Monday, May 11, 2009

A 10K in May? Hooray!

As a matter of fact, Saturday's Morrison 10K/5K Race & 1 mile Fun Run may boast the only Charlotte-area 6.2-miler this side of fall. (Thanks, Jason, for reminding me of this one!)

The addition of the 10K (and the 1-mile "fun run") to the Morrison YMCA's fifth annual event, a 5K-only in years past, should attract a larger-than-usual crowd to the Ballantyne Corporate Park. 5Kers and 10Kers start together at 8 a.m.; Fun Run is at 9.

There'll be live entertainment, free food and giveaways sponsored by Ballantyne shops and restaurants. Cost for the 10K is $25 if you register here, or $30 at the Morrison or Ballantyne Village Y. 5K fees are $20-$25.

The race scene goes quiet locally for Memorial Day Weekend (although feel free to chase some skirts in Raleigh), but May 30 boasts a few attractive options:

  • The Charlotte Run for Peace at Home is a 5K trail run set for that morning on the McAlpine Creek Greenway (just a couple miles from Matthews). Notably, the men's and women's starts are staggered by half an hour -- they're at 8 a.m. and 8:30 a.m., respectively -- with a children's fun run/walk to follow at 9. Target audience here is anyone who enjoys small cross-country events: Last year's race featured just 260 runners, and the scenic trail consists of both open flats and challenging hills. Register online through May 23 by clicking here. Proceeds benefit anti-domestic violence programs in the Charlotte area, and the motto of the 15-year-old race is "Peace begins at home." The event has been at McAlpine Creek Greenway since 2007.
  • Brand-new to the annual calendar of events is the RLJ Be the Match 5K, set for 8 a.m. on a course just south of Lake Wylie, near the York County line. Run in memory of Robert Lawrence Johnson, the race benefits the National Marrow Donor Program, which matches leukemia and lymphoma sufferers with potential bone marrow donors. The 5K's slogan -- "run some hills for a great cause" -- also alludes to the rolling course along the Grand Palisades Parkway. Start and finish is at the Charlotte United soccer fields. Strollers and children are welcome; pets aren't. Free massages afterward. Cost: $20 in advance, $25 on race day. For more info, click here.
  • Finally, if you're in a multi-sport mood, there's the Over the Mountain Triathlon (1.5K swim, 45K bike, 10K run) in Kings Mountain. It's a point-to-point race that begins at Moss Lake, west of the town, and ends in the downtown area. The bike course winds through two state parks, one national park and in and out of South Carolina. For a map of the route, click here.
Have I missed anything else locally for the month of May?

7 comments:

Chad R. said...

There's a great little 5k on May 23rd in Salisbury offered by the Salisbury Rowan Runners, called the Bare Bones 5k. No frills (but with a cool t-shirt) and small, it's one of the flatter courses around, with only one hill of any significance. Good place to get a p.r. Here's the link: http://salisburyrowanrunners.com/

Anonymous said...

Theoden, you should be the person that updates the calendar in Monday's Observer. That way you could correct the "Run for Peach at Home' race that is being listed for May 30.

Anonymous said...

Don't forget the Belmont 5K on May 23 and the Miles of Hope 5K at the Winthrop University Campus on May 30. There is also a 5K in Birkdale on May 30th.

Anonymous said...

Theoden,

Are you still training to run NYC this fall? If so, many of us would rather hear about your progress towards that goal and the lessons that you're learning through the process.

Theoden Janes said...

I entered the lottery for NYC, and will find out in mid-June whether I'll get to run it. The plan is to regularly blog about my marathon training once I start my 16-week program in mid-July!

JMB said...

There is a 10K/5K at Lake Wylie on 6/13 at 8 am. Its called the Lake Wylie Splash Dash. It starts/ends at Camp Thunderbird and the routes are throughout the River Hills subdivision. The race is in its 16th year. I ran it a few years ago and the crowd was very small. Just warning: It is a hilly, challenging course.

Anonymous said...

There is a trail half marathon and 5 mile race on Sat. May 30 at the Springs Greenway in Ft, Mill. It is advertised as a recession race because ther are no awards or t-shirts. But the entry fees are $10 in advance and $20 on race day. For more info, contact Dan Wellbaum at dawellba@duke-energy.com or 803-329-6913