Parade 5000 Road Run -Elkhart County 4-H Fair

The Parade 5,000 race will be run along the Elkhart County Fair Parade route with thousands of spectators.  The course is very flat and fast.  Be sure to hydrate the day before and morning of the race if hot temperatures are forecasted.  Plan on spending your post-race time at the Elkhart County 4-H Fairgrounds.  There is free admission to all on race day.  *All runners will need to pick up their race numbers from the tents in the northeast corner of the fairgrounds, just north of the track and grandstand facility (Corporte Picnic Tents) before heading into town for the start of the race.  Walkers are welcome but should be able to complete the course at a quick pace as the parade follows the pace of the last set of runners/walkers.  Running with stollers is acceptable, but please no pets.  Respectfully, this event is not intended for casual walkers but feel free to contact us if you have any other questions about the race.  

Race shirts are given to the first 400 entrants.  Medals will be awarded to the top 3 finishers in each age group.  Overall male & female winners will receive a new pair of shoes compliments of "Woldruff's Footwear" in downtown Goshen.  Age groups are as follow: (male & female separate) under 12, 13-15, 16-18, 19-24, 25-29, 30-34, 35-39, 40-44, 45-49, 50-54, 55-59, over 60.   A Special Award, the "Dick Shank Lifetime Fitness Award" is also announced.

We no longer have race-day registration on the day of this event!  All registrations are to be done online by 8:00pm, July 23rd through this site.  Check-in will begin no earlier than 11:00am and will end at 12:30pm SHARP.  Race numbers (with chip sensors) will be available for pick-up during these times at the Corporate Picnic Tents located on the northeast end of the fairgrounds, directly north of the race track (near gate 5).  *All entrants must pick up their registration information from this location before competing in the race.  Please plan to arrive early enough to accomplish this as traffic tends to get busy and congested around this time.  All registered runners will be bused to the starting line at Rogers Park by Cardinal Buses.  Those without a race number will not be allowed to use the transportation provided.  NO BANDITS! -those without a race number will not be allowed to participate in this event. Please see the special note at the bottom of the page.  The race itself begins approximately at 1:20 or whenever the race route can be completely cleared.

Two water stations are available during the route, as well as ice towels at the finish line supplied by CINTAS Rental Service.

Door prizes to be drawn at random for those who sign up post-race.

Sponsors: Dick Shank Family, Woldruff's Footwear, Penguin Point, Paragon Printing Center, Inc., Chippewa Spring Water & Cardinal Buses.  Chip timing operated by "Time to Run"

Results at www.timetorun.net or www.runsignup.com or www.4hfair.org

 *A youth mile fun run will also take place on the horse track before the finish of the Parade 5,000 race but is separate from this event. Those interested should visit 4hfair.org for more information.

**We will be making new attempts to remove "bandits", those who are not officially entered in the race.  Those without an official number will NOT be allowed to participate in the race and will be removed from the starting line.  Please wear your race number at all times once you have checked-in.  Please support all race particpants by officially registering and keeping the costs low for all involved.  -Thank You. 

 

 

Special 35th Anniversary Tribute to the Race Director-Rick Clark

This year is the 35th annual Parade 5000 Road Run.  It was created and has since been directed by Rick Clark, a long-time teacher and coach from Goshen High School.  Over the years, Rick has enjoyed putting on this event and sharing lots of stories and memories with participants that have become loyal runners to this race.  He also enjoys meeting new runners and watching families compete together.  Rick has always been selfless in his attempts to give his fans the best race possible.  Rick has had a lot of memories over the past 35 years but will now be stepping down as race director and will be passing the torch to another worthy crew that wants to carry on the tradition of what is, The Parade 5000 Road Run.  Rick would certainly continue with this endeavor, but suffered a stroke following heart surgery several years ago and it has made it difficult for him to be mobile and communicate.  Rick will be helping plan and also attend the race this year.  He would be happy to meet and talk to those that enjoy this race.  Please feel free to find him and express your gratitude for his efforts from the last 35 years.  We will have a short presentation for him prior to the resutls and awards ceremony.  It would mean a lot to him if everyone could be there.  Thank you again for all of your support over the years!