Mothers for Clean Air

Mothers for Clean Air Earth Day 5K

Saturday, April 19, 2008

Click here to register

About our “Green” Event
Race Course
MacGregor Park
Dates & Times
Registration Fees & Deadlines
Packet Pick-up
Parking & Directions
Divisions & Awards
Post-Race Festivities
Sponsors
Press Release
2007 Earth Day 5K Report

About our “Green” Event

The Mothers for Clean Air Earth Day 5K was created to raise awareness about air pollution issues in the Houston area. In partnership with the Houston Parks and Recreation Department, the 2008 Mothers for Clean Air Earth Day 5K will be held at MacGregor Park, near the University of Houston Main Campus. All proceeds from the Earth Day 5K will benefit Mothers for Clean Air and the Houston Parks and Recreation Department.
This Earth Day, come run with us to show you care about clean air!

Our 2008 Earth Day 5K will also be a “green” event:

All participants will receive a t-shirt made from 100% organic cotton printed with 100% all natural inks from SOS from Texas, a family owned certified organic cotton farm in the Texas Panhandle.
For water and sports drink, we will be using Greenware cups from Fabi-Kal that are made from a corn based polymer instead of using plastic bottles. Greenware cups are 100% compostable and will be turned back into soil by Urban Harvest, organic community gardens that improve quality of life in Houston.
All race brochures are printed on 100% recycled paper.
Participants will receive their race packets in a “Better Bag” from Whole Foods. On Earth Day 2008, Whole Foods will completely eliminate plastic bags from their stores. The “Better Bag” is a reusable grocery bag made from recycled plastics.
All age group winners will receive a native Texas Mountain Laurel in a commemorative terra cotta pot instead of the usual plaque or trophy.
At the post race party, Bayou City Farmers Market will serve fresh veggie wraps made from locally grown organic produce.
Recycling stations will be set up at the post race party.
Luke’s Locker will offer shoe recycling to all participants.
Don’t throw away your old running shoes! Bring them to the packet pick up at Luke’s Locker or to the registration area on race day for recycling.
The team competition will include a division for the “greenest” team which will recognize the team with the best commitment to carpooling, recycling and other green initiatives.
Noted pediatric pulmonologist Dr. Harold Farber will speak at the post race party about the importance of clean air for children’s health.

Race Course

Runners and walkers will be treated to a new 5K course that is a flat, fast loop course with no u-turns. The majority of the course is shaded by tall pine and oak trees along Brays Bayou and finishes on the running trail inside the park. There will be two water stations on the course after the first and second mile markers. There will also be water by the starting line and water and sports drink at the post race party.

The 5K race course has been certified USATF TX08023ETM.. Runners will be chip timed by Run-Far Racing Services. All runners will be timed based on gun time and chip time. All runners must wear a timing chip to be scored. Please arrive by 7:30 am to pick up your timing chip. Race results will be posted on this website and on www.insidetexasrunning.com.

The Kids Run will start and finish at the starting line for the 5K Run. The Kids Run will go out and back on S. MacGregor.

NO PETS, BIKES, SKATES OR HEADPHONES.
Strollers permitted on walk and at back of 5K Run.

MacGregor Park

Thanks to a partnership with the Houston Parks and Recreation Department, the Mothers for Clean Air Earth Day 5K will be held for the first time at beautiful MacGregor Park, near the University of Houston Main Campus. MacGregor Park has recently undergone a nearly quarter of a million dollar renovation. MacGregor Park is home to the Homer Ford Tennis Center, a Frisbee golf course, basketball courts, softball fields and a new playground. Situated next to Brays Bayou, MacGregor Park is also a great place to see a wide variety of bird species only minutes from downtown Houston.

Runners and walkers will finish the 5K on the park’s recently renovated running trail. The post-race party will be held in the picnic area near the finish line.


Community Center at MacGregor Park	Play Ground at MacGregor Park

Date & Times

Saturday, April 19, 2007

6:45 a.m.	Registration, Packet Pick-up, Chip Registration
7:30 a.m.	1 K Kids Run
8:00 a.m.	5K Run/Walk
8:15 a.m.	Post-Race party
9:00 a.m.	Awards

We will also have a bag check available at registration.

Registration Fees & Deadlines

Event	By April 12	By April 18	Race Day
5K Timed Run	$17	$20	$25
5K Walk	$17	$20	$25
1K Kids Run	$10	$10	$10
Family Package	$45	$50	$60

Team discount is $2 per person. See “Divisions & Awards.”
No refunds and no rain date. Race will take place rain or shine. Race Director reserves the right to cancel or cut short the event in case of dangerous weather conditions.

To register : Register on-line or send in your Registration form with your payment.

Packet Pick-up

Runners and walkers can pick up packets on the following dates:

Saturday, April 12 from 8 a.m. to noon
Bayou City Farmers Market, back parking lot at 3000 Richmond, Houston, TX 77098

Saturday, April 12 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Weekley Family YMCA, 7101 Stella Link, Houston, TX 77025

Friday, April 18 from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Luke’s Locker, 1953 West Gray Blvd., Houston, TX 77019

Parking & Directions

Ample parking is available and free at MacGregor Park. Please enter the park at the Martin Luther King Drive entrance.

MacGregor Park is near the University of Houston, Main Campus.

From the north, take I-45 to exit 44B, Spur 5. Follow Spur 5 to Old Spanish Trail. Turn right on Old Spanish Trail and then take the next right on Martin Luther King Blvd. The next left is the entrance to the park.

From the south, take I-45 to exit 44A, Elgin, Lockwood, Cullen. After exiting, turn left on Elgin and then turn left at the second light onto Spur 5. Follow Spur 5 to Old Spanish Trail. Turn right on Old Spanish Trail and then take the next right on Martin Luther King Blvd. The next left is the entrance to the park.

Divisions & Awards

All participants receive a 100% organic cotton Earth Day 5K top Participants will also be eligible for the prize drawing, which includes an overnight getaway package at the Houstonian Hotel, Club and Spa, watches from I.W. Marks Jewelers and other great items.

For the 5K Run, the overall male and female runners in the Open (under 40) and Masters (40+) will win prizes from Luke’s Locker. The men and women finishing first, second and third place in the following age divisions will receive special “green” awards:

0-14; 15-19; 20-24; 25-29; 30-34; 35-39; 40-44; 45-49; 50-54; 55-59; 60-64; 65-69; 70+

A team must have a minimum of three members, each of whom will receive a $2 discount off the race fee. Prizes will be awarded to the

Largest Team Overall
Largest School Team
Fastest Team (The team whose top three runners clock the fastest cumulative time.)
Greenest Team (The team with the highest score based on the Green Team Guide.)

Team members are also eligible for individual age group awards and prizes.

The Kids Run is open to kids age 11 and younger. All kids will receive a medal.

The 5K Walk is open to all ages.

Post-Race Festivities

After the run, all participants are invited to join us under the shady trees of MacGregor Park for the post-race party and awards by the 5K finish line. Whole Foods will provide refreshments and Bayou City Farmers Market will serve veggie wraps made from locally grown produce. Participants can also check out hybrid vehicles on display, pick up information from our vendors and sponsors and get a free onsite massage from Doctors Chiropractic Health and Rehab Center.

There will be many activities for kids including tie-dying, crafts, face painting, a clown and balloon art. Awards will be presented to winners of the Earth Day 5K art contest. The contest was open to elementary students in the Houston area. The winning art is used as the Earth Day 5K logo and appears on the t-shirt as well as this website. This year’s winner is Denis Lopez, a fourth grader at Meador Elementary in Pasadena.

All of the winning artwork will be displayed at the party.

Copyright © 1998-2002, Mothers for Clean Air. All Rights Reserved. 3100 Richmond, Suite 309, Houston, TX 77098
Phone:	(713) 526-0110
Fax:	(713) 526-0550
E-mail:	mfca@mothersforcleanair.org
Last update: March 31, 2008