One of our favorite events of the year is right around the corner. The 27th annual Sneaker Creeper, a series of foot races for kids, happens on Friday May 22, starting at 5:30pm—at the beautiful lacrosse stadium at Washington College.

Basically, kids from age 2-12 run a series of races (the little guys just run a short distance; the oldest ones run a full mile). There’s a big crowd and great excitement. And prizes for everyone who runs. And for everyone who screams eagerly from the bleachers. It’s a microcosm of all that is good about growing up in a small town. And one of the things I love best about this place.

Although the Sneaker Creeper is always a highlight of the Swanson/Behr family calendar (mostly due to Alden’s extreme enthusiasm for it), this year we are even more involved because Robbi was asked to create a new logo for the event—a reinterpretation of the tiger mascot of Alden’s school, Henry Highland Garnett Elementary School.

And here it is, proudly displayed on the t-shirt and water bottle handed out to every kid who participates in the Sneaker Creeper.

If you live in or near Chestertown and have a kid who might enjoy this sort of thing, it’s easy to register. And it’s only $10 (did I mention the entry fee includes a free shirt and water bottle?).

Keep in mind, that for some families, even $10 is a stretch. That’s why the folks who run the Sneaker Creeper are looking for people to sponsor runners. For only $10, you can give a kid who wouldn’t otherwise be able to participate the chance to run, get a big round of applause, take home a ribbon, and (in case I didn’t mention it before) a t-shirt and water bottle with Robbi’s excellent tiger. It’s a win win win win win win.

So…if you have an extra $10 lying around, why not sponsor a champ today? I can almost guarantee it will make you feel better than eating three Big Macs.

And regardless of whether you have kids in the race, swing by to watch the fun. Until you’ve been in the presence of several hundred swarming, eager, little runners, you haven’t really lived.