Special to the Star-Herald
PRESQUE ISLE — Runners in the region, and those from away, can put on their sneakers Saturday, Oct. 8 and tackle a challenging 10K course, all while helping out the Pine Tree Chapter of the American Red Cross.
The Crow’s Nest Octoberfest 10K is a brand new road race for the area and the only one of that distance held in Aroostook County.
Race coordinator Martin Puckett hopes to entice a few hundred runners to take part in the inaugural event.
“It’s going to be a challenging, but fun course,” said Puckett. “We hope some 200 runners can sign up making this the biggest race in northern Maine. We are trying to promote the race in Aroostook, downstate and even in Canada.”
Puckett added that 100 percent of the entrance fee goes to the charity. He said sponsor support is key to giving all proceeds to the Red Cross. Bemis and Rossignol, LLC and Northern Zumba are gold sponsors and Soderberg Construction Company, S.W. Collins and Spudnik are silver sponsors.
The 6.2-mile loop course will begin and end at the Crow’s Nest restaurant in Presque Isle. Puckett says organizers have designed a run with hills, beautiful neighborhoods and more. The event will feature mile markers, a water stop, refreshments and race medals for the first 100 finishers. There is also a unique prize for the first male and female finisher, a hot air balloon ride during the 2012 Crown of Maine Balloon Festival.
Entry fees are $20 if postmarked by Oct. 1 or $25 after that date. You can register the day of the race at 9 a.m. at the Crow’s Nest. You can request an entry form at octobrfest10k@yahoo.com or contact. Registrations can be mailed to: American Red Cross-Aroostook County Branch, Attn. 10K, 7 Hatch Drive, Suite 250, Caribou, ME, 04736.
