Cross Country Team Challenge

Race Overview

Running IS a team sport, and the Brian Diemer Family of Races Cross Country Team Challenge allows you and four (or more) of your friends to experience it all together. This event resembles a high school-style cross country meet, using standard scoring and a 5K course. If you don't have a team or enough people to make an entire team, let us know, and we will help you put a team together. We also allow participants to run without being attached to a team.

• Date: July 21, 2026
• Location: 1101 Richmond St NW, Grand Rapids, MI
• Course: 5K featuring mowed grass, packed dirt, and gravel
• Community Run: FREE 1 Mile Run open to both youth & adults

Here is an overview of the 2025 course, https://www.plotaroute.com/route/2330110. We expect the 2026 course to be similar. It will be well-marked, with cyclists leading the way.

For a quick video on how a cross country race is scored, check out this video or simply ask us.

How to Register

We tried to make it easy for you to register and start your team (if you have one). The first person on your team to register can create the team. From there, that person can share the team name and a link for others to join. We also activated the features that allow you to change your team name and the type of team you have (female, male, coed). We are also happy to help with all of this.

• Team Size: Teams can range from 5 to 7 individuals
• Scoring: Only the top 5 places count towards your score
• Coed Requirement: At least one member of the opposite gender
• Chip Timing: The 5K portion of the event is chip-timed

If you don't have a team yet (or don't want the pressure of creating a team name), no worries! Go ahead and register yourself, and we can help you form a team later. We also allow participants to run solo, unattached from a team.

We have youth pricing turned on so anyone under the age of 20 will receive a $10 entry. Contact us at lmcubridgerun@gmail.com if you would like to set up your team so members can all register for free, with a single invoice issued after the event.

Awards

Gazelle Sports has generously signed on board as an Awards Sponsor this year. They have helped us since the first year.

• First Overall Female: $20 to Gazelle Sports
• First Overall Male: $20 to Gazelle Sports
• Middle of the Pack Award: $20 to Gazelle Sports (given to the person who finishes in the middle of the final order)
• Most Spirited Team: all team members receive a $15 to Gazelle Sports (this will be voted on by the race day volunteers)

The FUN Run Mile participants are not eligible for awards. The FUN Run Mile is also not timed.

Race Day Timeline

• 5pm: Bib pickup
• 6:00pm: Community Fun Run Mile
• 6:25pm: XC teams report to the starting line
• 6:30pm: XC race starts
• 7:30pm: Awards

We look forward to seeing you on race day!

For more information, visit the official race page.