The 41st“Original Road and Trail Race,” known as Steve’s Run since 1992, starts at 8:30 a.m., July 25, in front of the David C. Briegel Building on Southwestern Michigan College’s Dowagiac campus.

Returnees from 812 participants last summer will find a family-friendly festival atmosphere like Sept. 20’s 50th anniversary celebration, including a bounce house, face painting, balloon animals and a disc jockey.

The recognition ceremony takes place an hour earlier at 10 a.m., with awards by age group returning.

A pint glass and running socks will be given to top male and female finishers in 10 age groups: 25-29; 30-34; 35-39; 40-44; 45-49; 50-54; 55-59; 60-64; 65-69; and 70 and older.

A water bottle and sunglasses will be awarded to top male and female finishers in four age brackets: 10 and under; 11-14; 15-19; and 20-24.

New courses are posted online at stevesrun.swmich.edu.

The 10K route travels such traditional terrain as Rudolphi Woods, Riverside Cemetery and the Elks Golf Course.

It costs $1 for the mile fun run, $20 for the 5K run/walk and $25 for the 10K run.

Those who wait until Friday night or Saturday morning pay $30 for late registration.

Packet pick-up and late registration take place from 5 to 7:30 p.m. on July 24 and on July 25 starting at 7 a.m.

Late registration takes place in the Briegel Building first-floor testing center.

Pick up packets outside the Student Activity Center (Charles O. Zollar Building).

SMC’s Steven Briegel Scholarship Fund and the Mayo Clinic Cancer Research Fund divide proceeds.

After a year’s absence, the popular road and trail race returned to Dowagiac on Aug. 1, 1992, as Steve’s Run.

Steve, born July 21, 1967, died at 22 on March 1, 1990, after a 5 ½-year battle with cancer.

He graduated fifth in the Dowagiac Union High School Class of 1986 and from SMC in 1988 with an associate degree in mathematics with honors.

He was a junior in the Ferris State University program at SMC and a member of Phi Theta Kappa honor society.

He participated in golf, basketball and band for the Chieftains.

A group of classmates runs in his memory.