Runners compete in the inaugural Back Mountain Trail 5K in 2021. The popular event returns Dec. 31.
Fred Adams file photo | For Times Leader
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One of the area’s newest holiday traditions returns on New Year’s Eve.
And with it one of the area’s favorite articles of clothing too.
The annual Back Mountain Trail 5K is back for its third year on Dec. 31, and with it, of course, the ever-popular hoodie that anyone that registers for the event by Dec. 13 will receive.
“It’s all about the hoodie,” race organizer Dave Bass said. “People love the hoodie. I see them almost every day.”
The hooded-sweatshirt giveaway was the brainchild of Steve Tarran, of Wet Paint Printing + Design.
According to Bass, back in 2021 he had come up with the idea of holding a New Year’s Eve 5K to raise money for area nonprofits. Tarran jumped in with the idea of giving runners a hoodie instead of the traditional T-shirt.
“I think the hoodie is the unsung hero of the race,” Bass said.
If that’s the case, then certainly Wet Paint and Tarran deserve a good deal of credit themselves. Wet Paint has been donating the sweatshirts since the first race.
The popularity of the sweatshirt and the race surprised even Bass. In the race’s first year, Bass and Tarran expected to give out about 100 hoodies. Instead, they ended up needing closer to 350.
In all Wet Paint has ended up donating more than $20,000 in sweatshirts to the race.
“I think Steve is the in some ways is the benefactor of the running community,” Bass said.
This year’s sweatshirt has an illustration of mountains and people enjoying the Back Mountain Trail in a number of ways on both the front and back.
Hopefully Bass has already got his order in because he will be needing quite a few of them. He said approximately 250 people have already registered and he expects about 600 people will participate in the event.
The event has become a popular stop for families on New Year’s Eve. Many choose to kick off their New Year’s celebrations with the 5K — and some new hoodies for the family, of course.
As for the race itself, it will use the same course that it used last year — a start near the entrance to the Back Mountain Trail in Luzerne then a quick jaunt down Main Street Luzerne before heading back to the trail.
Bass did say that the organization is making some tweaks to the finishing line and the packet pickup area to help ease congestion on race day.
Participants will also be able to pick up their race packets on the day before the race this year at Nucleus Raw Foods. Bass is hoping that those that choose that option will stick around downtown Luzerne for a while and patronize the area’s businesses.
Proceeds from the event will once again go to area nonprofits. Last year, the race raised more than $20,000.
Participants can register at bmt5k.com. The registration fee is $40, which includes that popular sweatshirt, or course.
But Bass was quick to point out those that still want the hoodie but don’t feel up to a 5K run can take part in the walk portion of the event. Or they can take advantage of the race’s online store at shop.getsomespirit.com/BMT5K.