The The Trustees of Reservations, in partnership with New England Barefoot Runners, invite the public to participate in their first annual Piping Plover 5K run at Castle Hill on the Crane Estate in Ipswich! Runners of all ages are welcome, barefoot optional, to race along the shoreline at low tide. All proceeds support The Trustees of Reservations and the shorebird monitoring program at Crane Beach. Come run for fun and help the shorebirds of the North Shore!
The pre-registration fee is $25, $30 same day registration with a t-shirt included. There will be prizes for top male and female barefoot runners and top male and female traditional runners. Refreshments will be provided at the finish. The beach gate opens at 6:30am, registration begins at 7am, and the race starts at 8am.
Crane Beach, part of The Trustees’ 2,100 acre Crane Estate, is among the world’s most important nesting sites for the piping plover, a federally protected species that was nearly hunted to extinction in the 19th century for its eggs and feathers. Shorebird monitoring is an on-going effort for The Trustees as they manage the beach for both recreation and conservation – people and ecology.