Montgomery News

City of Gaithersburg issued the following announcement on July 23.

Sell Out Expected; Online Registration Encouraged

Registration is now open for the 25th Annual Kentlands/Lakelands 5K Race and Kids Fun Runs, scheduled for Saturday, September 1, 2018. Online registration remains open through race morning; entry fees increase on August 23. The popular chip-timed Run/Walk, limited to the first 1,500 registrants, may sell out. Early online registration is encouraged. The Kids Fun Runs are limited to the first 400 registrants.

The Labor Day weekend event includes a 5K Run and Walk, a Tot Trot, Kids Dash, and a Post-Race Merchant Expo on Kentlands Market Square Plaza, bringing thousands of participants to Kentlands Downtown. Dry-fit shirts will be given for each 5K registration (men’s, women’s, and kids’ sizes available) and there will be a Corporate/Community team competition with prizes. Custom designed cotton t-shirts for kids are included with each Fun Run registration. The Post-Race Expo features free food and samplings from many local vendors. Family team prizes, age group prizes, and raffle prizes round out the benefits. For the 25th Anniversary running, the race committee is working on an expanded kids play area, a packet pick-up area with photos and shirts from previous years, and other ideas still to be announced.

The loop course, featuring water stops and live entertainment, winds through Lakelands and Kentlands, starting and finishing on Main Street behind Market Square Plaza. The course passes many civic landmarks, allowing participants to experience the uniqueness of this new urbanist community.

Hosted by the Kentlands Community Foundation in partnership with the City of Gaithersburg, this has grown to be the largest 5K race in Montgomery County. The Kentlands Community Foundation annually donates 50% of race proceeds to local charities. In 2017, a total of $14,500 was donated to the City of Gaithersburg Dolores Swoyer Camp Scholarship Fund, The Dwelling Place, and Maryland Senior Olympics. In addition to these organizations, Mercy Health Clinic has been added as a beneficiary for 2018.

Learn more about the run and register online at https://kentlandsfoundation.org/annual-5k/.

View the race map and learn about parking restrictions at https://kentlandsfoundation.org/annual-5k/map-parking/.

Registration is also available in person at the race packet pickup events in Kentlands or on Race Day if slots are available:

• Thursday and Friday, August 30 and 31 from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. at 201 Market Street West, in the Kentlands Downtown.
• Race Day, Saturday, September 1 on Main Street near the Finish Line at 7 a.m.

Course Marshals and many other volunteers are needed to ensure that the route is clear and safe from traffic and to help the race, fun runs and post-race festivities run smoothly. All volunteers receive a free t-shirt, a free breakfast on Race Day, and an invitation to the post-event “Thank You!” party. SSL hours are available for students. Learn more about volunteer opportunities at https://kentlandsfoundation.org/annual-5k/volunteers/.

Many local businesses help sponsor the 5K. For just $300 a business can be a sponsor and have a table at the Merchant Expo. E-mail Kentlands5K@gmail.com for more information.

Original source can be found here.

Source: City of Gaithersburg