News

A new face will be at the helm of Montcalm Community College's annual Bramble Ramble 5K Run/Walk this year. 

This year's annual fall race will be overseen by MCC Science Operations Manager Ryan Kieffer, who will serve as race director this year. The change comes with Kieffer's recent job title change, which will involve more oversight of outside areas around the Sidney campus, as well. 

“Rather than just inside our lab rooms and science classes, the role expands outdoors," Kieffer said. "So my actual title and position has changed and I’ll be spending more time in our outdoor spaces.” 

Kieffer will lean on the help of the Bramble Ramble staff as his involvement with the race in previous years has been limited. Despite being the new person overseeing the race and its operations, Kieffer wants to simply stick with what has worked in the past and figure out how to best grow the race for the future. 

“I want to carry on the great tradition of Bramble Ramble," he said. "It’s a team effort, we want to bring on employees, students and community members to help out with the event and also participate in it. We’d love to continue to see the expansion of it and add more runners each year.” 

This year's race will take place on Saturday, September 19 at 9 a.m. at the Robert E. Marston Pavilion on MCC's Sidney campus. The start and registration location has changed from the Barn Theatre of previous years, which will make very slight alterations to the racecourse. 

“There will be changes to the route, in general. I don’t imagine it’ll be major — I think runners will still encounter similar things that they have in the past," Kieffer said. "They’ll be running through forests, prairies, and wetland areas, so it’ll be a diverse route.” 

“It’ll be well marked throughout the entire race," he added. "We put down spray paint on trails, so you know where you’re going. In certain circumstances, we have an actual person there to help you know which way to go along the way. You don’t want to be thinking about that when you’re trying to run and compete.” 

Another change from this year involves the concurrent Michael J. Seaman Memorial 10K run, which will start at the same time as the Bramble Ramble 5K Run/Walk. In previous years, the start times were staggered, but both races will now start simultaneously at 9 a.m. 

Runners interested in signing up in advance can do so at runsignup.com/race/mi/sidney/brambleramble. The cost is $25 to sign up online or $30 on race day (cash or check only). All participants will be registered into a drawing for handcrafted wooden furniture donated by Kenneth J. Lehman and will need to be present to collect their prizes.  

All race participants will receive a finisher medal and a Bramble Ramble sticker. Overall male and female winners will receive a unique trophy donated by former Bramble Ramble race director Cheryl Meyer. Winners of each age group will also receive awards for their top finishes. 

Bramble Ramble is still accepting sponsorships, as well. Those interested in sponsoring the event can contact race director Ryan Kieffer at ryan.kieffer@montcalm.edu.