Farmland 5K Run and Free for All Bike

More information at http://www.farmlandtc.com

Organizers announce registration is open the 5th Annual Keen Technical Farmland 5K and Free for All Bike to “celebrate year round active living in northern Michigan“, with the event set to go on December 3, 2016 in Traverse City.

Farmland events feature a 5K (3.1 miles) cross country style race, which has it’s origins in Europe, where foot races were held from farm to farm. For cycling fans, the event features the relaxed but competitive “Free for All” bike race, a 6 lap (12 miles) event with awards for 4 bike type categories including fat bikes, cyclocross bikes, mountain bikes, single speed bikes and youth 12 & under – any bike. Runners and riders are eligible for a combined Run and Bike competitive category. In addition, low barriers including earth berms, wood fence, fallen logs and stone fence, greet runners and riders along the course.

The December date was chosen to offer a “naturally tough, true northern Michigan” event.

The footrace begins at 12:00 noon followed by the cycling event at 1:00 with both courses going over gentle, mowed grass pathways surrounding the 150 acres of over 100 year old farm property of local farmer Lewie Rasho, who has been donating and maintaining the dedicated course southeast of Traverse City since 2001.

All finishers will receive a Free Post Race Party re-fuel featuring soup, chili, bread, hot coffee and hot chocolate and limited quantities of Short’s microbrewery beer will be complimentary to finishers age 21 and older.

The event will again support the Taste the Local Difference campaign promoted by the Groundwork for Resilient Communities with $2 from each run entry being donated to the organization.

Also, $2 of every bike entry will go to support Norte Youth Cycling, a local non-profit that encourages children to establish enduring relationship with bicycles and advocates for sustainable mobility.

Cross Country-style team competition will be offered to teams signing up in advance, and in keeping with the cross country theme, will recognize the totaled score of the 5 top age category finishers. Team competition favors teams with depth across all age group categories. There is no extra charge to form a team, but interested teams should contact the race director by email to get started (lisamarytaylor@gmail.com).

Awards will go to the overall male and female runners in open, masters, “super masters”. Awards will also be given to the top 3 in age divisions. In the bike event, Top 3 awards will go to winners in 5 bike categories including fat, cyclocross, mountain, single speed and those under 12 riding any type bike. A special combo award goes to the top bike and run time combined. Souvenir technical winter training hats will be reserved to the first 500 entries and all finishers (first 500) will receive the Farmland signature finisher souvenir, a tiny farm tractor.

Individual registration fee is $35 now for the run or bike, and $50 for the combo run/bike, and will be available online until December 1st, (at noon). Family pricing and discounts for teams is available with early registration online only.

Persons wishing to register in person may do so on Friday, December 2nd from 4 – 7 p.m. at Timber Ridge Resort in Traverse City. Race number pick up is also on Friday, December 2nd, 4 – 7 p.m. at Timber Ridge, and again on Saturday, December 3rd starting at 10:30 a.m. at the race venue at the Rasho Farm next to Courtade Elementary on Rasho Rd., Traverse City MI 49696.

For more information, contact Race Director Lisa Taylor at lisamarytaylor@gmail.com. Also visit the event website at www.farmlandtc.com