MENTONE – Eating on the run will take on a new meaning with the first annual Egg Run June 1 in Mentone. The race starts behind Mentone Elementary School, 301 E. Jackson St., Mentone. Runners cover one mile to the “Big Egg” downtown, eat a five-egg omelet and then run back to the school. Runners also are invited to wear a crazy costume during the race. If runners are participating in teams, one team member runs to the Big Egg, the other teammate eats the five-egg omelet and then the first team member runs back to the school. Sponsored by the Tippecanoe Valley High School National Honor Society, individual pre-registration is $20 until May 27, and includes a T-shirt. Team pre-registration is $30 until May 27 and also includes T-shirts. On the day of the race, cost of registration is the same but shirts are not included. Registration on the day of the event is from 1:30 to 2:15 p.m., with the race starting at 2:30 p.m. Proceeds from the event benefit three local Mentone non-profits – Helping Hands Food Pantry, Bell Aircraft Museum and Habitat for Humanity Mentone Build. Nolan Sponseller, TVHS NHS president, said he got the idea for the race by watching television one night. North Carolina State has an annual Krispy Kreme race, where participants have to run three miles, eat a dozen doughnuts and then run back. Since Mentone is the “Egg Basket of the Midwest,” Sponseller came up with the idea to hold a similar race to North Carolina State’s, only with eggs. And since one of the responsibilities of NHS is to support the local community, Sponseller thought it would make a great project for the honor society. There will be first-place awards for top male and female. First-, second- and third-place awards also will be given out for best costumes. “What makes it fun is they have to wear crazy costumes while running,” Sponseller said. Since it is the first year for the race, Sponseller said the goal is to have 125 people sign up. It’s only a total of two miles, but he said that’s because they hope to get people who might not run 5Ks. “We want people who want to have a good time,” he said. Kosciusko Runner’s Association is managing the race. They will time the race and have results in minutes after it’s completed. “We hope a lot of people in the community will come out and participate,” Sponseller said. Registration can be completed by sending entry forms to Tippecanoe Valley high School, 8345 S. St. Rd. 19, Akron, IN 46910; or online at getmeregistered.com Sponseller said forms can be found at the YMCA in Warsaw, or people can call him at 574-377-0804 and he can email a form to them. Sponseller said the online registration is easy. To find the Egg Run, type in the race name on the website or search by town. Midwest Poultry and Creighton Brothers is helping with the five-egg omelets, Sponseller said. He also stated that the Town of Mentone has been a big help with the race. “We’re hoping to get more sponsors so more of the proceeds will go to the charities,” he said. “Mentone is a small community but we have a lot to offer and we want to help out. National Honor Society is supposed to help others. We also want to do this to leave our mark,” he said.
