Running Bear event turns 5
By Lynn Becker
Sun contributor
On Tuesday, July 26, the Glen Arbor Women’s Club hosts the Fifth Annual “Running Bear 5K Run/Walk and ½ Mile Kids’ Run”. This event has become popular with locals and tourists alike who participate. Last year 680 adults and children took part.
The 5K event is open to everyone. You can run or walk, so young people as well as seniors can participate. The younger children are not forgotten either, and they can participate in a ½ Mile “Kids’ Run”. They run/walk the distance, and each child will receive a ribbon, an ice cream cone from Riverfront Pizza and a miniature golf pass from The River at Crystal Bend. Bring the whole family and join the fun.
The event is staged at Cherry Republic in Glen Arbor. Registration will be from 7:30-8:45 a.m. and the race will leave from the corner of Lake and State Streets at 9 a.m. The Kids’ Run follows at 9:05. The event will end back at Cherry Republic for an “After Race Celebration”.
Pre-race excitement will include a warm-up for runners and walkers by Lori Osinski, Trainer and Pilates Instructor in the Village Sampler, at 8:40 a.m. Two favorite local entertainers, Pat Niemesto and John Kumjian from The New Third Coast, will kick off the race with the National Anthem.
Don’t miss our great Running Bear T-shirts sponsored by The Homestead. We will offer the shirts for sale at the Run for $15 for adults and $12 for children.
The “After Race Celebration” will announce the winners. A male and female overall race winner will be crowned, as well as first and second place in nine age categories, with metals and prizes for each donated by Cherry Republic and Crystal River Outfitters. The event will include lots of great food and, last but not least, a drawing for over 50 prizes, where everyone entered in the race is eligible. You must be present to win. The prizes include get-a-way weekends, dinners from local restaurants and prizes from many area merchants.
This event will earn money for local scholarships and community improvements. With the proceeds from last year’s Run, the Glen Arbor Women’s Club gave out three $2,000 Memorial Scholarships to Lilly Christiansen, Lena Cruz and Heather Leach. The GAWC Extraordinary Achievement Award for $2,000 was given to Patrick Stowe. Congratulations to these fine students. We also gave $500 for the Glen Lake Leadership Retreat, $200 to Glen Lake Pals, and $150 to the Glen Lake Music Department. The club also supported our community with $500 to our local food pantry and $400 to the Glen Lake Fire Department and $100 to the Traverse City Health Clinic.
Last year the Dahm family from Cincinnati entered 52 members in the race, ranging in age from age 4-84. According to Mike Dahm, “We were celebrating the 60th anniversary of our parents Jo and Dene Dahm. This race is so fun so we knew everyone would have a good time. This was the 4th year our family has participated.”
Start a family tradition and join us on July 26. The cost is $15 for the 5K Run/Walk ($18, the day of run) and $5 for the Kids’ Run. Registration forms are available at Cherry Republic, the Glen Arbor Athletic Club, the Glen Arbor Chamber, which is located in the new M-22 Store, and Running Fit and Cherry Republic in Traverse City. Forms and money can be mailed or returned to the Glen Arbor Athletic Club. For more information, visit our new website, www.runningbearrun.com or call (231) 334-7363.
Please come out and enjoy a morning of fun in beautiful Glen Arbor. Help the Glen Arbor Women’s Club help our community.
