News

By Alex Freeman, MCC Communications Coordinator

A beloved autumn tradition at Montcalm Community College is reaching an exciting milestone. 

What started 10 years ago as a simple idea to spotlight MCC’s scenic Kenneth J. Lehman Nature Trails has grown into a signature community event – and this fall, the Bramble Ramble 5K is celebrating its 10th annual race. 

The event, scheduled for Saturday, Sept. 20, has its roots in both a love of nature and a passion for running. It was the brainchild of Cheryl Meyer, a former race director and part-time adjunct instructor at MCC. 

“She was part of our Nature Trails Committee and passionate about running,” said Heather Wesp, MCC biology instructor and the current Bramble Ramble race director. “We wanted to promote our beautiful trails, build community connections, and maybe raise a little money along the way. It just made sense – it all came together through the enthusiasm and ideas of the people involved.” 

This year’s milestone race will once again share the stage with the seventh-annual Michael J. Seaman Memorial 10K Run, which was established in 2018 in memory of then-Social Science Instructor Michael J. Seaman, who passed away due to injuries sustained in a bicycling accident. The 10K begins at 9 a.m., followed by the 5K at 9:30 a.m. At the conclusion of the race, awards will be presented to the top male and female finishers in each race, along with the top runner in every age category. 

Whether you’re a seasoned runner or just enjoy a good walk in the woods, the Bramble Ramble is a celebration of community, wellness, and the natural beauty right in MCC’s backyard. 

There are several new elements at this year’s Bramble Ramble, including slight adjustments to the racecourse to accommodate for the construction of MCC’s new student housing building, set to open in fall 2026. One notable change is that plastic water bottles will no longer be given to race participants. Instead, each runner will receive a collapsible silicon cup. 

“If you run a lot, that’s something valuable you can take with you,” Wesp said. “We’ll have water stations where they can fill up their bottles. Given our conservation efforts, that’s an important change that we’ve been wanting to make.” 

In addition, MCC Exercise Science and Biology Instructor Dr. Alex Montoye and members of the exercise science program will be at the race offering free health and fitness screenings, such as body composition analysis. Wesp noted that Montoye’s involvement came naturally as the race committee prefers to have a person with medical knowledge at the race in case of an injury to a participant. 

The race T-shirt given to participants will also feature new PosiCharge technology, which locks in color and prevents logos from fading. The shirts will be lightweight, roomy and highly breathable with moisture-wicking technology. 

After the distribution of results and recognition of the races’ top participants, raffle winners will be announced. Each Bramble Ramble participant is automatically entered into a raffle for exciting prizes from the community and race sponsors, including handmade rustic furniture donations from Kenneth J. Lehman — the namesake of MCC’s nature trails. 

“It’s something that we haven’t promoted a lot but it’s a really unique feature of our race,” said Wesp of the raffle element. “It’s good to let people know in advance that there’s some really cool stuff they could go home with.” 

When asked about her goals for this year’s race, Wesp said she hopes to see as many runners as possible come out and enjoy the event. So far, their highest turnout has been around 45 participants.  

“People like the trail system, it’s good to get outdoors on a nice fall weekend,” Wesp said. “We’ve heard that it’s well-run and people like that we don’t have a lot of hiccups. For the most part, our race route is well-marked – that matters because you don’t want to get lost while you’re running around. A lot of participants are surprised that there’s not more people who have found this little hidden treasure in our county.” 

Race registration may be completed online at runsignup.com. The entry fee is $20 per runner in advance. Runners may register on-site the day of the race for $25, payable in cash or check only. 

Visit Montcalm.edu/bramble-ramble for more information or a link to the online registration site. 

MCC’s Bramble Ramble is still seeking potential sponsors for the event. Businesses interested in participating in the event can inquire about sponsorship opportunities by emailing brambleramble@montcalm.edu.