CARIBOU, Maine — The S.W. Collins Company’s annual 5K road race will look a little bit different this year in the wake of COVID-19.
The company is launching an Anytime 5K Harvest Race that allows participants to complete the course on their own time, track their results using a tracking app and submit the results before the deadline.
The course can be completed at any time between midnight Saturday, Sept. 19, through Sunday, Sept. 27, at 11:59 p.m.
Runners and walkers complete the established course beginning and ending at the S.W. Collins lumber yard in Caribou. The start line banner will be set up on the sidewalk next to the large blue warehouse on Washburn Street and the finish line banner will be on the sidewalk just before the entrance to the hardware store parking lot on Hatch Drive.
The loop must be completed twice for a full 5-kilometer race and participants are asked to familiarize themselves with the course before beginning.
According to Marketing Manager/Race Director Leslie Jackson, a fun twist to celebrate the harvest season, participants are asked to bring a potato with them during the race and take a photo with the potato before, during or after they finish.
Photos can be submitted via social media or with race results for a chance to win a $50 S.W. Collins gift card.
“We encourage everyone to have some fun and race with a potato,” Jackson said. “We’ll have potatoes available at the start line and selfies can be posted on Instagram or Facebook using #swc5kharvestrace.”
Participants can download the “Strava” tracking app for free from the App Store or Google Play. Keep your phone with you throughout the race or use a tracking device that will sync with Strava. Submit your results by sharing via email, text or FB Messenger to Jackson by noon on Monday, Sept. 28. More detailed information on how to track your time and submit results is available on the swcollins.com website.
Registration is available online at swcollins.com/5krace and the $15 fee can be mailed to S.W. Collins, PO Box 70, Caribou, ME 04736 or can be paid at any retail location. All paid registrants will receive an official race t-shirt. Awards will be given to age divisions of 14 and under, 15 to 18, 19 to 29, 30 to 39, 40 to 49, 50 to 59, 60 to 69, 70 and over and a walker’s division.
For additional information or to submit your official race results, contact Jackson at lesliej@swcollins.com or call/text 207-551-5739.
