COVID-19 didn’t cancel your favorite 10K (on I-277): Around the Crown has a new date
.jpeg "Around the Crown 10K, which was originally scheduled for May 31, will now take place Dec. 6.")
Have you ever dreamed of pushing the pavement along one of Charlotte’s most popular interstates? Despite all that’s going on with COVID-19, that dream can still come true — just, in December.
Brian and Chelsea Mister, the husband and wife duo behind the Around the Crown 10k, were forced to push the date back due to the coronavirus pandemic. The race, which was originally slated for May 31, will now take place on Sunday, Dec. 6.
Last year, nearly 5,000 runners took to the inner loop of I-277 for the first installment of what the couple hopes will be Charlotte’s landmark race.
“We would travel to places like Charleston for large races, and wanted to create something just for Charlotte on a similar scale,” Brian Mister told CharlotteFive. “After planning for four years, we finally got the green light to shut down a portion of I-277 for the race.”
Now, more than 7,000 people are expected to participate in this year’s event. There are currently about 2,400 people signed up to race, and with the additional promotion time, the couple expects that number to skyrocket.
While being able to run along I-277 is exciting, another big component of the Around the Crown race is its sustainability initiative. “We utilized reusable cups, pouches and shirts made from recycled waste,” Mister said. “We have a zero plastics rule.”
Recover Brands, a local eco-friendly apparel company, will create each race t-shirt from eight upcycled plastic bottles and cotton. Runners will also be provided with a reusable cup made from rubber that they can keep with them throughout the race and beyond.
The December race will fall on the same weekend as the ACC football tournament game. The Misters chose that particular weekend because it guarantees there won’t be a Panthers home game that day. To help combat traffic concerns, the race will start a little later in the day to allow ACC game fans time to get home or to use other local highways instead.
An expo will take place the day before at Camp North End. The expo will feature three local bands, beer provided by NoDa Brewing, a fun run for kids ages 2-7, yoga with Lululemon and food trucks. This year’s expo will also coincide with the Mistletoe Christmas Market at Camp North End.
“Our expo brings out more people than the actual race,” Mister said.
Signups for the race are open via the Around the Crown 10k website. Those who signed up prior to the date change will automatically be transferred to the December race. If the date no longer works for you, you can transfer your bib to a friend, defer to the 2021 event or compete in the event virtually.
