Get Race Weekend Started with our Friday Events

June 10, 2015

As many participants know, the Bellin Run is not the only event that happens during the second weekend in June. Of course there’s the Saturday 10K everyone’s been training so hard for — but that is not the only fun-filled day!

Friday, June 12 kicks off with a morning charity run, which is followed by a charity luncheon — and that’s just for starters. Later on, there’s an activity-packed evening in Astor Park, featuring a little something for everyone.

We’d love to see the bright shining faces of Bellin Run participants and supporters at our Friday events, too — so here’s your full rundown:

Friday Morning Charity Fun Run
Rise and shine, fitness lovers! The Bellin Run and Press-Gazette Media are proud to present the Run with Greatness Charity Fun Run, kicking off at 8 a.m.

The Bellin Run has a long history of bringing some of the world’s best runners to Green Bay to compete in the region’s premier 10K. This 2-mile charity run gives everyone in attendance the opportunity run with — but not get left in the dust by — a star-studded crop of elite runners and legends of the sport.

Participants will get the chance to run shoulder-to-shoulder, at a comfortable pace, with some of the greats, including Bill Rodgers, Joan Benoit Samuelson, Uta Pippig, Meb Keflezighi, Lani Rutto, Risper Gesabwa, Allan Kiprono, Kellyn Taylor and more. You’ll have a blast while raising money for our awesome local charity partners, myTEAM TRIUMPH and Thrive.

A commemorative T-shirt and post-race breakfast will be provided, and a group picture will be mailed to each participant. This event takes place at 8 a.m., starting at Astor Park.

The cost of the event is a minimum contribution of $50. To register, visit http://bellinruncharityfunrun.eventbrite.com

Friday Afternoon Charity Luncheon
After running with some of the greats, head over to the Titletown Brewing Company Tap Room and join us to celebrate 39 years of the Bellin Run. Legendary runners Meb Keflezighi and Joan Benoit Samuelson, along with rising American star Kellyn Taylor, will be on hand to share their inspiring stories, sign autographs and pose for photos. Meb will also have copies of his books available for purchase — so grab an autographed copy for yourself or a loved one. The luncheon is a benefit for our charity partners: Thrive and myTEAM TRIUMPH!

Here’s the event information:

Bellin Run Charity Luncheon
11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. Friday, June 12
Titletown Brewing Company Tap Room
(Tap Room is located west of the train depot restaurant)
200 Dousman St., Green Bay
Register ($50 minimum contribution) at http://bellinruncharityluncheon.eventbrite.com.

Friday Evening
Just when you think the day can’t get any better, we’ve got a host of great activities in Astor Park. There’s plenty going on, so bring the whole family. Here’s the rundown:

General Events:

o Registration/Packet Pick-up—3-8 p.m.
If you’re registered already, this is the time to stop and get your race packet. If you have not registered at this point, no worries! Registration will be open until 8 p.m. at the Astor Park Registration tent. The price to register in person on June 12 is $35.

o Health and Fitness Expo—3-8 p.m.
The expo features booths with health education, nutrition information, fitness equipment and apparel vendors, as well community organizations. The Bellin Health Sports Medicine booth will be offering free injury consultations.

o Children’s Activities—3-8 p.m.
Activities for kiddos will include giant inflatable slides and bouncers, art projects, music, face painting and more help children get in on the fun!

o Spaghetti Dinner—4:30-8 p.m.
Carb up with an all-you-can-eat spaghetti dinner! This year we made the dinner more affordable, so bring the whole family. The prices are just $6 for adults, $3 for children 12 and under, and free for anyone under 2 years old. The menu includes salad, garlic toast, spaghetti with marinara or meat sauce, buttered bowtie noodles, baby carrots, apple slices, cookies, water and Pepsi products.

o Athlete Autographs—6-7 p.m.
Bellin’s world-class runners will be signing autographs in the autograph tent. Look for the sign and come meet some of the world’s most accomplished runners, including Bill Rodgers, Joan Samuelson and Uta Pippig, along with defending Bellin Run champions Allan Kiprono and Risper Gesabwa. They will be joined again this year by special guest Meb Keflezighi, who in 2014 became the first American man in 31 years to win the Boston Marathon.

Participant Events — 4-7 p.m.

Three great events take place Friday night: Back to the Road Crew, Triumph Mile and Children’s Run.

o Back to the Road Crew—4 p.m.
Sponsored by Orthopedic & Sports Medicine Specialists of Green Bay, the Back to the Road Crew is made up of people who have faced recovery and rehabilitation from surgery or a major illness and want to get “Back to the Road.” They’ll complete a one-mile course (two laps around Astor Park) to celebrate their recovery. This is an invitation-only event.

o TRIUMPH Mile—5 p.m.
The TRIUMPH Mile is one-mile walk/run for individuals with mild disabilities who require guidance from able-bodied athletes. The event’s goal is to provide a health-enhancing and mentor-building opportunity for individuals with disabilities by utilizing a team-based endurance athletic approach.

o Children’s Run—6 p.m.
Boys and Girls deserve their own time to shine while enjoying healthy activities. The Children’s Run is a half-mile run around the perimeter of Astor Park. This is a non-competitive fun run. Every kid is a winner! Registration is just $12. Participants receive an official Bellin Run T-shirt, a finisher’s award — and to remind them that they’re superheroes, a cape to help them soar around the course!

Younger kids have earlier bedtimes, so we organize the event from youngest to oldest. The categories are as follows:

6 p.m. Children ages 4 and younger
6:15 p.m. Children ages 5-6
6:30 p.m. Children ages 7-8
6:45 p.m. Children ages 9-10

To register for this event visit:
https://register.racepartner.com/bellinrun

Several of our Friday events require registration, so please sign up accordingly. It will be a fun-filled day designed to get everyone excited for race day — so come on out and enjoy it! We can’t wait to see you there. Good luck, have fun and #RunYourTown!