BCES Bobcat 5K/1K Run/Walk...

• 5K Run / Walk:- Run 3.1 Miles
• 1K Fun Run / Walk:- Fun Run

Several years ago Ballenger Creek Elementary School sponsored one of the biggest 5K school runs in Frederick County.  In fact, BCES was the first elementary school to host a 5k, and we are so excited to be bringing this great event back this year for the second time in 2016. We had so much fun in the spring, we decided to do it again in the fall.  

In keeping with the original focus, we present the 2016 BCES Bobcat Character Counts 5K/1K Run/Walk.  Our theme this fall is “Trot to Give Thanks to our Heroes; Past, Present and Future.”  Our goal is to encourage our students, families, teachers, and community members to come out and move together and give thanks to our community heroes.  Benefits that participants can enjoy are improved self-esteem, self accomplishment, and pride in their school and community. The event allows each participant to exercise the citizenship pillar (as well as other pillars of Character) as they "contribute their part" by helping to raise money for activitiesand programs at BCES sponsored by the PTA and for a new piano for our music department. 

We are also supporting our community by asking every participant to bring at least one canned or dry food item to be donated to our school food bank, as well as our local area food bank.  For every food item donated, one raffle ticket will be given, for a raffle prize to be drawn after the race.  The overall goal is for all participants to have a sense of being "connected" to our community.

 Please join us for this fun family event taking place on Saturday, November 5th, 2016.  Our run starts and ends at Ballenger Creek Elementary School located at 5250 Kingsbrook Drive in Frederick, MD.  The event will kick off with a flag raising ceremony by our local Cub Scout Troop, followed by the Star Spangled Banner performed by the BCES Chorus and a warm up routine led by Kicks Karate. This all starts at 8am just before our kids fun run begins, followed by our 5K at 8:30am.

The 5K route takes place along Kingsbrook Drive, Corporate Drive and back around Kingsbrook.  Our course then enters the Ballenger Creek Trail for a quiet and serene 2 mile out and back route.  The course turnaround is at the trailhead off of Corporate Drive and New Design.  As you make your way back to Kingsbrook Drive, the DJ and supportive crowd at the school will be there motivating you to cross the finish line in the front driveway of BCES. This is a flat course with a slight hill near mile two before you get to the turnaround at the trailhead.  The event also includes a 1K kids’ fun run, a variety of vendors, and post-race treats and festivities complete with a DJ.

All student participants will receive a medal at the finish of both the Kids 1K Fun Run and the 5K.  We will also award medals to the top 3 male and female runners in all of our age group categories.  Prizes will be awarded to the top overall male and female runners.  Don’t forget to show your appreciation to our heroes by dressing up in a way that honors these heroes.  There will be prizes awarded to two students exhibiting the most appreciative hero gear.  

We are excited again that one of our own BCES students will design our logo for the run. Stay tuned for the annoucement of our logo winner.  The first 200 registrants will receive one of our awesome draw string bags with the logo on it, so be sure to register early!  

Event details and schedule

Packet Pick Up and Onsite Registration: 

Friday, November 4th 4:00pm - 7:00pm  BCES Main Lobby

Saturday, November 5th 7:00am- 8:00am   BCES

Race Day Schedule:

Flag Raising Ceremony/Star Spangled Banner 8:00am

Warm Up by Kicks Karate         8:05am

1K Kids Fun Run                       8:10am

5K Run/Walk Start                     8:30am

Award Ceremony                       9:30am

Course Information:

• The runners will exit the school driveway and turn right onto Kingsbrook Drive where they will cross the street with support from CSO assistance so that they are on the left hand side of the road in order to run against traffic.  
• ·At the four way stop runners/walkers will turn left onto Corporate Drive (running against traffic)       
• Turn left onto Kingsbrook Drive (running against traffic)
• Runners/Walkers will cross the road with assistance from CSO and enter the Ballenger Creek Trail  
• There will be cones dividing the path to keep runners/walkers on the left.
• Make a u-turn at the end of the trail under New Design Road
•  Return to Kingsbrook Drive
• Turn left onto Kingsbrook Drive (running against traffic)
• Turn left into the school driveway

Arrival Information:

Our kids 1K run starts at 8:10am.  We ask participants to arrive by 8:00 so you have time to make it to the start line.  The kids 1K will start and finish in the same spot as the 5K. We will have a new course this year. Starting in front of the school and going all the way around the building and back to the finish.   Kicks Karate will be starting the fun with a pre run warm up starting at 8:05am.

Parking Information:

Parking will be located in the school’s front parking lot and will be closed once we have filled it.  Overflow parking is being allowed across the street in the Kingscrest Apartment Complex.  We do ask that all drivers park in spots located on the perimeter of the property and not in spots near the buildings.  We will have a crossing guard at the entrance of the apartment complex to cross you safely to the school.  For your safety please cross there with her support.  We do ask that you refrain from parking along the road in front of the school, as this is part of the course and we want it to be as open as possible for the safety of all our participants.  We ask anyone who is just coming for the kids 1K and plans to leave before the start of the 5K to park across the street in the apartment complex perimeter parking spaces so that you will be able to leave without interrupting the 5K.

 Waivers

All participants MUST complete the waiver in order to participate.

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What to bring

In connecting to our citizenship pillar, we are asking all participants to bring at least one canned or dy food item the day of the race.  A drop off location will be near the starting line.  For every item dropped off, the participant will receive a raffle ticket.  Tickets will be pulled at the end of the race for prizes.  Items will be used to fill our shelves in our school food bank as well as the local community food bank.

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What to wear

Show your School Spirit!  We are encouraging all participants to show their BCES Bobcat Pride by dressing in either BCES colors (blue or pink) or wearing one of your BCES shirts. Our theme is also "Trot to Give Thanks to our Heroes; Past, Present and Future" If you want to wear something that shows your appreciation to your hero, please wear it in their honor.  

Thank you to our sponsors to date!