SATURDAY IS RACE DAY: FESTIVAL THEMES

Blueberries ripening on the bush. Taken by PKSenagore July 2018. All rights reserved.

CELEBRATE ONE REGION OF MICHIGAN’S “FRUIT BELT” IN SOUTH HAVEN ON THE SECOND WEEKEND OF AUGUST.  There’s a 10k run, 5K run, and a 5k walk with separate start time and medals for top finishers on August 10, 2019. This year is the 56th event, which was initially held in 1963.  It coincides with the 150th anniversary of the city of South Haven, in southwest Michigan
 
In the Blueberry Festival, registration for the runs and walk are separate and medals are awarded to gender and age groups.  In the runs there are overall winners and winners in 14 age groups for males and females. In the walk there are 3 age groups each for males and females.
 
The website indicates the run/walk events are part of the “Michigan Fruit Belt Series”, but the organization does not seem to exist as an online entity that can be referenced. The last posting of all fruit events collectively was several years ago, when a medal was apparently awarded that identified each event.
 
The other series’ events do not seem to be coordinated by a single entity, nor do registrations appear to be linked.  However, those currently being contested as runs and walks have separate walks and could be wonderful opportunities for walkers.
 
Michigan Fruit Belt “Series “as it exists in 2019:
 
STRAWBERRIES
Hartford MI
Hartford Strawberry Run 10k & 5k, walk (non-competitive) 5k; June 8, 2019
Results at https://raceday.enmotive.com/#/events/2019-hartford-strawberry-run/results
 
CHERRIES
Watervliet MI
Gene Bednarowski Cherry Run & Walk, June 29, 2019
https://runsignup.com/Race/Events/MI/Watervliet/GeneBednarowski5kCherryRun
 
Traverse City MI
Cherry Mile; July 9, 2019
https://runsignup.com/Race/MI/TraverseCity/CherryMileJuly 9
 
PEACHES
Coloma MI; August 3, 2019
Glad-Peach Run & Walk
https://runsignup.com/Race/MI/Coloma/ColomaGladPeachRun
 
BLUEBERRIES
South Haven MI; August 13, 2019
National Blueberry Festival Run & Walk
https://raceroster.com/events/2019/23267/national-blueberry-festival
 
WATERMELONS
Lawrence MI; August 31, 2019
Lawrence Watermelon Run 5k, 10k, and 15k
https://localraces.com/events/lawrence-mi/watermelon-run
 
GRAPES
Paw Paw MI; September 7, 2019
Run Drugs Out of Town 5K Run & Walk
https://runsignup.com/Race/MI/PawPaw/PawPawGrapeLake5Kwalkrun
 
For those living in the region, it might be fun planning to participate in each/all the festivals (at this time in July we’re in the middle of the fruit belt series), and enjoying the fruity food (pie, other desserts) commonly promoted by such organizations.
 
For those who don’t live nearby, it may provide inspiration. Perhaps there a festival theme that might appeal to you in your own state or region, in which a run or walk is contested. The smaller the festival the less the traffic and competition. A unique medal collection might be the result.
 
Potential festival themes:
Food
Wine, cider, or beer  
Sailing, boating, or coastal towns
Art or crafts
County fairs
National holidays
Historical or heritage days
Ethnic celebrations
 
The SUMMER CHALLENGE III: FASTEST 5K OT SUMMER OF FUN 5K’S could be mounted with a theme in mind.  Whether there two or ten events making up a 'challenge', it could become a tradition to visit the same few quaint towns each year and celebrate with the locals in a small way.
 
RUN & MOVE HAPPY!
 
https://runsignup.com/Race/MI/Various/MichiganFruitBeltSeries