PORT TOWNSEND — Jefferson Healthcare has issued an additional challenge for runners in the May 18 Rhody Run.
Teams who register for the Jefferson Healthcare Cup have a chance to take home a gold-plated cup and to support the Jefferson County Relay For Life, set this year to begin July 26 at Memorial Field, which raises money for the American Cancer Society.
Registration for the Jefferson Healthcare Cup is due May 1.
The entry fee is $100 for teams of up to 15 members who are 18 or older. The top five finishers from each team in their respective age groups will determine the team’s point total.
Each runner on a team also has to be registered for the Jefferson Healthcare Rhody Run, which has a separate cost of $30 for adults and $12 for children younger than 15 if registration is done in advance.
Costs for the Rhody Run the day of the race are $45 for adults and $15 for children.
Registration for the run can be done online at www.rhodyrun.com.
Forms on the site for both the Rhody Run and Jefferson Healthcare Cup can be downloaded and mailed to the Port Townsend Marathon Association, P.O. Box 826, Port Townsend.
Four teams so far
Four teams had signed up for the Jefferson Healthcare Cup as of Friday, according to Jeni Little, race director.
Jefferson Healthcare has one team, while Port Townsend Paper Corp. has three, she said.
Jefferson Healthcare this year became the naming sponsor of the Rhody Run, now in its 36th year, which will begin at 11 a.m., starting and finishing at Fort Worden State Park.
The annual run of 12 kilometers — 7.45 miles — is a culminating event of the Port Townsend Rhododendron Festival, which will begin May 12.
“We usually have between 2,000 and 2,500 in the Rhody Run,” Little said.
Ninety-two awards are possible, given to men and women in a variety of age categories. Awards are medals made by the Port Townsend Foundry.
Jefferson Healthcare will host an early packet pickup for the Rhody Run on Saturday, May 17, in the auditorium of the hospital at 834 Sheridan St., Little said.
Registration period
Runners can register there between 3 p.m. and 8 p.m., then enjoy a $10 “dine and dash” spaghetti dinner prepared by chef Aaron Stark, she said.
Online registration for the run will end May 15.
Jefferson Healthcare also will sponsor a free Kids Sprint for Health for children 9 and younger before the race.
Also, children now are building up miles for the Rhody Run’s Kids’ Marathon.
Beginning in March, young runners began tracking their miles. Each will turn in running logs showing having completed 18.5 miles before the race and then cover the distance of the Rhody Run to end with a marathon distance of 26.2 miles.
For more information, visit www.rhodyrun.com.
