A Guide to Tonight's 5K and Pizza Extravaganza

As the 11th Annual Downtown Westfield 5K & Pizza Extravaganza heats up, here's what you need to know:

After weeks of extreme heat, runners could catch a break this afternoon. According to the National Weather Service, today's high temperature will reach 86 degrees, with the day's low expected to be 67 degrees.

Approximately 2,400 runners will took over the streets of Westfield this afternoon for the 5K run which begins at 7 p.m., so expect traffic, road closures and detours.

will host a pre-race stretch both at the 5K event and at its office located at 190 Elm St. Runners are invited to stop in and meet the staff and enter the free random drawing for a pair of NY Mets or NY Yankees tickets. Drawing entries can be picked up both at the stretching tent during the 5K as well as at the Kessler office. Random prizes will also be offered to the racers during the award ceremony.

A "runners' goodies table" will be set up by 4:30 p.m. at the intersection of Elm and Quimby Streets. Free parking on the streets and in the municipal lots as well as the non-numbered spots at the train station also begins at 4:30 p.m.

Runners can pick up their t-shirts and D-tags between 5 and 6:45 p.m. 

The race will be held on the USATF certified course for the following route: On E. Broad Street Left onto N. Euclid Avenue, Left onto Park Drive through , Cross Mountain Avenue, Right onto Lawrence Avenue, Left onto Sylvania Place, Right onto Elm Street, Left onto Newton Place, Right onto Prospect Street, Left onto Brightwood Avenue, Left onto Embree Crescent, Left onto Eaglecroft Road, Right onto Clark Street, left onto W. Dudley Avenue, Right onto Elm Street, and Finish just past E. Broad Street. Refer to www.WestfieldToday.com for the 2012 course map. 

Pizza and dessert will be provided to all registered runners. Entertainment will be provided by the Michael Craig Band with an awards ceremony immediately following the race. 

The stated that the event would not be possible without the help of generous sponsors. For the third year in a row, Trinitas Regional Medical center is the Platinum Sponsor of the event. As the Platinum Sponsor, Trinitas Regional Medical Center staff will be on hand to share information about their award winning hospital and lead the race.

Also at the race will be Silver and Bronze Sponsors. Barnabas Health, Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey, Overlook Medical Center and Stop & Shop have returned as Silver Sponsors. The Alternative Press, Drew & Rogers, JAG Physical Therapy, ShopRite, UBS Financial Services, Wells Fargo Financial Advisors and Westfield Pediatric Dental Group will be returning Bronze Sponsors. Capital One Bank, Creative Dental Care, P.A., and Northwestern Mutual will be new Bronze Sponsors.

Contributing Sponsors this year include Spencer Savings Bank and Thomas Burns, DMD, P.A. PSE&G will be a new contributing sponsor this year. State Farm Insurance Christine Consenza Agency has returned as a Supporting Sponsor.

Proceeds from the race will be used for downtown Westfield streetscape improvements such as new street lights, sidewalks, crosswalks, landscaping and similar projects. 

Whether you're running for the first time or you haven't missed a single pizza race, we want to hear all about your experience and check out your photos, too. Feel free to send your pizza race stories to Liz Alterman at liz.alterman@patch.com and upload your photos to our Pic & Clips gallery. We look forward to seeing you at the finish line!