BELDING LABOR DAY 5K (Belding - 2019 - 5K)

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  Belding Labor Day 2019 Photos

129 Mile Drive



We woke up very early and drove out to Belding, MI for their 2019 Labor Day 5K.  The start of the run was right by the Belding water tower.  The course was beautiful with Flat River views and incredibly friendly runners.  Running past the Belding museum and Belding library was very cool.  The historical architecture of Belding was awesome to look at.  It was a hilly course that went in and out of neighborhoods.  The enthusiasm of the announcer, "Duck Man" was out of this world.  I was so excited he let me take his picture. 

They announced the last runners coming up and everyone gathered to applaud them. The last woman even landed herself an age group award!  All runners stayed for the entire age group ceremony.  People didn't leave after getting their awards.  I liked that the crowd stayed for the older awards.  For me they are the most amazing and inspiring awards.  They put our medals around our necks just like the Olympics!  That was a first that I thought was awesome!  They called out our hometowns when they announced our places.  Runners came from all over.  I think we may have been one of the farthest, the MC seemed to gasp a tad when he read, "Plymouth."  Luke and I both placed in our age groups.  I lost first place by two seconds because the laser for time recording was located pass the mats and finish flags.  I was already booking it to the food table by the time Jason yelled to go back and cross the actual line.  That has never happened to me before, but it was funny.  My downfall was food. 

Belding had a great photo shoot area near the entrance to the high school with a backdrop and a huge bin full of costumes to put on.  A man walking into the school took a family picture for us in costumes after I took a bunch of the guys.  

After the run we went down to the Belding Labor Day festival.  We saw old cars (including a new and old Bug) walked parts of the course by the river and saw Belding's awesome library and museum again.  We got a closer look at the scarecrow display outside of the Belding museum.  We got lunch at one of our favorite hot dog shops, Mad Dogz in Comstock Park.  It was worth the 20 minute country drive.  We ate a nice sandwich bar dinner when we got back home compliments of Sue.  

Things I take from this run are:  1.  The awesome age group medals with the run title, logo and engravement on the back. The ceremony was wonderful.  2.  The finish line that had two finishing spots.  The finish mat that looked like a standard official timing mat and the stealth laser beam ten feet behind it that was actually tracking official finish time.  3.  Their bright American run logo was the same on their shirt and medals. Not all runs match the two with design.  It was a cool logo!  4.  I got ear headphones when I crossed the finish line for the first time ever. 

 Belding Page


Location: 850 Hall St, Belding, MI 48809, USA

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