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Charity Run Kicks Off Cheese, Wine Expo
CW Pix
Even though its about a month away, city workers have installed banners proclaiming the approach of the annual Cheese and Wine Festival at the intersection of Third and Santa Fe streets, near city hall. Set for the second weekend in October, this year participants will be celebrating the festivals 41st year on downtown city streets. Ric McGinnis/The News

The Run for the Cheese races, pitting individuals, groups and families against the clock, will jump start the Annual Cheese and Wine Exposition once again next month.

The running event has been held every year since the beginning of the expo, in 1977.

The early morning run starts on Jackson Avenue and winds through the neighborhood behind the Galaxy Luxury+ Theatres on Patterson Road, ending up behind the theatre building.

Riverbank High cross country and track coach Monte Wood is encouraging all alumni members available, as well as supporters and parents to come out and show their Bruin pride. He noted that proceeds from the event will benefit RHS athletic programs and Stanislaus County youth running programs.

The races will be held on Saturday, Oct. 14, before the beginning of the Cheese and Wine Expo in downtown Riverbank. Information and entry forms can be found on the web: http://shadowchase.org/races/riverbank-run-for-the-cheese/. There’s a downloadable flyer with material about the races and instructions on the site about entering online.

The events will begin at 8 a.m. with a 5K walk/run and a 10K run, with a youth (under 18) one-mile run at 9:30 a.m. and a free kids (7 and under) 300-meter fun run starting at 9:45 a.m.

There are four registration periods, with correspondingly increasing entry fees to match, preceding the races.

Early Bird registration runs through Sept. 15, with Pre-Registration Sept. 16 through 30. Late Registration continues Oct. 1 through 9 and Race Day Registration will happen until race time on Saturday, Oct. 14. All Early Bird and Pre-Registered runners receive a custom T-shirt in the size of their choice. Sizes cannot be guaranteed for late registrants, and race day registrants will receive shirts on a first come, first served basis.

Race-day registration and packet pickup begins at 6:15 a.m. at the Galaxy Theatres east parking lot, with registration ending promptly at 7:50 a.m., according to officials.

The Cheese and Wine Expo itself, which covers several streets in the downtown area of Riverbank, begins at 10 a.m. on Saturday and Sunday, Oct. 14 and 15.