NFL Football 5K Challenge On Tap Saturday

NFL Football 5K Challenge On Tap Saturday
NFL 5k file

OCEAN CITY- Just in time for the always anticipated first Baltimore Ravens-Pittsburgh Steelers game of the season, the NFL Football 5K Challenge returns this weekend with a new wrinkle including the addition of the Washington Redskins in the mix.

For the first few years, the annual event hosted by OC Tri Running featured runners representing the Ravens and the Steelers competing in the 5K race on the Boardwalk typically on the eve of one of the annual meetings between the two teams and that hasn’t changed this year. With the Ravens and Steelers facing off on Sunday in Baltimore, the annual event will take place on the Boardwalk at 10 a.m. on Saturday.

What is new this year is the addition of the Redskins and their fans in the mix. It’s no secret Buxy’s Salty Dog is Steelers headquarters in Ocean City and the 28th Street Pit-and-Pub across the street is a staunch Ravens bar complete with a local Ravens Roost. For the first few years of the event, denizens of both establishments have battled in the 5K wearing their team’s colors with bragging rights for the rest of the year and a handsome trophy on the line.

Mothers Cantina, on the opposite side of the intersection at 28th Street and the third leg of the triangle of popular establishments in the same area, is a dedicated Washington Redskins hangout and its fans are joining the fun this year. When the dust settles after the always-popular 5K and associated events on Saturday, the trophy and bragging rights will reside in one of the establishments in the popular triangle.

The race will begin at 10 a.m. on Saturday at the north end of the Boardwalk at 28th Street and the festivities will wrap up around 1 p.m. The top 25 race times for each restaurant will be added and the fastest time wins the trophy and bragging rights for the rest of the season. Race fees are $25 in advance, available by following the links at www.octrirunning.com or $30 on the day of the event.