Crape Myrtle “Run the Trails”
A new, certified 10K course for serious runners has been added to all the family fun.
Ninth annual Crape Myrtle “Run the Trails” this weekend
The family-friendly event kicks off McKinney Oktoberfest
Neil Sperry invites e-gardens readers to bring their families to the 2014 Crape Myrtle Trails of McKinney Fun Run this coming Saturday, Sept. 27. A prelude to McKinney’s Oktoberfest, this year’s run includes a certified 10K course, plus a 5K and 1-mile run/walk and many extra attractions. The start/finish line this year is at Cockrill Middle School, 1351 Hardin Rd. in McKinney. Starting gun for the first race is at 8:30 a.m.
Pre- and post-race fun in Myrtle Village includes warm-up exercises, Chicken Dances, and awards of medals and trophies.
As in the past, run participants will enjoy a party atmosphere in Myrtle Village both before and after the race. Entertainment in the area near the start/finish will include a petting zoo, face painter, bounce house, inflatable obstacle course, music, warm-up exercises, plus Chicken Dances and other fun afterwards. In a now-established tradition, students from the school with the most participants will get to see their coach or principal Kiss a Pig. (“Myrtle” is her name.)
Rodney Haynes, race chair, said, “The new course is a beautiful race through Bonnie Wenk Park and McKinney Trails.” He said the new venue allows the entertainment area in Myrtle Village to be “twice the size as before.”
The race is directed and timed by Racing Systems through Run-On! of McKinney. Medals and trophies will be awarded the fastest runners in multiple age divisions. Follow-up rewards to local education occur in the weeks after the run, when Crape Myrtle Trails Board members return $5 of students’ and parents’ registration fees to participating schools.
Phil Wheat, president of the Crape Myrtle Trails Board said, “We’re excited to be one of the events kicking off a wonderful McKinney Oktoberfest weekend. We think the inclusion of a certified, fast 10K course will bring runners from beyond the boundaries of McKinney to join the fun and see what a great community we have.”
Click here for advance registration. Registration on race day begins at 7:30 a.m. in front of Cockrill Middle School, at the intersection of White and Hardin Roads.
More than 35 community businesses and organizations are sponsors for the event, led by the McKinney Community Development Corporation. Other key sponsors include Haynes Landscaping, Irrigators, Covingtons Nursery, Baylor, Neil Sperry’s Gardens Magazine, Branded Floors, Vision Automotive, Dabow, PRO Marketing Links, Rogers/Tate Financial, Entrepreneur Authority, Ag Power McKinney, Shades of Green Nursery, North Haven Gardens, Walmart, Calloways Nursery, Arborilogical Services, Legacy Texas Bank, Picketts Nursery, Pierce Insurance Group, Melanie Hedrick, Realtor, Pat Lobb Toyota, First United Bank, Allegiance Title, Methodist McKinney Hospital, Certa Pro Painters, The Body Shop, Market Street, Encore Wire, Independent Bank, Progressive Waste Solutions, Traxxas, Carolyn Skei, F8 Studios, Loughmiller Higgins Law Firm, Phil D. Wheat, Bank of Texas, and Atmos.