Rail Trail 5K this weekend

By Joshua Bassett

The sixth annual Rail Trail 5K race takes place this Saturday, May 30.

The race/walk begins at 9 a.m., starting at Andrews Lane and ending at the footbridge near the Slate Valley Museum. Contestants travel the rail trail before completing the last mile of the race in the village of Granville, said race director Kerri Thomas.

Registration is $20, with registration available in advance or on race day. T-shirts are guaranteed to anyone who preregisters and are first-come/first-served on race day. Participants need to meet between 7:30 and 8:30 a.m. at the Museum and there will be volunteers on hand at the Museum to watch participant’s children.

There is also a children’s 1K fun run which costs $5, with no cut-off age for the race, which has had people as old as 12 taking part. There are three age groups: 10-and-under, 70-and-over, and another for everyone in between those ages.

Thomas said that about 75 people are currently registered for the race, which usually attracts about 100 runners. She added that people seem to be very excited about the event, and there has been a lot of interest in it and in the local prizes.

“I think a big thing that draws people to the race is the local gifts,” said Thomas, talking about some of the prizes given to race competitors. Those include maple syrup from Rathbun‘s Maple Sugar House to the top three finishers in each age group, and director’s chairs from Telescope Casual Furniture for the top three male and female finishers. Anyone who finishes the race will receive a slate trivet from Earth and Time Studio.

Major sponsors also include the Modern Woodmen of American, St. Gobain Performance Plastics, Donna Johnson Physical Therapy, Subway of Granville and Granville Lions Club.

Thomas said the event started in 2010 when officials from the town wanted to have a local event that would feature the new bridge which led her to think of the race.

Racers park their vehicles at Mettowee River Park and a bus will bring them to the starting point of the race.

Anyone can preregister on www.visiting active.com or by calling Thomas at 518-424-7683, emailing [email protected] or visiting the event’s Facebook page.