Race with us this fall!
As the weather breaks, it's easier to imagine yourself training for a race. We have a great list of local races this fall that we'd love to see you at!
*denotes part of Five Points Race Series race: Join Cleveland for the FIVE POINT RACE SERIES again in 2023! These fall 5k’s celebrate the best of our local parks. Register for and complete at least 3 out of the 6 races and you will earn an exclusive BOCO hat or a $20 Terra Running gift card! Sponsored by the City of Cleveland Parks and Recreation.
*August 1 through November 24: Explore Cleveland Virtual 5k: Help us raise money for the Terra Kids Run Camp in the summer of 2024, all while exploring a new route in Cleveland. This virtual 5k is inexpensive and fun; run a 5k on your own and send us a selfie! We will post all finisher picture's on the window of Terra Running Company to celebrate your accomplishment! All money is donated to the Terra Kids Run Camp, which hosted 50 kids in a running day camp this summer for free! (This is also part of the Five Points Race Series, so if you need a 3rd race finish to earn the hat or gift card, it's easy to do this one on your own!) https://www.terrarunning.com/explore-cleveland-5k
*August 26: Junior Achievement Race to Achieve 5k at Tinsley Park: Did you know this was the very first race Terra Running Company ever timed back in 2017? We have been with JA from the beginning of Terra Running race timing and it always feels nostalgic when we're back at Tinsley Park at sunrise in August for yet another JA 5k! I have had the opportunity to volunteer with Junior Achievement this past year. I taught a really thorough and fun lesson about the economics of our region of the country to 4th graders at Charleston Elementary. I got to see firsthand the impact of these awesome lessons that JA provides for area schools. The 5k is one of their biggest fundraisers and we are proud to be involved. Run this fast course that starts at the dog parks at Tinsley and runs south. https://register.chronotrack.com/r/72420
*September 9: Cowpea 5k + 1 mile in Calhoun/Charleston: Yippeea! This the first EVER Cowpea 5k and we are so excited to be partnering with the International Cowpea Festival on this race. We will be raising money for the Hiwassee River Heritage Center in Charleston. The race starts in Calhoun, runs on historic Highway 11 south over the Hiwassee River to Charleston. We make a beautiful loop through historic Charleston and back north over the river to Calhoun. All participants get a free entry to that day's Cowpea Festival in Charleston. This is a great new local race, and the only race in our neighboring town of Charleston! https://www.terrarunning.com/cowpea-5k-1-mile
September 16: Recovery Alive 5k at Greenway Park: This is the first year for Terra Running to be teaming up with the South Cleveland Church of God Recovery Alive program for the RA5k at Greenway Park. Recovery Alive at South Cleveland is a safe place for you to come and DO recovery. No matter what you struggle with, you are welcome. Recovery Alive meets every Thursday night at South Cleveland Church of God and this is a fundraiser for the program. Join us in spreading hope! https://register.chronotrack.com/r/74537
September 23: Ronald McDonald House Charities Run4Kids at Chattanooga State: We love working with the Ronald McDonald House on this great Run4Kids race! This is one of the Ronald McDonald house's big fundraisers and they do it big! The race brings together runners, walkers, RMHC alumni families and supporters for this fun, kid friendly event. The course runs through Chattanooga State to the Riverwalk and has great views! https://register.chronotrack.com/r/74481
*October 14: Willowbend Farms Run for Their Freedom 5k at Greenway Park: Willowbend Farms sure knows how to put on the 5k! This event is an important fundraiser for Willowbend Farms, whose mission is to fight human trafficking in our area. There is live music at the Greenway Stage, vendors, and a powerful service after the race. Another unique aspect of this event is the evening time, with the race starting at 6pm. https://register.chronotrack.com/r/68288
October 20: Nightmare on Nashville Street in Ringgold, GA: This is the first year for this new 5k, but we have worked with the race organizers on previous events and can assure you, it will be a SCREAM! The 5k will start at the Ringgold Market in downtown Ringgold and will wind its way down a spooky nature trail. All runners will receive a commemorative race shirt. Performance awards will be given to male and female racers with the fastest time in their age brackets. The 1 mile trick or treat run will be held on the block surrounding Ringgold City Hall. 1 mile participants will receive a shirt with their entry fee and can swing by the tie dye station to give their race shirt some splashes of color. Participants can also visit trick or treat tables to load up on candy! https://www.evittfoundation.org/nightmareonnashville
*October 21: Cleveland Half Marathon & 5k in downtown Cleveland: We are so excited for the 6th running of the Cleveland Half Marathon & 5k! We have even more sponsors, community organizations, and volunteers involved and are proud to bring you the only half marathon in our area. You know we LOVE our big finishers medals, and this year we are honoring our own Terra Running Company building! The medal is a hand-drawn rendition of the building, complete with runners, coffee drinkers, and even our shop dog, Rocky! http://www.clevelandhalf.com/
*November 23: Thanksgiving Day 5k & 1 mile at Tinsley Park: There are more race finishers on Thanksgiving Day in the United States than any other day of the year. Be one of those finishers by joining us. This race has become one of the biggest 5k's in Cleveland! Join us at Tinsley Park for a fast, flat, family friendly 5k, then go indulge in turkey and pies the rest of the day! https://www.terrarunning.com/thanksgiving-day-5k
December 2: Lafayette, GA Reindeer Run: This is the 2nd year Terra Running has partnered with the Lafayette, GA Women's Club for their annual Reindeer Run and we are big fans of the work they do! The race runs through historic Lafayette, GA and is super fun and festive! Last year, the LaFayette Woman’s Club donated $10,000 to the LaFayette Shop With A Cop program and $9,000 to fund three LaFayette High School Female Scholarships. Get in the Christmas spirit with this awesome 5k! https://register.chronotrack.com/r/74468
December 9: Relay for Life Cleveland Reindeer Run 5k: Help support Cleveland's American Cancer Society Relay for Life with the running of this local Reindeer Run at Greenway Park. Race t-shirts and goodie bags are guaranteed for pre-registered participants. Don't worry about the cold: there will be coffee, hot chocolate and donuts during the morning of the event! https://runsignup.com/Race/TN/Cleveland/ReindeerRunClevelandTN
6 Years of Timing with Junior Achievement's Race to Achieve!
Most people know Terra isn’t simply a retail store but also a race timing company; this past Saturday we celebrated our 6th anniversary of successful timing with our very first race partner, Junior Achievement! We are so grateful for the work that JA does in our community and are proud to get to work with them year after year.
We interviewed race director Melissa Gunnell about the Race to Achieve, the work that Junior Achievement does with students in the Ocoee region and how people can get involved.
Can you tell us a little bit about yourself and the work you do at Junior Achievement?
My name is Melissa Gunnell and I have been with Junior Achievement (JA) for 7 years. I’m the Junior Achievement of the Ocoee Region Event Planner/ Coordinator and Administrative Assistant to the chapter President. I plan our fundraising events such as our Bowl for Education, 5K Race to Achieve, JA Dress for Success fashion show and others. These events help raise funds that allow us to provide local schools with JA programs.
Can you tell us about what Junior Achievement does as well as what that specifically looks like in our area?
Junior Achievement teaches students the knowledge and skills they need to own their economic success, plan for their future and make smart economic choices. These JA programs are provided to schools at no cost so the funds that we raise from the events mentioned above as well as our Annual Campaign. JA of the Ocoee Region provides programs to five counties: Bradley, McMinn, Meigs, Monroe & Polk.
Junior Achievement is a volunteer driven organization. Employees from local businesses, retired professionals and others volunteers to teach JA programs in the local schools. Junior Achievement is “INSPIRING TOMORROWS”!
What about the Race to Achieve 5k? How did it come about and how does it benefit the work you all do?
This year was the 9th annual 5K Race to Achieve. Terra Running has been partnering with us by
timing for our race for the past 6 years. The 5K Race to Achieve is a great way for JA to make our
community aware of what JA does in our schools and is a fun time for the serious or the just for fun
runners and families to help support JA in a small way by participating in the race.
How did you feel like this year’s race went? It’s impressive that you all have been putting it on for 9 years!
This year was our 9th Annual 5K Race to Achieve and went very well thanks to Terra Running doing our timing once again. Each year we are increasing our number of participants and making the public more aware of Junior Achievement of the Ocoee Region and our mission to Inspire our students for Tomorrow with better financial knowledge. We also give prizes to the school teams with the top average time in College/High school, Middle school and Elementary school divisions; Cleveland Middle School was the top school this year.
How can people support the work of Junior Achievement?
Junior Achievement is always looking for volunteers. We provide training to the volunteers and all of the materials they need to teach JA programs. If anyone is interested in volunteering, they should contact our office (423-614-8777) or email liz.mathurin@ja.org for more information.