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Date: 8/14/2019
WEST SPRINGFIELD – Put on your sneakers and gear up for the fourth annual Big 5K Road Race, Scramble, and Kids Fun Run at the Big E fairgrounds in West Springfield on Aug. 30.
“The Big 5K is the special race day that kicks off The Big E! It’s cool because people get to see some of the behind-the-scenes before 1.5 million people visit our fairgrounds,” said Sarah Platanitis, education of communications specialist at the Eastern States Exposition. “They also get a sweet Big E Cream Puff treat and to ride the Giant Slide before anyone else.”
The 5K Road Race route is three laps around the Eastern States Exposition fairgrounds and can be walked or run, individually or as a team. In the Scramble, runners complete a Big E-themed obstacle on each lap.
In the Road Race, athletes compete for medals in each age division: up to age 18, ages 19 to 29, ages 30 to 39, ages 40 to 49, ages 50 to 59, ages 60 to 69, and those over 70 years old. The top three fastest men and women receive $300 for first place, $200 for second place, and $100 for third. The fastest man and woman in the Scramble receive $300 cash prizes.
There is also a “Big E Spirit Award” of a VIP day at the fair for participants dressing in their “Big E best” to run, Platanitis said.
Before the adult races kick off at 6:45 p.m., the kids get their turn. The Kids’ Fun Run consists of a dash down the Avenue of States alongside the Big 5K mascot, Krisp-E. It is open to children ages 10 and under.
For $10, participants can take advantage of a post-race buffet dinner and giveaways at the Storrowtown Tavern patio.
If an athlete wants to participate but can’t make it to the fairgrounds, the Big E has them covered. The Big 5K offers a virtual race, in which people can run anywhere, whether it be on a treadmill or around a neighborhood. Those who participate in the virtual race will need to have a tracker to track the distance and time they run, said Platanitis. Virtual race times must be submitted by Aug. 30.
Registration is required for all races. The registration fee for the Road Race is $30 and the Scramble costs $40. The Kids Fun Run is free with the donation of a canned good. All proceeds from the Big 5K Road Race benefit agriculture and education youth activities at the Eastern States Exposition.
“The first 500 people to register receive a t-shirt, a single-day admission ticket to The Big E, a free drink ticket, and Big E swag,” Platanitis said.
People can register for the race, scramble, or kids fun run, virtual race, and dinner at TheBigE.com/TheBig5k.