YMCA plans Peony Pace 5K race

YMCA of VW County information

The Van Wert YMCA announces the YMCA Peony Pace 5K Race, to be held in conjunction with Peony Festival weekend festivities. The 5K run/walk will be held Saturday, June 7, at the YMCA’s Camp Clay, 9196 Liberty Union Road west of Van Wert. The event will begin its 3.1 mile loop at 10 a.m.

Pre-registration is due by May 27 and is $20 with a t-shirt and $15 without a t-shirt. Race Day registration will be available for $20 without a t-shirt.  Along with this event, the YMCA will have a kids’ 1-mile fun run beginning at 9:30 that morning.

The event will offer water and music along the course, as well as $100 in cash prizes to the top male and female winners, in addition to age bracket prizes. On top of the male and female winnings, participants can try their shot at breaking the course record: male participants have to beat a time of 15:20 and females a time of 18:20. Participant(s) can win an extra $100 for each broken record.

The kids’ 1-mile fun run will be free for all ages and participants will be awarded a ribbon. There is no registration for the fun run and the distance will be less than one mile. Registration is required for kids who prefer to run in the 5K race.

The YMCA offers a 5K challenge to all corporations who can register a team of five co-workers to run in the corporate division. The division offers cash prize money to the top team with the lowest combined time.  In a previous 5K a team from Eaton won $250.

To register a team, pick up a team packet from the YMCA front desk, visit the YM website at www.vwymca.org or email Julie Schaufelberger at julie@vwymca.org.

“The corporate challenge is a lot of fun and makes the 5K more challenging and competitive,” said Schaufelberger. “We would love to see any organization, business or school enter the corporate 5K challenge.

“The more teams that enter the 5K, the more prize money will be awarded and earn bragging rights for a year,” she added.

Information about this and any other programs available through the Van Wert YMCA can be found by calling 419.238.0443 or visiting the YMCA website above. The YMCA of Van Wert County is partially funded by the Van Wert County Foundation and United Way.