The 2015 Crape Myrtle Trails Run, featuring newly certified 10K and 5K courses and a 1-mile course, is set for Saturday, Sept. 26. The start/finish line for all walkers and runners is located this year at Boyd High School, 600 North Lake Forest Drive in McKinney. Races begin at 8:00, 8:30 and 8:45 a.m. with check-in and pre-race entertainment at 7 a.m.

Phil Wheat, president of the Crape Myrtle Trails Board said, “Once again, our run kicks off McKinney Oktoberfest weekend. It’s a great family-fun event, but it’s for serious runners, too. We hope folks from all over North Texas will come to walk and run and see what a great place McKinney is.”

The festival aspect of the annual event includes activities in “Myrtle Village” both before and after the race. Entertainment in the area includes a petting zoo, face painter, bounce house, inflatable obstacle course, music, warm-up exercises, and a great favorite, the Chicken Dance. In a long-established tradition, students from the school with the greatest participation will get to see their coach or principal Kiss a Pig. (“Myrtle” is her name.)

Rodney Haynes, race chair, said, “The new course is terrific. It’s certified by USATF. And there will be trophies and medals galore.”

The race is directed and timed by Racing Systems through Run-On! of McKinney. Medals and trophies will be awarded in multiple age divisions. In addition, local education reaps benefits when Crape Myrtle Trails Board members return $5 of students’ and parents’ registration fees to participating schools.

For advance registration, go to www.crapemyrtletrails.org. Race day registration begins at 7:00 a.m. in the north end of the Boyd High School parking lot.

Dozens of community businesses and organizations are sponsors for the event, including the McKinney Community Development Corporation.

For additional information, please contact Phil Wheat, pdwheat@unitedplanners.com.