Since 1989, the annual Tex Mex 5K Race for Open Space has raised more than $1 million for Wissahickon Trails and raised thousands benefitting North Wales Police, North Penn Vol. Fire Department, North Wales Borough’s green initiatives, and VMSC EMS.
On Wednesday night, the race returns for the 34th time, with close to 1,250 runners descending upon North Wales Borough for the 7 p.m. gun.
Afterward, registrants who paid the $45 entry fee get a digital finish photo, a T-shirt, a Tex Mex Connection dinner, and one free margarita or craft beer at the 201 E. Walnut St. restaurant and bar.
Chip timing will be done by Run the Day. No dogs or wheeled vehicles of any kind are allowed in the race.
Runners will run a course through the neighborhood, passing by North Wales Elementary and Weingartner Park on E. Prospect and E. Montgomery avenues.
Tex Mex Connection Rules of the race include posting runner numbers on the front of shirts, and having fast runners – those who can run a mile in under seven minutes – line up in front for the race, followed by seven to nine-minute milers in the middle, and the slowest in the back.
There will be prizes for first, second and third place overall for male and female winners, each receiving $100, $75, and $50 gift certificates, respectively.
First place male and female masters receive $75 gift certificates. Prizes are based on gun time.
Prizes will also be awarded to the first, second and third place male and female runners in five year age groups, according to Tex Mex: 15 and under, 16 to 20, and 70 and older, who will receive $30, $25, and $20 gift certificates, respectively.
After the race, there is an “Under the Stars Party” outdoors in the lot of Tex Mex Connection, from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m.
Tex Mex Connection Runners will be fed chicken, red quinoa, cannelloni and kidney bean salad with roasted tomato vinaigrette, chips and salsa, orange slices, and a cookie. Vegan options are also available.
A cash bar will be open in the parking lot for family and spectators.
Race sponsors this year include Wissahickon Trails, Merck, KeyBank, North Wales Water Authority, Mainstay Engineering Group Inc., North Wales Running Company, BDS Bearing & Drive Solutions, Groundworks foundation services company, Kreischer Miller, Prime Hydration & Wellness, Nolan Painting, Univest, Sofidel, D.E. Walker & Sons, E&M Insurance LLC, Green Propane Inc., Haverford Quality Investing/Haverford Trust Company, Artisan’s Alley, EdwardJones Investments, LandConcepts Group, William R. May Funeral Home Inc., Rooney Line Construction Inc., McAllister Brewing Co., Port-A-Bowl, Ashley Foods, Derstine’s Foodservice Distributor, Harleysville Party Rental, and J. Ambrogi Food Distribution Inc.
