Runners will lace up their shoes for one of Logan County's most anticipated summer races when the 32nd Annual Run to Educate 5K takes place Friday, Aug. 7, at Bellefontaine High School.
The longtime community tradition is a fundraiser for the Logan County Education Foundation. This year, it's also part of the Logan County Visitor's Bureau's Run LoCo race series.
The event begins and ends on the Bellefontaine High School track, allowing runners to start in a stadium setting before heading onto the course and finishing back on the track.
Run to Educate is also one of the few evening races on the Run LoCo schedule, providing participants with an opportunity to enjoy a summer Friday night while competing in a community-focused event.
Over the years, the race has attracted a competitive field of runners, including current high school cross country and track athletes, former runners returning to the area, and local competitors seeking a challenging race. Organizers note that the event has become a favorite stop for many area runners.
In addition to earning a Run LoCo passport stamp, participants will have a chance to compete for a unique prize. The top male and female finishers will each receive a pie, a tradition that recognizes the mathematical constant pi, approximately 3.14159.
Run LoCo is a county-wide running challenge, where participants collect stamps at races, track their progress and complete six out of 10 races to earn a custom Run LoCo Challenge Coin.
Other upcoming spots on the designated Run LoCo Passport include:
• Aug. 22 - 49th Annual Big Orange Summer Run;
• Sept. 7 – Liberty Spirit 3-Miler;
• Oct. 24 - RushChurch RushRun;
• Nov. 7 – Marmon Valley Horseshoe Hill Climb; and
• Nov. 28 – West Liberty Dash Before the Game Day Bash.
For race registration information for each of the events, visit https://www.experiencelogancounty.com/runloco.html.
Once your six races are completed, be sure to submit your completed card and receive the official Run LoCo Challenge Coin as a keepsake.
In addition to the passports, the Visitors Bureau also offers a community on the run tracking app through Strava. Users can look up and join the Run LoCo running club, compare miles logged and participate in virtual versions of each race on the challenge
