Former Paul Smith’s College cross-country runner Chloe Mattilio and her dog George, dressed as Dorothy and Toto from the Wizard of Oz, enjoy the 2015 Pumpkin McMuffin 5K. (Photo provided)

Former Paul Smith’s College cross-country runner Chloe Mattilio and her dog George, dressed as Dorothy and Toto from the Wizard of Oz, enjoy the 2015 Pumpkin McMuffin 5K.
(Photo provided)

PAUL SMITHS — The Paul Smith’s College cross-country running teams will host the 25th annual Pumpkin McMuffin 5K fun run and walk on Saturday on the VIC trails.

The race is a tune-up event for the college running squads before they head to the national championships in November, but PSC athletic director and cross-country coach Jim Tucker said it’s open to the public and a family-friendly event.

“Where else can you run with a banana, gorilla, milk cow, Teletubbies, a turkey, hot dog and numerous other characters through the autumn woodland trails,” Tucker wrote. “Many of the collegiate runners will take part in full costume in celebration of their season and Halloween.

“Although times will be recorded, the Pumpkin McMuffin Fun Run is intended to give participants an opportunity to have fun with their family and friends.”

The run will begin and end on Keese Mills Road at PSC’s Saunders Sports Complex, but the bulk of the running will be on the VIC’s Silviculture Trail.

The first 35 people to register will get a commemorative shirt, and a half-gallon of PSC maple syrup will be given to the runners who most closely guess their finish time. Awards will be given to the top three finishers in a number of age groups.

Members of the PSC community can sign up for just $2, while registration for the general public costs $15. Registration will take place from 9:30 to 10:45 a.m. in the gymnasium lobby, and the race will start at 11 a.m.