Frigid 5K returns to Niles Jan. 16

Published 9:11 am Wednesday, January 6, 2016

Photo courtesy of Inertia Cycleworks This year’s race is scheduled to take place Saturday, Jan. 16. Race-day registration is from 7 to 8:30 a.m. at Inertia Cycleworks, 211 E. Main St. The race runs off at 9 a.m. from the boat launch in Riverfront Park just south of the Broadway Bridge.

Photo provided by Inertia Cycleworks
This year’s race is scheduled to take place Saturday, Jan. 16. Race-day registration is from 7 to 8:30 a.m. at Inertia Cycleworks, 211 E. Main St. The race runs off at 9 a.m. from the boat launch in Riverfront Park just south of the Broadway Bridge.

Winter has arrived just in time for Niles’ annual cold-weather run — the Frigid 5K.

“The views on this run are really nice, especially right along the [St. Joseph] River,” said organizer Chris Pawielski, who runs Inertia Cycleworks in downtown Niles. “There is a lot to look at when there is ice and snow on the trees. Running down Bond Street is a real picturesque run.”

This year’s race is scheduled to take place Saturday, Jan. 16. Race-day registration is from 7 to 8:30 a.m. at Inertia Cycleworks, 211 E. Main St. The race runs off at 9 a.m. from the boat launch in Riverfront Park just south of the Broadway Bridge.

Pawielski said the opening of the new Main Street Bridge allows the course to return to its traditional route.

“It makes things a lot easier for everybody because we had to do a weird route last year that made it more complicated,” he said. “From my perspective it is great.”

From the starting line, runners will travel south on Bond Street along the river before heading east on Fort and then back north on the bike path back toward the Main Street Bridge. The finish line will be near the amphitheater in Riverfront Park.

A post race after-party featuring awards and food will take place at Massimo’s Pizza.

“A lot of people like that we feed them after the race,” he said. “We have chili and snacks. We try to push the amenities.”

The race has grown each year, beginning seven years ago with approximately 100 runners. Pawielski said they already have more than 340 people registered with less than two weeks until the race.

“If we have a good day we tend to get a lot of people that show up on race day and register,” he said. “My goal this year was to hit 400. We’ve already exceeded what we had last year, so I feel like we are successful.”

Pawielski attributes growth of the race to heavy promotion on social media and a lack of other activities offered at this time of the year.

“It’s grown more than we thought it would, but we put a lot of work into it to keep it going,” he said.

Awards will be handed out to first three finishers in each age group. A cash prize will be given to the male and female winners.

For more information, or to register, visit Niles Frigid 5K on Facebook or go to the website nilesf5k.com.

People can also email Pawielski at chris@inertiacycleworks.com.

Packet pick-up will be open at Intertia Cycleworks from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Jan. 15 and starting at 7 a.m. on race day.