Just one week until we chase the Yeti out of Parma

On March 19 the Western Runners Club returns to downtown Parma to celebrate spring by symbolically chasing away the abominable snowman. 

You and all of your friends, family, and other random people you know who like to run, walk or stroll are invited to come participate in this important folk tradition.

Schedule of Events

7:30 a.m. Check-In/Registration Table Opens 

at the Masonic Temple at 100 W. Main Street in Parma

8 a.m. Start of the Djehli Roll (Bike Ride)

8:40 a.m. Start of Kids' Half Mile

9 a.m. Start of 5k run/walk/stroll

Awards Ceremony and Celebrations will happen at the Masonic Temple throughout the morning. To keep things simple, there are only two age divisions, and participants can compete in the bike race, the 5k, or in the combo (both bike and run).

For more information and for a link to the registration site, go to www.run270.blogspot.com.

The purpose of the Western Runners Club is to encourage active, healthy living in the Western community. It does this by organizing events such as the Goodbye Yeti, and by providing support to the track and cross country programs at Western's schools. 

Course map available for Hello Spring (Goodbye Yeti)

The race course has been set for this year's chasing away of the Yeti. Click on the link below to visit the www.raceentry.com map of the route.

https://www.raceentry.com/race-maps/hello-spring-goodbye-yeti

Hello Spring (Goodbye Yeti) 5k scheduled for March 19, 2016

It's been a mild winter, but on March 19 the Western Runners Club will run the yeti out of town. Since 2008 the group has made it an important rite of spring to symbolically chase the mythic abominable snowman of the Himalayas away from Parma, a village located just west of Jackson, Mich.

This year's event will begin with an 8 a.m. bike ride, followed by the traditional five-kilometer run/walk/stroll, which will start at 9 a.m.

Click HERE to register, or go search for the event at www.raceentry.com.

Register early and often, as there is a limited number of race shirts available.

Group and team rates are available.

For more information, contact Lucas Sponsler at lucas.sponsler@wsdpathers.com.

Register today for the West270 Bike & Run

Registration cost is only $20 for one event and $30 for both.

Go to Raceentry.com Raceentry.com to register. 

The first fifty registrants will be guaranteed a t-shirt. 

Interested in sponoring the event? Contact Lucas Sponsler at elspondo at gmail.com.

WRC to host West270 Bike & Run

   On Sunday, May 3, the Western Runners Club will host a unique multi-sport event on the nature trails at Western High School.
   "We want to get people up and moving, and we want to do it in a fun way," event organizer Lucas Sponsler said. "People can come and do the bike race or the trail run, or, if they're bold enough, they can do both."
   The event will begin with a 30-minute cyclocross bike race. Popular in the bicycling community, cyclocross racing gives road racers and mountain bikers the chance to compete against each other in a hybrid event. On a course about a mile in length with a variety of surfaces, barriers, and run-ups, riders attempt to do as many laps as they can in a set amount of time.
   Ten minutes after the completion of the bike race, a 5k trail run will begin. Because much of the same course will be used for both events, runners can expect to get mud on their shoes.
   Proceeds from this event will benefit the Western Runners Club and the Melanoma Research Foundation
   "May is melanoma awareness month," Sponsler said. "Melanoma is one of the deadliest forms of cancer, and the number of cases is growing. But it's preventable, so we want to raise awareness."
   

Runners and Walkers start Parma Day with five kilometer event

   Congratulations to everyone who participated in this year’s Parma Day Harvest Festival 5k! It was a beautiful morning for a run or walk in Parma, Mich., on Sept. 27, and the start of the 3.1-mile run, walk, or stroll got things started for the celebration of all things Parma.

   Finishing in first place overall was 14-year-old Taelor Eernisse, who ran the course in just under 20 minutes. “I really like to run,” Eernisse said. “It feels good.”

   Joanne Worden was first place among female competitors. “I ran this course last year,” she said. “That’s a really long straightaway coming into town.

Time	Bib#	First Name	Last Name	Gender
19:57	217	Taelor	Eernisse	M	first overall male
22:23	219	Josh	Otto	M	1st age/gender division
23:38	214	Sherwin	Wray	M	1st age/gender division
25:38:00	218	Bailey	Railer	M	1st age/gender division
25:39:00	201	Logan	Baum	M	1st age/gender division
26:46:00	204	Gale	Easton	M	1st age/gender division
28:37:00	213	Joann	Worden	F	first overall female
32:20:00	215	Gena	Young	F	1st age/gender division
36:48:00	202	Tami	Cary	F	1st age/gender division
39:18:00	203	Mya	Dake	F	1st age/gender division
39:25:00	212	Marcia	Rimer	F	1st age/gender division
43:08:00	205	Bonnie	Easton	F	1st age/gender division
43:28:00	206	Elise	Hawes	F	1st age/gender division
43:28:00	208	Haylie	Phillips	F	1st age/gender division
45:32:00	209	John	Reule	M	1st age/gender division
45:34:00	210	Paula	Reule	F	1st age/gender division
45:35:00	211	Laura	Reule	F	1st age/gender division
49:52:00	216	Mary	Konkol	F	1st age/gender division
52:44:00	207	Michele	Munn	F	1st age/gender division
52:44:00	220	Jim	Munn	M	1st age/gender division

Hooray for Parma!

Thank you to the PDHF Committee -- especially Tera Dorr and Jamie Baum -- for their commitment to this aspect of Parma Day. Special thanks go to Gena Young, Gale Easton and Blaine Goodrich, who helped get things going yesterday morning. 

Register now for the Parma Day Harvest Festival 5k

On a race course similar to that of the Goodbye Yeti, walkers and runners will start and finish in downtown Parma, Michigan, at 8 a.m. on Sept. 27. 

Click here to register online. 

Those who register on or before midnight, Sept. 19 will receive a commemorative T-shirt. The fee is only $20.
Pre-registration for kids 12 and under is $10, but this is only necessary if they want shirts. Otherwise, kids run free.  

Downtown Parma, Mich., as seen from the lawn of the public library. 

If you have questions, or would like to volunteer time or resources to the organizing of this event, email  lucas.sponsler @ westernschools.org.