Land Conservancy Puts on 7th Annual Run for Conservation This May
03/18/2015 03:45PM ● By Kevin
Photo courtesy of Sumner Crosby.
Get your color the natural way by hitting the trails on Saturday, May 9, 2014 for The Land Conservancy for Southern Chester County’s 7th annual Run for Conservation. The start/finish line is located at Stateline Woods Preserve, 814 Merrybell Lane, Kennett Square.
The race features 10 year age categories and the 19 & U are broken into two groups. All 19 & U registration is $10 with no late fees. Registration rates for all other age categories are $25 through April 29 and $35 after. The start time for both races is 9 a.m. and is a family friendly event.
According to sponsorship and events coordinator Jess Provinski, throughout the past seven years, the race has adapted from an "all-day eco festival" featuring environmentally minded vendors, live music, and hayrides to a more streamlined event that centers around the races. The runner numbers have steadily increased with each passing year, and they have very ambitious goals of having 500 runners for the 2015 race.
Though the event now only takes place in the morning, there is a focus on making it family friendly.
Bring along your kids to participate in the free supervised kids activity corner during the 5K/10K Trail Race. Spectators can visit the sponsor booths, cheer on their loved ones, and explore the nature preserve during the event.
"One unique aspect of our race is the supervised Kids Activity Corner which allows runners the opportunity to bring their families to the race," Provinski said. "The kids spend the morning making crafts, face painting, and playing nature related activities. Perennial favorites of the Kids Activity Corner are the kiddie pool filled with corn and the face painting station. Volunteers take the children to the finish line to cheer on their families as they finish the race."
For the second straight year, there will be a Kids Fun Run to follow the races which is open to children 12 Years of Age & Under and will not begin before 10:30 a.m. Kids running clubs like: Healthy Kids, Girls on the Run, & STRIDE are becoming more popular, and the Kids Fun Run was developed as way to offer younger runners the opportunity to compete in their own race.
"The race has always encouraged families to attend, and this is one more way for the families to participate in the day’s events," Provinski said.
The 10K features the Purdy Darn Steep Pipeline—the first person to the top wins a gift certificate to Trail Creek Outfitters. The Stateline Loop 5K/10K Trail Race takes runners through the trails of southern Chester County and northern Delaware. The course features moderate hills with one major climb, minor stream crossings, single-track trail and just enough of that "wilderness experience" to satisfy the true nature-lover.
The trail takes runners through the preserve, and through other permanently protected lands. The 10K trail goes through the State of Delaware’s Auburn Heights Steam Car Museum and into TLC’s newest nature preserve, Marshall Bridge Preserve. The event is centrally located and well placed to promote businesses throughout the greater Brandywine Valley.
The Stateline Loop 5K/10K Run for Conservation is Race #4 in the Trail Creek Outfitters Trail Run Series. The series races begin on March 21 and culminate on June 13. Awards will be given to the top male and females in each category.
"Whether it is your first race or your 50th race, our trail run has something to offer," Provinski said. "This race is unique because it offers runners the opportunity to experience first-hand some of the preservation work of The Land Conservancy for Southern Chester County. We welcome the runners to bring their families back to hike the on the trails on TLC’s preserves.
"The race itself features a fairly even terrain that is great for runners of all levels. Not only is this a great chance to hit the trails and see some of the beautiful scenery that TLC has worked hard to protect, but it also introduces newcomers to our nature preserves, spots we hope that they will keep coming back to visit for years to come!"
For more information about the race, registration, and the series please visit the race page at http://tlcforscc.org/stateline-loop-10k5k-trail-race-for-conservation/. All proceeds support TLC’s mission of protecting the irreplaceable. Contact TLC’s office at 610-347-0347 x 103 with additional questions.
Proceeds from the event benefit The Land Conservancy for Southern Chester County (TLC), a local nonprofit conservation organization whose mission is to ensure the perpetual preservation and stewardship of open space, natural resources, historic sites, and working agricultural lands throughout Southern Chester County. Operating through a Board of Trustees and a small but fiercely dedicated staff, TLC seeks to work with landowners who voluntarily wish to preserve the resources inherent on their lands. They also provide stewardship assistance, trail blazing, and educational programming for budding conservationists, young and old alike.
Businesses can sponsor the event, as well. Depending on level of sponsorship, exposure includes: promotion through social media accounts; promotion through press releases; company logo displayed and linked on TLC’s Event page; company logo included in e-newsletters that reach more than 3,200 inboxes; complimentary runner registrations to the race; your company’s marketing material included in runner bags distributed at event; and the option to promote your company at the event. For more information, contact Jess at: [email protected], or (610) 347-0347 x 103.
