The James River winds its way through the background of this years race shirt for The Bank of Fincastle Fall 5K & 10K Run.
This will be the 24th annual bank race, and again the area’s wildlife and fall colors along with the James are prominent in the artwork for the popular shirts. A whitetail buck is in the foreground while the ribbon of blue water runs at the foot of the colorful fall ridges that represent the Allegheny and Blue Ridge Mountains that surround the county.
The shirts go to all of the runners in the annual race that will be Saturday, Oct. 16 in Fincastle.
Applications for the race have gone out to all previous runners, and they are available at all The Bank of Fincastle branches, at Botetourt Parks & Recreation Department, The Fincastle Herald and Richard Pauley’s Nationwide Insurance office in Daleville.
Application can also be downloaded at www.bankoffincastle.com under “Community.”
Some 900 runners are expected again this year—many of them students participating in the Elementary Team Division and Middle School Team Division for Botetourt County schools.
Runners will compete individually in men’s and women’s divisions in both the 5K and 10K races, and they’ll compete in 13 different age divisions: 9 and under, 10-13, 14-17, 18-22, 23-29, 30-34, 35-39, 40-44, 45-49, 50-54, 55-59, 60-69, 70 and over.
Trophies go to the top three individual overall men’s and women’s winners in both races, and medals are awarded to the top three finishers in each age group in the men’s and women’s divisions of both races.
There are three team competitions. There’s an Open Team Division to go along with the two school divisions in the 5K.
The top three teams in each division earn trophies and medals. Team winners are determined by combining the times of the top finishers on each team.
The elementary schools also compete for two participation trophies—one for the most runners entered in the race and one for the highest percentage of its students in the race.
Registration before September 30 is $15 for adults and $10 for youth 18 and under. Late registration after September 30 is $20 for adults and youth.
The race starts at 9 a.m. on October 16 on Poor Farm Road at Central Academy Middle School.
The race heads from there into Fincastle’s downtown. Several Fincastle streets are closed that morning for the race.
For more information, visit the bank’s website or call 473-2761.
