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The 15th Annual Stick Boy Mayview Madness 5K and Kids Fun Run Takes Off Running on Saturday, Sept. 20

by Madison Fisler Lewis

Sept. 16, 2014. The 15th annual Stick Boy Bread Company Mayview Madness 5K Run/Walk and Blue Ridge Pediatric Kids 1-Mile Fun Run will be held on Saturday, Sept. 20. The proceeds from this annual event benefit the Blue Ridge Conservancy, which “works with willing landowners and local communities to permanently protect land and water resources with agricultural, ecological, cultural, recreational and scenic value in northwest North Carolina.

imgres“We usually pull in between $7,000 and $9,000,” said Rob McCorkindale of the Blue Ridge Conservancy. “It is a really great race for us.”

Aside from the annual 5K run, there will also be a 1-mile fun run for kids sponsored by Blue Ridge Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine.

The race will have prizes for the top three men’s and women’s finishers in each age group. The age groups are 13 and under, 14-18, 20-29, 30-39, 40-49, 50-59, 60-69, 70 and up, masters 40 and up and overall.

“Zap Fitness is our race coordinator and they have a relationship with Reebok,” McCorkindale said. “The winner in each race category will win a pair of Reebok running shoes!”

Prizes for each category:

1st – 1 pair of Reebok One Series Running Shoes

2nd – Lunch for 2 at Bistro Roca
3rd – ½ lb. of Bald Guy Coffee in a Stick Boy Bread Co. mug

Participants are also encouraged to dress up for the event, and prizes will be awarded for best costume.

“So far we have close to 200 people registered,” said McCorkindale. “We are pretty much on track from last year, we had 320 runners last year.”

Registration for the 5K is $25 per runner if registered by Sept. 17. Registration the day of the race will be $30 per participant. Registration for the 1-mile kids race is $10 per runner if registered before Sept. 17 and $15 per participant on the day of the event.

The schedule for the event is as follows:

  • 7 a.m. – Registration and packet pick up at Blowing Rock American Legion located at 333 Wallingford St. in Blowing Rock
  • 8 a.m. – 1 Mile Kids Fun Run
  • 8:30 a.m. – 5K run/walk
  • 9:30 a.m. – Awards ceremony

The awards ceremony will be held at Bistro Roca in downtown Blowing Rock, where refreshments will be provided.

Volunteers for this event are still being accepted for those interested in such a well-established race.

“We are absolutely accepting any and all volunteers,” McCorkindale said. “We will have volunteers working registration, helping us with setting up the signs along the course and helping us at the finish line.Volunteers get a race shirt and they get to eat Stick Boy treats, drink Bald Guy Coffee, and they can run in the race if they want to.”

Those interested in volunteering can contact Rob at rob@blueridgeconservancy.org.

The event was started 15 years ago as a small fundraiser for what was then known as the High Country Conservancy. The race was originally established by a small group of people on the board of the High Country Conservancy as a fun way to raise money and also to highlight the scenic Mayview neighborhood in Blowing Rock.

Sponsors for this year’s event are Stick Boy Bread Co., Blue Ridge Pediatric and Adolescent Medicine, Bistro Roca, Blowing Rock Furniture Gallery, ZAP Fitness, MPrints, Hemlock Inn, Blowing Rock Brewing, EarthFare, Blowing Rock and Attractions Print.

For more information about this event, click here.