The 2021 Wooster Brick Run

It's been awesome having the Wooster Brick Run back in Wooster since 2016, but guess what....Flickinger Hill still isn't flat, so, we have another race to put on! Back for 2021 -- The Wooster Brick Run!

Brick Run History: Dating back to the 1980's when the first Running Boom swept the US, the Wooster Brick Run 25k was an annual event in a town crawling with Runners! While the official starting line of the race often rotated between the Wooster YMCA, Freedlander Park Chalet, and ultimately the most popular home of the Brick Run, The Wooster High School, the most common denominator (or dominator) of the event was the daunting 300 ft climb up and over Flickinger Hill! As times moved on, and runners got older and priorities changed, The Wooster Brick Run somehow fell to the wayside, however Flickinger Hill did not get any smaller. Rumor has it that this climb continues to grow by about 3.7ft annually, which means if the Wooster Brick Run continues to flourish, eventually the mile 7.5 aid station at the top of this mammoth hill will not be visible from ground level, but rather will be in the clouds...

Early records indicate that the manufacturing of bricks in Wayne County began around 1872. The northwest corner of Wayne County contained large deposits of clay and shale, important for brick making. Most Wooster bricks were manufactured at a plant located at the corner of Bowman Street and Mechanicsburg Road. “Wooster Pavers,” were used as curb bricks. By the late 1960s the company had closed. Over the last 50 years, these collectible bricks have started to dwindle away, but some still remain-most of those that are in good condition are in the houses of the local runners who ran this race back in the day. The early iteration of the Wooster Brick Run had the tradition of presenting a Brick to each finisher and the race was originally titled The Wooster Brick run because the route left your legs feeling like Bricks!  Today, we do our best to carry on the tradition of The Wooster Brick run in the best way we know how...by running!

Registration fees:

You will still have 3 options at sign up:

Brick Run 25k (run only)-  $20.00 through June 30, $25.00 July 1 through race week

Brick Run and $5 donation to the scholarship fund- $25.00 through June 30, $30.00 July 1 through race week

Brick Run and donation to the scholarship fund with a long sleeve tech shirt- $35.00 through August 11, 2021

*All registration options include a chip-timed race, comemmorative Wooster Paver themed finisher's gift, and FREE beer ticket to JAFB Wooster Brewery.

REGISTRATION IS LIMITED TO THE FIRST 100 PARTICIPANTS, NO EXCEPTIONS.  SIGN UP EARLY TO GUARANTEE YOUR SPOT.

The Course: 25k is 15.5 miles. The route features over 1000 ft of gain which is similar to the gain at the "hilly" Akron Marathon, but this is 10 miles shorter! This new variation of the old course starts AND finishes at Schellin Park and takes you past the following Wooster Landmarks:

*Christmas Run Park

*Wooster YMCA (previous Starting Point of the Wooster Brick Run)

*Flickinger Hill!

*Oak Hill Park

*Wooster High School (previous Starting Point of the Wooster Brick Run)

*Kinney Walking Path

*The home of Bob Bressi, Owner of our title sponsor, College Hills Honda!

*Freedlander Park (previous Starting Point of the Wooster Brick Run)

*The Old Wooster Trolley Line Trail (many don't even know about this!)

*Beautiful College of Wooster Campus

*The Wooster Brush Company

*Historic Downtown Wooster Shopping District

Really, it would be tough to see this much of Wooster in one day by car, and you'll be doing it by foot! You've GOT to be proud of yourself!

Aid stations boasting Water, Gels, and some light runner snacks will be located at miles 4.0, 7.5, 10, and 11.25. We'll have cups of water there, but if you are a heavy drinker, you'll want to carry a bottle, and we'll refill you at the aid stops!

Click here for a better view of the course------> Wooster Brick Run

Course Markings: The course will be very well marked with thick YELLOW paint arrows at all turns, turn arrows at each turn, additional course signage inside the parks where paint is a no-no, orange flags along the short trail section on the old trolley line, and Wooster Brick Run signs posted in the ground at the turns. Be aware, follow the course markings, and you'll do great. We have also marked the mile markers in the ground at each mile 1-15 to help keep you on track and let you know where you are.

Restrooms:  The Restroom will be available at Schellin Park for pre-race use and there is a Restroom at Oak Hill park at mile 9.25.

The Wooster Brick Run is a grass roots run and we will be running on streets that are open for traffic. While we do not anticipate any delays for the runners, it is your responsibility to follow pedestrian traffic laws during the race. When in doubt, stop for oncoming traffic. This event is designed to be fun, so let's not get anyone hurt at all.

Wear bright clothing, run in the appropriate lanes (against traffic -- this is also where the markings will be), and yield when appropriate. We'll have some volunteers in key spots (at the start of the race) to help you get across the key intersections, but for the most part you will be in charge of yourself.

Check in: This is super easy...we mail you your pre-race items!  Just show up at the start line with your bib pinned to the front of your shirt ready to go.  Due to the Social Distancing practices, we are asking that you only show up 5 mins prior to your start time and wait for those in front of you to leave the start before you approach the line.  There is unlimited space in and near the park to warm-up, so you should be all good there!

Race Start: The race features a staggered start which will send runners off at different intervals to eliminate large packs on the roadways, create social distancing, and make sure that everyone is safe at the finish line! Your start times will be sent out on race week and we would really prefer that ALL runners start at their appropriate time (there is a method to our madness). The aid stations (miles 4.5, 7.5, 10, 11.25) will be set up according to the times start waves, so as long as you stick to the start line wave times, we'll have support out on the course for you.