Alive and Running VA 5K Fun Run/Walk - LIVE AND VIRTUAL RACE

🏃‍♂️ EVENT OVERVIEW

IMPORTANT UPDATE!! Alive and Running VA 5K has a LIVE AND VIRTUAL for 2025

We are glad to announce that we are having a LIVE and VIRTUAL race for 2025. Participants have the option to run the LIVE event on the VA location or stay at home and run/walk your event with VIRTUAL options.

🌍 VIRTUAL EVENT

• Flexibility: You can run the 5K distance anywhere, in your neighborhood, on a treadmill, at a nearby park.
• Completion Window: You will have between Saturday, September 13th and Sunday, October 4th to complete your 5K.
• Time Submission: Once you have completed the 5K, you will enter your time on the Run Sign-up website.
• Packet Pickup: If you participate in the virtual event you will still receive a race t-shirt! Packet pickup is planned on September 12 and 13.

🎉 ABOUT THIS EVENT

This event is brought to you in collaboration with our community partner Gryphon Place, who both supports and provides suicide prevention services for veterans and others across our region.

The 13th Annual Alive and Running VA 5K Run/Walk is a 5K Fun Run/Walk for all levels of participants. This event is designed to raise awareness to the growing problem of suicide within the Military, Veteran and youth populations. The course is located on the campus of the Battle Creek VA Medical Center. The race starts in the parking lot located at the entrance of the medical center. The run goes up the main hill and around the historic campus twice before returning down the hill to the finish.

• Timed Event: The race this year will be timed, with runners starting first and walkers to follow.
• Child Participation: Children and strollers will be allowed, but children must be accompanied by a parent/guardian at all times.
• Weather Contingency: In the event of inclement weather, the race may be delayed or cancelled. No refunds will be given.
• Purpose: Join us to celebrate life and raise awareness towards suicide. We want everyone to know they matter.

📦 PACKET PICKUP AND REGISTRATION

• Friday, September 12th: 4:30 to 6:00 p.m. at the parking lot entrance of the medical center.
• Saturday, September 13th: 7:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m.
• Race Time: Saturday, September 13th - 9:00 a.m.

💻 ONLINE REGISTRATION

• Early Bird: $15 through July 01, 2025.
• Standard Registration: $20 from July 02nd through September 12th (closes at 11:59 pm).
• Late Registration: $20 on Friday packet pickup and $30 on race day. Must register online.
• T-Shirt Guarantee: Only online registrations received by midnight September 01, 2025 will be guaranteed a race T-Shirt.

📬 MAIL IN REGISTRATION

• Early Bird: $15, must be postmarked by July 01, 2025.
• Standard: $20, must be postmarked by September 04, 2025.
• Submission: Send completed registration form to Gryphon Place, P.O. Box 378, Portage, MI 49081.
• Payment: Make checks payable to Gryphon Place. Registration fees cover the cost of the race.

👕 TEE SHIRTS

• Guarantee: To be guaranteed a tee shirt, race registrations must be made by Sept. 1, 2025 (11:59 pm).

🏆 Awards and Age Categories

• Overall Awards: Male and Female Overall.
• Age Groups: Top 3 in each age division - 14 and Under, 15-19, 20-29, 30-39, 40-49, 50-59, 60-69, 70 and Over.

Join us on 2025-09-13 at 5500 Armstrong Rd., Battle Creek, MI. For more details, visit the official race page.