Lincoln Highway centennial event set

VW Area CVB news

The Lincoln Highway Centennial Committee, with cooperation from the Van Wert Area Convention and Visitors Bureau, has organized the Lincoln Highway Run & Ride for Saturday, November 9, as a final salute to the yearlong celebration of the Lincoln Highway’s 100th birthday.

The course will follow the historic highway from the village of Convoy to the Van Wert County Courthouse in downtown Van Wert, for a distance of seven miles. Participants may choose to run or ride their bicycles.  A 5K course will also be offered for those interested in running a shorter distance or choosing to walk the course or push a stroller.

Runners and walkers will be able to park their vehicles in downtown Van Wert and be transported by bus from Fountain Park to Convoy.  Buses will depart from Fountain Park no later than 9:20 a.m.  Bikers will provide their own transportation to Crestview High School in Convoy.  Larry Webb has offered an option to help bikers transport their bikers either to the start or back to their vehicles after the ride.  He has a trailer with a 24-bike capacity, but bikers will need to make prior arrangements to make use of this option.

5K participants, providing their own transportation, should report to the Alexander & Bebout parking lot (10098 Lincoln Highway) no later than 9:30 a.m.

Bicycle and 5K start time will be 10 a.m. while the 7-mile run will start at 10:05 that morning. EMS will be available and participants are reminded that the weather may be cold, so please dress accordingly.

A reception and awards presentation will begin at noon in Fountain Park (or other indoor Main Street location, to be announced, if necessitated by weather conditions. Awards for first place in each category, male and female, will be given.

Categories are: 7-mile runner, 5K runner, and best show of “Lincoln Highway Spirit” (costume or the use of the traditional Lincoln Highway logo colors of red/white/blue) as voted on by race staff.

Entry fee for this event is $25 due by October 12. Late sign-ups will be an additional $30 and Race Day sign-ups will be $35. Registration forms and release forms (each is required) can be picked up at the Van Wert Area Convention & Visitors Bureau office at 136 E. Main St., area fitness locations, bicycle shops, and elsewhere or can be downloaded at www.visitvanwert.org/documents/LincolnHighwayRunandRideEntryForm.pdf or www.visitvanwert.org/documents/LincolnHighwayRunandRideReleaseForm.pdf

For more information, call the Van Wert Area CVB at 419.238.9378.