Weather Causing Some Changes To Earth Day Run Festivities

(KNSI) – Every participant in this weekend’s CentraCare M Physicians Earth Day Run is guaranteed to have someone cheering them on.

Over the course of 13.1 miles, there will come a time when you need a pick me up and the race organizers at Active Central Minnesota think they have figured out how to deliver one even for those from out of town or without someone in the crowd.

“We have five [groups] that were selected to get $500 for their nonprofit to take part as a cheer zone. Those five can compete for an additional $1,000 but we did add the option for four others [organizations] to show up if they want to.”

Other supporters are free to choose any spot along the race course. You can find a map here. Friday will have the Capital One Kid’s 1K Run and the 5K Walk/Run, including the 5K Corporate Challenge starting at 5:30 p.m. The Bernick’s Half Marathon kicks off at 8:30 a.m. on Saturday.

Organizer Heather Corcoran says 10 to 15 helpers are still needed for both Friday and Saturday. A link to register to run in any of this weekend’s races is here.

The forecast is sending the block party indoors, however. All of Friday’s festivities have been pushed from 5th Avenue to the River’s Edge Convention Center in downtown St. Cloud. Corcoran says participants will find the perfect memento to remember this year’s race at the block party.

“We actually invited some artists too, which I think will be kind of a fun little add-on. So some pottery, some actual painted prints of the half marathon course. We’ve got somebody else showing up with artisan — it’s like a bracelet but they’re inspirational. So things like that, that I think might be really kind of exciting for souvenir type thing for our participants.”

The party and packet pickup runs from 11:00 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. Friday and starts again at 7:00 a.m. on Saturday.

For those just trying to get around town, the races will change things too. A list of road closures for Saturday is below.

– 1st Street North from 4th Avenue South to Riverside Drive SE
– Riverside Drive SE from St. Germain Street East to 10th Street SE
– 10th Street SE from Riverside Drive SE to 14th Avenue SE
– 14th Avenue SE from 10th Street SE to 13th Street SE
– 13th Street SE from 14th Avenue SE to 10th Avenue SE
– 10th Avenue SE from 13th Street SE to University Drive SE
– University Drive SE from 10th Avenue SE to 15th Avenue SE
– 15th Avenue SE from University Drive SE to 9th Avenue SE
– 9th Avenue SE from 15th Avenue SE to Minnesota Boulevard SE
– Minnesota Boulevard SE from 9th Avenue SE to Kilian Boulevard SE
– Kilian Boulevard SE from Minnesota Boulevard SE to University Drive South
– University Drive from Kilian Boulevard to 5th Avenue South
– 5th Avenue South from University Drive to 16th Street South
– 16th Street South from 4th Avenue South to 7th Avenue South
– 7th Avenue South from 16th Street South to 18th Street South
– 18th Street South from 7th Avenue South to alley to 8th Avenue South
– Clearwater Road from 8th Avenue South to 33rd Street South
– 33rd Street South from Clearwater Road to Lancewood Drive
– Lancewood Drive from 33rd Street South to Montrose Road
– Montrose Road from Lancewood Drive to Clearwater Road
– Beaver Island Trail from Clearwater Road to 1st Avenue South
– 1st Avenue South from 3rd Avenue South to 8th Street South
– 8th Street South from 1st Avenue South to 4th Avenue South
– 4th Avenue South from 8th to 7th Street South
– 7th Street South from 4th Avenue South to 5th Avenue South
– 5th Avenue South from 7th Street South to 6th Street South
– 6th Street South from 5th Avenue South to 1st Avenue South
– 1st Avenue South from 6th to 4th Street South
– 4th Street South from 1st Avenue South to 3rd Avenue South
– 3rd Avenue South from 4th Street South to Ramsey Place
– Ramsey Place from 3rd Avenue South to 4th Avenue South
– 4th Avenue South from Ramsey Place to 4th Street South
– 4th Street South from 4th Avenue South to 9th Avenue South
– 9th Avenue South from 4th Street South to St. Germain Street West
– St. Germain Street West from 9th/10th Avenue to 5th Avenue