Get ready for some “Run Fun” with relays, sprints and the inaugural Gale Pfueller Mile on the track!  It’s time to “Run around the Oval”!

Registration will open April 21, 2025 and will be limited to 300 participants!

This race is in honor of Gale Pfueller, a founding member of GBRC. Gale served as board member and treasurer when the board first formed in 1976 until he passed at the age of 79 on March 25, 2022.  He was a genuine treasure to this community!  His encouragement to runners of all abilities and ages has inspired us to create an event that he would love in his honor.  Gale was a Bellingham High School and WWU hurdles record holder, local racer, master’s steeplechase and cross country champ and a big supporter of local high school and WWU track and cross country.  The Gale Pfueller Mile will be the featured event with the goal of having a minimum of 3 heat races – Middle School, High School and Open mile.  

Sign up for as many events as you want! Maybe you’re not familiar with track and didn’t know one lap = 400 meters? That’s okay, come run your first lap!

• Kids events (10 and under, free): 100 meter, 400 meter
• Relay – Family/Friends/Fun 4×800 meter – teams of 4*, each runner runs 800 meters 
• 400 meter 
• Gale Pfueller Mile
• Relay – 4×400 meter – teams of 4*, each runner runs 400 meters

            * 2 or 3 person teams are welcome if runners want to run multiple legs.

Depending on the number of participants, races may be a single race or “heat” or may have multiple heats with runners assigned a heat based on their projected race time (also known as a “seed” time).  Seeding aims to create a more even competition by ensuring runners are running against others with similar pace levels.  For the 400m, Gale Pfueller Mile and 4x400m, if there are enough participants we hope to run multiple heats.  All events will be timed and results available onsite and posted online.  

Start times are subject to change depending on the number of participants. A final event schedule will be sent to all participants by Friday, June 20th and will also be posted on race day.

• 10am – Kids events (10 and under)
  • 100 meter
  • 400 meter
• 10:30am – 4x800m relay – teams of 4*
  Make this a family and friend event, all ages and abilities are welcome!
• 11:15am – 400 meter – seeded event, ages 11 and up
  Possibly several heats depending on how many participants sign up.
• 11:45am – Gale Pfueller Mile – seeded event, ages 11 and up
  Possibly several heats depending on how many participants sign up.
• 12.45pm – 4x400m – seeded event, teams of 4*, ages 11 and up
  Possibly several heats depending on how many participants sign up.

          * 2 or 3 person teams are welcome if runners want to run multiple legs.

Sign up for multiple events for one fee! 

• GBRC members’ $10 pre-race / $15 Day of Race (if available) 
• Non-GBRC members $30 / $35  Day of Race (if available)

Please note: For relays (4x800m and 4x400m), one fee covers all 4 participants.  The individual that signs the team up for a relay may also use that entry fee for other meet events.  If relay participants (other than the individual who signed the team up) wish to run in other events, they must sign themselves up for individual events and pay additional entry fees. 

GBRC membership fees range from $45/year (individual) to $70/year (family).  Reduced rates are available for Youth (18 and under), College Students and Athletes with Disabilities (AWD) as well as for Couples and Senior.  If you wish to become a GBRC member and enjoy free or reduced race entry fees into all GBRC races, please join the club at: GBRC.net.

Note: GBRC is unable to refund registration fees if you are unable to attend the race or if the race is cancelled due to air quality conditions, or other unforeseen situations.  GBRC is a 501(c)(3) NON-PROFIT organization run by volunteers.

With apologies, we missed our April 21st date to open registration.  Please stay tuned and it will open as soon as possible!  If you’re a GBRC member, we will send a notification to all members once its open.  As a reminder, the event will be limited to 300 participants!

Pre-registration closes at midnight June 18.  If you want to run FAST, pre-registration is strongly encouraged to be seeded in appropriate heats!  Day of race registration may be available if registration is not full.

Begins at 8:00 am at the registration table.  Numbers must be picked up no later than 30 minutes prior to specific race event start.  Announcements will be made over the PA system prior to each event.

• 4x800m team race results will be posted onsite and online. No award categories
• 400m and Gale Pfueller Mile – Awards to overall top 3 Female, Male, Non-binary and AWD*. 

No age group prizes awarded but results will be listed as follows: Female, Male, Non-binary and AWD*: 11-14, 15-18, 19-24, 25-29, 30-34, 35-39, 40-44, 45-49, 50-54, 55-59, 60-64, 65-69, 70-74, 75-79, 80-84, 85-89, 90 and over.

• 4x400m – Awards to the first place team in the following categories: Female, Male, Non-binary and AWD*.

There will be no official award ceremony, but winners will be announced and all awards are to be picked up at the awards table after each race.

* AWD or athletes with disability is a new division this year inspired by a local organization, The AIROW Project.  Their mission is to create adaptive and inclusive recreation opportunities for individuals with disabilities.  Learn more about another one of Bellingham’s homegrown groups that are furthering community inclusivity at The AIROW Project.

All events will be timed and results will be posted onsite and online.

With this being the 1st annual Gale Pfueller Track Classic, every race winner will go into the record book and their record will stand until next year!

BBay Running and GBRC have joined together to start a program for runners to recycle their old running shoes.  So bring all your old running shoes with you race day and we will take them off your hands and keep them out of our landfills.  For more info on this program go to shoe recycling & reuse at bbayrunning.com.