4th Annual Rock ‘N Rail 5K/1M Goes Off With a Bang

The 4th annual Rock ‘N Rail 5K/1M rocked the socks off all participants this morning. With a race accompanied by live music, food vendors, and entertainment, all attending had only one option: have a rockin’ good time!

To see more photos from the event, click here!

Over 200 runners ages 8 to 68 took off at noon, hoping to not only support a great cause, but also place in their age division. Awards were presented to the top male and female overall as well as overall masters. 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place finishers were also awarded in each age division.

Nicole Gruska, 35, finished first overall for the ladies with a time of 21:51. Jeff Mescal, 50, finished first overall, winning his second 5k of the morning! With a time of 17:42.

Jeff said, “I’ve run both races the past two years. It’s always a good workout and I’m running a marathon next weekend so it’s a good primer for that.”

Taylor Perez ,11, who finished her first ever competitive race today with a time of 29:30, said, “I’m doing cross country this year for school, so I thought this would help me prepare for my upcoming meets.”

“The proceeds from our event benefit those in our community who are in financial need to be able to afford membership and programs. Our event has over fifty volunteers who help with registration, pass out finisher ribbons, and serve as course marshals,” explained Carl Zurbriggen, Executive Director of the Griffith Family YMCA, “We pride ourselves on making sure our runners’ safety is our number one priority. You’ll see a course marshal on almost every single intersection of the 3.1 miles.”

Those interested in joining in on the fun without the pressure of racing could enjoy the one mile, non-competitive race. Geared towards children, families, and seniors, the race was a hit.

Coinciding with the annual Rock ‘N Rail Street Festival, food vendors featuring a variety of local and ethnic food, non-stop live music, a kids area, and a giant beer garden were all available for competitors of the race.

“Following the race, participants can take advantage of attending one of the best street festivals in Northwest Indiana, complete with live music, great food, and other unique vendors. It can be a full day of fun for those who choose to take advantage of everything the event has to offer,” said Carl.

From start to finish, everyone had a great time at the fourth annual Rock ‘N Rail Race. Despite a little bit of rain, smiles were to be had all around, showing just how much fun it can be to run for a great cause.

Sponsors of the event include: Members Source Credit Union, El Oso Construction, Strack & Van Til, United Federal Credit Union, True Lux Car Wash, Centier, Jay Platt DDS, Dr. Christopher Gall D.D.S, Midwest Telecom of America, Inc., Zamudio Law Professionals, TLC Plumbing, Centsible Heating & Air Conditioning, Knight Insurance Group, State Farm, Cakes by Karen, Theatre At the Center, Alkon Consulting, Baxter Printing, and H-Rail Modular Train Club.