Still Time to Train for the ‘Ultimate Beer Run’

FunRunJun11Oktoberfest5KTeam800px — Members of the Fremont Oktoberfest 5K team at the Fremont Fun Run in June, 2011. Photo by K. Lindsay

Start training for the 9^th annual Fremont Oktoberfest 5K presented by Pyramid Breweries, and scheduled for Sunday, September 25^th at 10:00am. The official 5K takes runners from Solstice Plaza (near N. 34^th Street and Fremont Ave North) along the scenic Burke-Gilman Trail and Lake Union Ship Canal to finish at the Fremont Oktoberfest Pyramid Breweries Village Beer Garden.

Regardless of your experience level, these lighthearted training tips from the festival organizers at Bold Hat Productions, will prepare you for the ‘Ultimate Beer Run’:

Register early: Registration has opened! Pre-registration is $25 and includes a Fremont Oktoberfest 5K t-shirt. Day-of registration costs $35, and t-shirts cannot be guaranteed.
Sign up for a particular running division:

Beer Belly Division: Got a beer belly? No problem! Entrants in this division jump on the scale to qualify – men of +220 pounds and women of +175 pounds – to be treated like Oktoberfest royalty. For one thing, these division members start the race first, to gain the opportunity to reach the beer finish line before the rest of the pack!

Oktoberfest10BeerTentwFraulein800pxbyKSL — Anyone (21+) can visit the beer tents - but imagine how much more fun it would be to have earned it by running a 5K first?! Photo by K. Lindsay, Oktoberfest 2010

Team Division: Running and drinking are more fun with friends! Dress in dirndl, lederhosen or other costume and take to the streets in a four-person team, with the winning team determined by average race times.

Train often. Try running a few practice 5Ks, including running alongside Fremont Oktoberfest 5K runners in the Firecracker 5000, Kent Cornucopia Days 5K or Covey Run.
Stay motivated. Set realistic goals to stay motivated. For the Fremont Oktoberfest 5K, the finish line at the Pyramid Breweries Village Beer Garden is a popular goal. Runners can also look for libations in the Oktoberfest Tasting Garden. Advance tickets for the tasting garden are $20, with day-of entry going for $25.

For more information, or to register to run, visit FremontOktoberfest.com/run. You can keep up with the Fremont Oktoberfest 5K runners on Twitter – @FOKT5K.

Fremont Oktoberfest raises money that supports the programs of the Fremont Chamber of Commerce, including a community grants program. Find out more about the work of the Fremont Chamber on their website.