2. You will enter the pavilion from the Howard St. side

3. You will exit the pavilion onto the main grassy area of Festival Park

4. Cross over to the Parke St. side of the park to enter the start corral.  Details to follow!