The Gale Pfueller Track Classic (GPTC)

Get ready for some “Run Fun” with relays, sprints and the Gale Pfueller Mile on the track at Civic Stadium!  It’s time to “Run around the Oval” and compete for the now famous Bagel Medal and this year’s Crazy Baton Award!

If you spot an error in the results, please contact Larry Kwiatkowski at larry.kwiatkowski@gbrc.net!

The Gale Pfueller Track Classic is GBRC’s only race on the track at Bellingham’s Civic Stadium!  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!

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
• Relay* – Family/Friends/Fun 4×400 meter – teams of 4**, each runner runs one lap (400 meters)
• Relay* – Family/Friends/Fun 4×200 meter – teams of 4**, each runner runs 1/2 lap (200 meters)
• 400 meter – seeded event
• 800 meter – seeded event
• Gale Pfueller Mile – seeded event
• Competitive Relay* – 4×400 meter seeded event – teams of 4**, each runner runs 400 meters

* Batons will be provided for all relays however see Awards section for other baton alternates!
** 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 estimated finish or “seed” time.  Seed times are important because they help us assign you to a heat where you will be running with others of similar speed.  Example: If you’re running the 800m and think you can run 2:00 minute lap times, your seed time will be 4:00 minutes.  During the registration process, if you do not know or care about seed times, simply enter “none” when prompted.

For the 400M, 800M, Gale Pfueller Mile and competitive 4x400M, if there are enough participants we hope to run multiple heats.  All events will be timed and results available online.

Start times are estimated and subject to change depending on the number of participants.  A final event schedule will be sent to all participants Friday, June 19th and will also be posted on race day.  Race start time announcements will be made over the PA system prior to each event.

• 8:30 – 9:45am – Bib pickup (closes at 10:00)
• 10am – Kids events (ages 10 and under)
  • 100 meter
• 10:10 – Family/Friend/Fun 4x400m relay – teams of 4*
  Make this a family and friend event, all ages and abilities are welcome!
• 10:30 – 800 meter – seeded event, ages 11 and up
• 10:50 – Family/Friend/Fun  4x200m relay – teams of 4*
  Make this a family and friend event, all ages and abilities are welcome!
• 11:05 – 400 meter seeded event, ages 11 and up
  Possibly several heats depending on how many participants sign up.
• 11:15 – Gale Pfueller Mile – seeded event, ages 11 and up
  Possibly several heats depending on how many participants sign up.
• 11:45 – Competitive 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)
• Kids events (10 and under) Free for GBRC members and non-members, pre-registration is required!

Please note: For relays (family/friend/fun 4x200m and family/friend/fun 4x400m and the competitive 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 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.

Registration opens April 20th, 2026!

When registering for the 400m, 800m, Gale Pfueller Mile and competitive 4x400m relay which are all seeded events, you will be asked to enter a “seed” time (explained above under Events heading).  If you do not know or care about seed times, simply enter “none”.

When registering for any of the relays, you will be asked to enter names of all teammates.  In addition, because they will not be signing the online waiver, all teammates will be required to sign a paper waiver on race day.  If you want to help us and expedite your race day check-in, please print the waiver form and have each teammate print name, sign and add date at the bottom and bring on race day.

Pre-registration for all seeded events closes June 19th at 5:00 pm.  If you want to run FAST, pre-registration before the closing date is strongly encouraged to be seeded in appropriate heats!  Registration for all events will remain open after June 19th but, if you’re running a seeded event, you may not be placed in the appropriate heat.  Day of race registration may be available if registration is not full.

Bib pickup begins at 8:30 am at the registration table and must be picked up by 9:45.  Race start time announcements will be made over the PA system prior to each event.

Gale Pfueller Track Classic shirts, as shown below, are available for preorder with registration and can be picked up day of race.

• Unisex tri-blend short sleeve $20.00
• Ladies cut tri-blend short sleeve $20.00
• Ladies tri-blend tank top $20.00

Deadline to order shirts is June 5th at 11:59pm!
(click on image below for more detail)

Concessions including morning coffee/donuts and more, provided by the Bellingham Lions Club, will be available for purchase.

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.  Awards, as noted below, will be available for the following three divisions: female, male and non-binary.

• Family/Friends/Fun 4x400m and 4x200m team race results will be posted online.  No award categories.
• 400m, 800m and Gale Pfueller Mile – For each event, the now famous Bagel medal will be awarded to the top 3 places + 1st place 50 and older in each of the three divisions .

No age group prizes awarded but results will be listed as follows: 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.

• Competitive 4x400m – Baton award given to each team member in the following categories: 1st place team.

Crazy Baton Award for the relay events: GBRC stalwart Andy Murray is inviting those running the relays to bring a crazy baton – rubber chicken or maybe a real one, bowling pin, golf club or ??? – to run with.  Andy will be the judge for the most ludicrous, original baton alternate to be awarded after the last relay!

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

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

For the inaugural Gale Pfueller Track Classic, every race winner went into the record books and the following includes some of the 2025 records.  For additional overall and age group results, refer to the top of this page.  All of these times are targets for this year’s event!

Overall seeded race fastest times:

• 400m female – Kenna Zwak – 1:04.6
• 400 male – Luke Bartel – 1:03.6
• Mile* female – Haley Herberg – 5:13.9
• Mile* male – Woody Favinger – 4:42.9
• Seeded 4x400m Relay – Drew Polley/Dominic Smargiassi/Luke Lemenager/Woody Favinger – 3:52.2
• Family and Friends 4x400m Relay – Derek Damon/Lauren Damon/Hayden Daymon/Derek Damon – 5:11.1

Youngest Kid’s race participants (F/M/NB):

• 100m – Quin Johnson – 1:05.9 – age 3
• 400m – Josephine Hodgson – 1:56.9 – age 7

Youngest seeded race participants (F/M/NB):

• 400m – Mia Cook – 1:05.9 – age 13 (11/12/2011)
• Mile* – Samuel Erb – 5:45.4 – 12 years old (11/10/2012)

Wisest (eldest) seeded race participants (F/M/NB):

• 400m – Sally Hileman – 1:40.0 – 76 years young
• Mile* – Richard Bourcier – 8:57.5 – 76 years young

* For the inaugural 2025 event, although billed as the Gale Pfueller Mile, the event was actually a 1600m race.  The 2026 Mile will be 5,280 feet!

Team Fit School helps new and experienced runners reach a new level of awesome!  Click on the following link and follow Team Fit School’s training program for the GPTC: The Gale Pfueller Track Classic Training Plans

Book your room by June 1st to receive your discounted offer.  For more information and to book your room, click on the link below or call 360.746.6844.  Space is limited, book now!

Fairhaven Runners and GBRC have joined together to continue our Running Shoe Recycling Program.  So bring all your old running shoes with you and we will take them off your hands and keep them out of our landfills!