Packet Pickup & Post‑Race Amenities: setting the stage for smooth sailing

Using the site map as your trusty guide, this is where we transform the Family Lawn into a welcoming, polished, easy‑to‑navigate hub for runners. Think of it as building a cheerful little village where everything has a purpose and every tent tells runners, “We’re so glad you’re here.”

The Basics: tables, tents, and tidy touches

• Every table gets a tablecloth — because even a simple table deserves to feel fancy on race day.
• Place the three LRC tents the length of five tables north of the concrete path, with the west tent lined up with the finish line.
• The westmost tent can be our behind‑the‑scenes helper during packet pickup — perfect for storage and keeping clutter out of sight - and shared with any other committees promoting the club on race day.
• The middle and east tents are your main hubs for bib and shirt distribution — bright, friendly, and easy for runners to find.

Finish Line Amenities: a smooth, happy flow

We want runners to glide through the finish like it’s the world’s friendliest conveyor belt.
• Set everything in one straight line so runners don’t zig‑zag or double back.
• First stop: medals (two tables).
• Second stop: water (two tables).
• Then onward to snacks — because nothing says “you did it!” like a post‑race treat.

Volunteer Tent → Snack Tent Transformation

• The volunteer information tent sits northeast of the finish chute.
• Once packet pickup winds down, this tent magically transforms into the snack distribution station. (Think of it as a quick‑change artist.)

Bib & Shirt Distribution Flow

• South side of the tent: bib numbers
• North side of the tent: shirts

This keeps lines moving and prevents the “where do I go now?” shuffle.

The Medical Tent: our calm corner of care

Among all the bright tents and bustling activity, one special tent has a very important job: the Medical Tent. This is our quiet, steady space where runners can get attention if something doesn’t feel quite right. The Medical Tent is staffed by trained professionals, so our role is simply to make sure it’s placed correctly, looks tidy, and is easy for runners (and volunteers!) to spot when needed. 

After the 5k Start

Packet pickup doesn’t disappear — it simply shifts gears.
You’ll still handle:
• Kids Fun Run bibs
• Kids Fun Run shirts
• Shirt exchange for anyone needing a different size

The Great Tent Migration

Once packet pickup closes on race morning, the westmost LRC tent gets a new mission.
Move it north of the DJ and set it up with:
• Timing kiosks
• Leaderboard TV

This becomes the results hub — the place where runners gather to see their hard‑earned numbers shine.

Start Line Crew: Where the magic (and the miles) begin

The start line is the heartbeat of race morning — the place where nerves buzz, playlists pump, and runners gather with that “here we go” sparkle. Our job is to help create a start area that feels polished, safe, and photo‑ready from every angle.

Before anything else, get ready for our VIPs
• The timer
• The National Anthem singer
• Sponsors

Reserving these spots ensure they can get where they need to be without stress.

Before 7:00 AM: prep mode (the road is still open!)

Until 7:00 AM, the road remains open to traffic, so this is your time to get everything ready without stepping into the roadway.

During this window, you can:
• Prepare the START feather flags so they’re ready to place the moment the road closes
• Place the corral feather flags in the grass on the east side of the corrals (distance from the start depends on how many runners are in each corral group, we will send final counts race week)
• Secure the LRC mesh banner to the truss — trim any zip‑tie ends so everything looks clean and camera‑ready

Think of this as setting the stage before the curtain rises.

The Truss: our 2026 shiny new starting gateway

This year’s start line features a beautiful aluminum truss spanning the road — part of our Bay City Timing package. LRC provides the mesh banners that turn it into a true “wow” moment.
(The mockup is not to scale — the real thing is should be more impressive.)

Once the road closes at 7:00 AM: showtime setup

When the road officially closes, the Start Line Crew and Timing Crew can jump in and make the start line shine.

You’ll:
• Place the START feather flags in front of the truss (opposite the corrals) so they pop in photos
• Use A‑frames to fill the gap between the truss towers and the curb — this ensures every runner passes through the truss and over the start mat
• Make sure the Lakeland Runners Club side of the A‑frames faces away from the corrals so it shows up beautifully in photos
• Double‑check that everything looks intentional, aligned, and ready for thousands of footsteps

The National Anthem & Pre‑Race Hype

At 7:20 AM, we’ll play the National Anthem — a quiet, meaningful moment before the excitement builds.

After that, our announcer will take over, hyping up the runners and creating an electric “let’s do this” atmosphere.

Course Setup Crew: the guardians of the perfect path

You’re the team that turns a simple loop into a certified, confidence‑boosting race course. Your work makes sure every runner covers the full distance, stays on the correct side of the path, and enjoys a smooth, interference‑free experience. 

The Cone Line: our mile‑long masterpiece

To keep faster and slower runners from crossing paths in the 1‑mile section that’s run twice, we create a distinct lane for each loop using cones and flagging tape. It’s simple, elegant, and incredibly effective.

Here’s how to bring it to life:
• The club has 250 cones, each with a handy gripping channel on top.
• Space cones about 25 feet apart along the entire 1‑mile section.
• At the greenhouse end, create a triangle — runners enter from different directions on loop 1 and loop 2, so this helps guide them cleanly.
• Near the exit toward the finish, place cones a little closer together as a visual cue that runners need to peel off the path.

Friday Night: cone drop magic

After the park closes — around 7:30 PM — the cone line gets placed.

This is the quiet, peaceful part of setup, where the course begins to take shape under the evening sky.

Saturday Morning: flagging tape finesse

Once the Bonnet Springs Park team has blown debris off The Circulator, it’s time to run the flagging tape.

Important notes:
• BSP prefers white flagging tape only for this event.
• After stringing the tape, walk the entire cone line — some rolls have two pieces joined with scotch tape, and the breeze loves to undo those little connections.
• A quick walk‑through ensures everything stays crisp, continuous, and safe.

More Course Essentials

Your team also sets out:
• Channelizers with mile marker signs
• Cones marking course monitor locations

These pieces help runners stay oriented, help volunteers know exactly where to be, and help the whole course feel intentional and polished.

Finish Line Setup: the crown jewel of race day

The finish line is where the magic lands — cameras click, sponsors sparkle, medals shine, and runners beam with that “I did it!” glow. Your job is to help create a finish chute that feels polished, intentional, and unmistakably LRC.

This is our biggest branding moment of the entire event, and with your care, it becomes a beautiful finale for every runner.

Showcasing Our Sponsors: the grand display

Our sponsor signs should be arranged like a proud parade, in this order:

1. Presenting Sponsor
2. Olympic Sponsors
3. Elite Sponsors
4. Endurance Sponsors

A quick guide to sizes:
• Presenting (MidFlorida) and Olympic sponsors each get a full barricade
• Elite sponsors get half a barricade
• Endurance sponsors get one‑third of a barricade

Arrange them so the hierarchy is clear, the flow is smooth, and the photos look fantastic.

Color Rules: keeping BSP happy

Bonnet Springs Park prefers a clean, natural aesthetic, so any pennant flagging or flagging tape must be white. 

Finish Chute Flow: guiding runners with grace

The finish chute should gently guide runners toward:

1. Medals
2. Waters
3. Snacks

Only two people should physically be in the chute immediately past the finish line:
• The photographer
• A volunteer watching for medical needs

Everyone else — medal crew, water crew, snack crew — should be stationed on the grass, serving runners as they exit the chute.

This keeps the path clear, safe, and photo‑ready.

Why this matters

A clean, well‑marked, beautifully arranged finish line:
• Honors our sponsors
• Keeps runners safe
• Makes photos look incredible
• Helps volunteers do their jobs with ease
• Leaves every participant feeling cared for and celebrated

It’s the final impression of the race — and with your help, it becomes a moment runners will remember.