TRI TO FINISH - 2016 Guardian Gals Making Change Event...

• Half Marathon:- Run 13.1 Miles
• 10K Run:- Run 6.2 Miles
• 1 Mile Fun Run:- Fun Run
• 5K Run:- Run 3.1 Miles

Only you can bring your SPARK to the 7^th annual Guardian Gals, Inc. Making Change Event.  Guardian Gals, Inc. asks of all of us, “How far will YOU go? How much change will YOU make?”  Support Guardian Gals, Inc. while contributing your energy to an exciting day of fitness & racing in Otsego County.  Choose from one of four event distances (1/2 marathon, 10k, 5k, or 1 Mile) & enjoy a professionally run event around Otsego Lake during peak transitional color change in northern Michigan! 

The vision of Guardian Gals, Inc. is to actively engage girls & women to ignite positive personal & societal change.  Throughout the organization, members mutually empower & inspire one another to initiate personal, philanthropic, & civic action for the common good.  The Guardian Gals, Inc. mission is carried out in community service projects, philanthropy, self care lessons & mentoring by area leaders.

Tri To Finish is back for another go-round with the Guardian Gals of Gaylord for their 2016 Making Change Event! This year’s race has been pushed back a week to take advantage of historically good weather. A beautiful half marathon course consisting of both paved and hard packed single track offers runners scenery as they circle Otsego Lake. 10k and 5k courses are along country roads at the height of the color season. If you’re looking for a quick jaunt or have young ones in need of a challenge, come on out & do the 1 mile fun run!

The Making Change Event is a way for Guardian Gals to offer a healthy, fun means of raising funds to support their efforts to bring positive change to the Gaylord region.  Due to past generous support from participants & their sponsors & internal structural changes within our organization, Guardian Gals, Inc. is no longer requiring a mandatory charitable pledge fee, though we will of course continue to recognize/reward the efforts of those who go above & beyond & collect financial pledges via our notorious “Kindness Counts” prize raffle tickets.  Guardian Gals, Inc. is excited to have matured financially into the position of offering an industry competitively priced ½ Marathon, 10k, 5k, & 1 Mile Run/Walk event for 2016!

This event benefits Guardian Gals, Inc. Learn More.

Event details and schedule

Date:

Saturday, October 8^th, 2016

Start Time:

• 8:00 AM

Location:

Otsego Lake County Park

Address:

1657 County Park Rd.

Gaylord, MI 49735

Course Description

1Mile Course:

Watch on Youtube

Scenic Loop Beginning & Ending @ County Park,Residential Neighborhoods,Quiet Back Roads Of Rural Northern Michigan Through Time of Seasonal Color Brilliance 

5k Course:

Watch on Youtube

Scenic Loop Beginning & Ending @ County Park,Residential Neighborhoods,Quiet Back Roads of Rural Northern Michigan Through Time of Seasonal Color Brilliance,Return to home base via "Hereafter Lane" Seasonal Road 

10k Course:

Watch on Youtube

Two Loops Of 5k Route (For Maximum Cheers)!!

1/2 Marathon:

Watch on Youtube

Incorporating Earthen & Paven Trail, One Lap- Just ONE Lap- Around Otsego Lake, Scenic Loop of Seasonal Color Brilliance Beginning & Ending @ County Park, Begin of Run through Residential NeighborhoodsRunning Clockwise Around Otsego Lake,Running Earthen Railroad Grade Entire East Side of Otsego Lake (for safety),Elevation Challenges @ Mile 10, providing us our very own "Heartbreak Hills,” like Boston Marathon

Packet Pickup and Late Registration

• Friday October 7, 2016 5-7pm:  Guardian Gals, Inc. Headquarters @ 321 East Main Street, Gaylord, MI 49735 

• Saturday October 8, 2016 7:30-9am @ Otsego Lake County Park

Race Start Times 

•      8:00 AM - Half Marathon Start
•      9:00 AM - 10k Start
•      9:45 AM - 5k Start
•      10:00 AM - 1 Mile Start
•      NOON - Closing Rally

T-Shirts

Event-specific t-shirts are guaranteed ONLY to those who register online before Noon on Friday, September 23rd! These shirts will be high quality and will be available in unisex, ladies cut, or youth sizes.  All registrants who register after that date/time will be provided with a Tri To Finish t-shirt if event-specific shirts are unavailable on site.

Shirt Sizes Available

Extra Small

Small

Medium

Large

Extra Large

2XL

Ladies Cut Small

Ladies Cut Medium

Ladies Cut Large

Ladies Cut Extra Large

Youth Small

Youth Medium

Youth Large

Times and Timing:

The 5K, 10K and Half Marathon Run events will be timed in accordance with USATF sanctioning requirements.

5K, 10K and Half Marathon Age Groups/Divisions:

9 & Under

10-14

15-19

20-24

25-29

30-34

35-39

40-44

45-49

50-54

55-59

60-64

65-69

70-74

75-79

80 & over

Awards

The Making Change Event is known for its wide array for prizes gifted to those who run in support of its mission.

• Fastest male & female finisher of ½ Marathon each are awarded both custom earbuds from Advantage Audiology and Hearing Center and a check for $250 along with free entry to 2017 event 
• Each & every participant receives a high quality finisher medal at the finish line upon completion of his/her event 
• 1^st Place male & female ½ M, 10k, 5k, & 1Mile finishers receive inspiring wall art for their homes from Old Spud Warehouse of Gaylord 
• Top 3 Overall Male and Female Winners of the Half Marathon, 10K and 5K events will receive high quality custom plaques
• Top 3 male and female finishers in each age group will receive an award

And the prizes most coveted by Making Change Event finishers are the thoughtful “Kindness Counts” prizes (dynamic prizes that encourage positive personal or societal change in unique ways) available for every 1Mile, 5k, 10k, & Half Marathon runner who participates by walking or running the Making Change Event, with extra Kindness Counts tickets given to those who contribute additional pledges to advance the mission of Guardian Gals, Inc.

Results

Results will be displayed at the event and will be posted at TRITOFINISH.COM within 48 hours of race completion.

Volunteers

Those interested in VOLUNTEERING, please contact Abby Hamilton at [email protected] or 989.390.5749

Distances:

Half Marathon Run

10K Run/Walk

5K Run/Walk

1 Mile Run/Walk

Prices*

Non Tax-Deductible REGISTRATION Fees Paid Online:

• Online Registrations:  *Before October 6^th Midnight
• 1/2M - $80  
• 10k - $40                                
• 5k - $30                      
• 1Mile - $10
• Late Registrations:    *Paid @ Check-In
• 1/2M - $85  
• 10k - $45                                
• 5k - $35                      
• 1Mile - $15

Tax-Deductible Pledges Paid To Guardian Gals, Inc:

This year, instead of mandatory pledge requirement, we are offering “Kindness Counts” ticket incentive for financial gifts pledged at Making Change Event.  Learn more…

This is the “more”

And the prizes most coveted by Making Change Event finishers are the thoughtful “Kindness Counts” prizes participants have grown to love.  This year, as Guardian Gals, Inc. strides to accommodate a plethora of participants & their varied interests, one “change” you will notice will be the elimination of a mandatory “Fundraising Pledge.”  Along with this will be the awarding of “Kindness Counts” tickets ranging in number, based on fundraising efforts presented at check-in.

Those 1Mile, 5k, 10k, & ½ Marathon runners who make it a point to go out & collect pledges to advance the lofty mission of Guardian Gals, Inc. will be rewarded with ONE “Kindness Counts” ticket per each $25 pledge they collect.   That’s right, an extra special “Kindness Counts” designated zone of the main pavilion will be stocked full of prizes that will surely encourage positive personal or societal change for the recipient until we meet again at 2016 Making Change Event!

*Online Registration closes at Midnight, Thursday, October 6^th,2016.  After that, ALL registrations will be completed on-site at late registration/packet pickup at the increased rate.

**Personalized Custom bibs available to those who register before NOON on Monday, September 26^th, 2016!

NOTE:  Active.com charges a nominal fee to participants when registering.  We just don’t want you to be surprised when you go to register online!

Parking Info

Athletes will be directed to boat launch parking area at County Park.  Guardian Gals, Inc. will pay park admittance fee, if there should be one at entrance.

Sponsors/Partners

2016 Major Event Sponsors Include:

• Advantage Audiology & Hearing Center – MAJOR EVENT SPONSOR
• Otsego Grand Catering - EVENT MANAGEMENT SPONSOR
• Treetops Resort- TIMING SPONSOR
• Meijer - START/FINISH LINE SPONSOR
• Gaylord Convention & Tourism Bureau - ELITE ATHLETE PURSE SPONSOR
• SERVPRO - OUTHOUSE SPONSOR
• The Brook - REGISTRATION TENT SPONSOR

Directions/Accommodations 

Athletes are encouraged to camp @ Otsego Lake County Park during this peak time of brilliant fall color in northern Michigan or to stay a mile up the road @ Gaylord's #1 Family Recreation Destination, Benjamin's Beaver Creek Resort. Additional lodging details can be found at Gaylord's Tourism Bureau.