Cross Country Team Challenge 2026

Description

Running IS a team sport, and the Brian Diemer Family of Races Cross Country Team Challenge allows you and four (or more) of your friends to experience it all together. This event resembles a high school-style cross country meet, using standard scoring and a 5K course. If you don't have a team or enough people to make an entire team, let us know, and we will help you put a team together. We also allow participants to run without being attached to a team.

This year are back at Richmond Park in the City of Grand Rapids. The 5K course will feature mowed grass, packed dirt, and gravel. The FREE community 1 Mile Run, which is open to both youth & adults, kicks off the evening.

Here is an overview of the 2025 course, https://www.plotaroute.com/route/2330110 . We expect the 2026 course to be similar. It will be well-marked, with cyclists leading the way.

For a quick video on how a cross country race is scored, check out this video or simply ask us.

How to Register

We tried to make it easy for you to register and start your team (if you have one). The first person on your team to register can create the team. From there, that person can share the team name and a link for others to join. We also activated the features that allow you to change your team name and the type of team you have (female, male, coed). We are also happy to help with all of this.

If you don't have a team yet (or don't want the pressure of creating a team name), no worries! Go ahead and register yourself, and we can help you form a team later. We also allow participants to run solo, unattached from a team.

When in doubt, ask! Remember, teams can range from 5 to 7 individuals, with only the top 5 places counting towards your score (with any other runners on your team helping to block other team members from securing lower points). Coed teams do not require the number of males or females they have on them, just at least one member of the opposite gender.

The 5K portion of the event is chip-timed.

We have youth pricing turned on so anyone under the age of 20 will receive a $10 entry. Contact us at lmcubridgerun@gmail.com if you would like to set up your team so members can all register for free, with a single invoice issued after the event.

Awards

Gazelle Sports has generously signed on board as an Awards Sponsor this year. They have helped us since the first year.

First Overall Female: $20 to Gazelle Sports First Overall Male: $20 to Gazelle Sports First Overall Female Masters: $20 to Gazelle Sports First Overall Male Masters: $20 to Gazelle Sports Middle of the Pack Award: $20 to Gazelle Sports ( given to the person who finishes in the middle of the final order )

Overall Female Team: all team members receive a $15 to Gazelle Sports Overall Male Team: all team members receive a $15 to Gazelle Sports Overall Coed Team: all team members receive a $15 to Gazelle Sports Overall Masters Female Team (all team members must be 40+): all team members receive a $15 to Gazelle Sports Overall Masters Male Team (all team members must be 40+): all team members receive a $15 to Gazelle Sports Overall Masters Coed Team (all team members must be 40+): all team members receive a $15 to Gazelle Sports Most Spirited Team: all team members receive a $15 to Gazelle Sports ( this will be voted on by the race day volunteers )

The FUN Run Mile participants are not eligible for awards. The FUN Run Mile is also not timed.

Race Day Timeline

5pm: Bib pickup 6:00pm: Community Fun Run Mile 6:25pm: XC teams report to the starting line 6:30pm: XC race starts 7:30pm: awards

We look forward to seeing you on race day!