7th Annual Rockets & Rapids 5K...

• 5K Run:- Run 3.1 Miles

_ The 7th Annual Rockets & Rapids 5K:

Cahaba Medical Care Foundation invites you to participate in the 7th Annual Rockets & Rapids 5K (formerly known as the Watermelon 5K) to be held on Saturday, July 11th in Centreville, Alabama. 

All proceeds from this event will benefit the Cahaba Community Center & Community Outreach Programs. The funds raised from this event will impact the lives of many families in need throughout our community by providing those facing financial hardship with access to food and basic needs.

ABOUT CAHABA MEDICAL CARE: Cahaba Medical Care is a nonprofit Community Health Center with 16 clinic locations throughout Central Alabama in Bibb, Perry, Chilton, and Jefferson County. We’re headquartered in Centreville, Alabama, approximately two blocks from the Cahaba River. Founded in 2004, we’re celebrating 16 joyful years of service to residents of Bibb County and the surrounding areas!

ABOUT THE EVENT: The Rockets & Rapids 5K welcomes all ages and skill levels - feel free to race hard for your age-group prize or come out to walk/jog your first 5K with many other first-timers! The race starts and ends at the Cahaba Medical Care Community Center, crosses the beautiful Cahaba River twice and includes an extended scenic view of the Cahaba River, as well as historic uptown Centreville. We will have liberal hydration stations with sprinklers, so please come on out and brave the heat!

Racers should plan to come early and stay late for the awesome before and after party festivities! The 5K is held each year in conjunction with the Celebration on the Green community event that includes numerous on-site vendors and activities before the race starting at 5pm. At the 5K finish line, we’ll be serving ice-cold watermelon slices and delicious BBQ… then, stick around for the best Independence Day Fireworks Celebration this side of Disney World at 9pm, courtesy of our partner hospital, Bibb Medical Center, the cities of Brent & Centreville, and South Bibb Parks & Recreation!

A note about COVID-19 precautions: 

• We will make every effort to conduct this race in accordance with CDC and state guidelines. We will also rely on each runner to conduct themselves with best practices that we have all learned over the last 3 months during the global pandemic, including practical physical distancing, avoiding handshakes and high-fives, and wearing facemasks, etc.

• That being said, racers will not be expected to wear masks during the race.

• Our volunteers are all Cahaba Medical Care employees or family members, and will undergo the same screening we do before work each day. We won’t work sick. 

• Additionally, volunteers will be wearing cloth masks at registration, and any time we expect brief interactions closer than 6 feet apart.

• Racers will line up the starting line 6 feet approximately apart. 

• The race will be chip timed, but a gun start, SO, we will need to prioritize our athletes who are racing our race for their school. 

  • If you are running this 5k as an official member of a school track team, please contact Courtney Allen. We will make sure that you are lined up in the Heat #1 section. 

  • If you consider yourself a competitive amateur (aka, 6-9 minutes per mile; 20-28 minute total time range) and are racing for bragging rights with a friend, please also contact Courtney Allen, and we will try to make sure you are lined up in Heat #2. 

  • Everyone else, enjoy the race with a little extra “social distance” at the starting line! :-) 

• Please consider bringing your own water (BYOW) this year. We have always prided ourselves on our liberal hydration stations, but the guidelines will make us a little limited. We will have bottled water available at some stations, and around mile 2 some gatorade.

• Each station will have hand sanitizer with >70% alcohol content available as well, as an abundance of precaution.

• Most importantly, we have all been through a lot this year with the pandemic. We believe it is time to get outdoors and be together… but we also believe that we must do it safely. We are expecting everyone to abide by best practices with us. We know that there are lots of differing views right now, but if you are joining us for this race, please graciously respect the safety and views of everyone around you, and let’s have a great race.

• Finally, if there are more updates, we will update you at registration.

New this year! Professional race timing by Jeff Clark! 

Race Map and Cue Sheet on Strava! 

Event details and schedule

EVENT SCHEDULE: 

Same-day registration will be available from 5:00-6:30 PM at the Cahaba Medical Care tent in the front lawn of the Community Center.

All pre-registered participants must check-in at the Cahaba Medical Care tent by 6:30 PM.

Directly across from the Community Center will be the Celebration on the Green, which starts at 5:00 PM and includes vendors, food, live music, games and other fun activities!

The 5K will start promptly at 7:00 PM. Racers should be in place at the starting line by 6:45 PM.

The awards ceremony will take place between 8:10 and 8:25pm, depending on the music and availability of the stage (did we mention live music!)... and be sure to stick around for the Independence Day Fireworks Show at 9:00 PM!

PARKING:

Parking will be available in front of the Olon Heights Shopping Center located at 155 Birmingham Road. If needed, additional parking is available at Cahaba Medical Care (405 Belcher Street) and neighboring Bibb Medical Center (208 Pierson Avenue).

COURSE/ROUTE INFO: 

Race Map and Cue Sheet on Strava! 

From the starting line, racers will run west along Alexander Avenue, make a right onto Library Street, make another right onto Nicholson Ave, then take a left to run through the Hospital campus on Pierson Avenue.

Crossing Birmingham Road onto Park Drive will be assisted by volunteers and the local police department, where you will then make your way to the scenic Cahaba Riverwalk.

You will exit the Cahaba Riverwalk behind the Bibb County Chamber of Commerce, where you will find the first hydration station. You’ll run up to Walnut Street and take a left, cross the Cahaba River, then run a short but steep incline into the heart of historic uptown Centreville. (Note: There will be volunteers and/or a local policeman helping you through the traffic light just over the bridge.)

The second hydration station will be at The Studio - Centreville’s nonprofit music, dance and activity center. Runners will then take a left to make a loop around the Court Square, followed by a half-mile downhill reprieve back toward Cahaba Medical Care and the Bibb Medical Center campus. (Note: We will stay on the north side of the road again this year to make an easy right-hand turn back to the hospital campus.)

Racer’s will turn right at the Board of Education, where you’ll find your third hydration station. The fourth hydration station will be located at Cahaba Medical Care (405 Belcher Street), just don't stop for long because...

The FINISH LINE will be at the intersection of Alexander Avenue and Hospital Drive. Racers will be able to rest up, hydrate and enjoy cold watermelon slices and delicious BBQ at the final station located in the front lawn of the "old" Cahaba Medical Care, now serving as the "new" CMC Community Center.

-) 2020 race registration is open • Registration Information