Enjoy the Great Scrap 8K (4.97 miles) run on the beautiful and scenic Lansing River Trail in Lansing, Michigan. Get treated with a tasty popsicle at the finish line and explore the incredible ScrapFest sculptures in Old Town.
Not a bad way to spend a Saturday morning.
Great Scrap Run Course
The course is an out-and-back that starts and ends in Chavez Plaza in Old Town. It follows the Lansing River Trail entirely with no road crossings to worry about. It is completely paved and is an excellent flat and fast route.
The trail, however, is open to the public. Don’t be surprised to come across bikers, walkers, and other runners who are not participating in the race. Everyone is very friendly though and stepped aside to let us pass.
Be prepared to also encounter a family of ducks or geese who might not be so friendly.
A Kids Half Mile Fun Run kicks the event off at 8 a.m. before the start of the 8K.
Goodies
All participants receive a cool t-shirt.
Medals are given to those who place in the top 3 of their age group. The overall awards are unique in that they are made from scrap metal by artists participating in ScrapFest. This year the awards were made by Andrew Sandstedt and Ivan Iller, who have both previously won ScrapFest.
After finishing (and enjoying my post-race tasty surprise popsicle), we wandered across the street into the heart of Old Town to see the amazing sculptures of ScrapFest.
The Mikey 23 Foundation
All proceeds from this race go to the Mikey 23 Foundation. This foundation is a local non-profit that helps educate and train young people in skilled trade. They are also involved in many projects throughout the community.
Overall
I enjoyed running the Great Scap Run. I had been eyeing it for awhile and am so glad that I finally signed up for it. It was a lot of fun and visiting the sculptures afterward made it a unique experience.
To learn more or to sign up to participate, visit The Great Scrap Run.