Cinco de Mayo Trail Run is May 7

The Valley Elementary Educational Foundation’s popular Cinco de Mayo Trail Run is returning for a 10th year on Saturday, May 7 at Lake Poway.

Ticket prices are $45 for adults, $30 for children ages 8 through 17, $15 for kids 7 and under. All participants will receive a shirt and virtual swag, including coupons and special deals from sponsors that will be provided in an online PDF to racers.

To register, visit cincodemayotrailrun.org.

A special 50 percent discount is available for 5K and 10K adult entrants who are active-duty firefighters, law enforcement or military. For more information on this discount, email Jeff Hernandez at jhernandez@valleyeef.org.

The foundation expects more than 1,200 participants from across San Diego County.

The run, which features a 5K course, a grueling 10 K course and a children’s race, raises funds for Valley Elementary School. Funds raised will go to provide 1:1 devices to the students, which are tablets that eventually each student will have to do homework on. This is especially important for Valley, said Krystn Monroe of the foundation, as 51 percent of Valley students come from low-income households and many do not have computers or internet at home.

To help achieve this goal, the Cinco de Mayo Trail Run has been made bigger and better, according to a press release.

The kids race is a noncompetitive one-third mile run for kids who aren’t ready to tackle the 5K race quite yet. It follows a trail on the near-side of Lake Poway and finishes in the same spot as the 10K and 5K, so kids can still have fun crossing the finish line.

The 5K race designed to let you pick your own pace, so if you’re a family looking for a nice morning hike or a runner looking for an elite challenge, the 5K will suit your needs.

If you’re looking for a real challenge, the 10K adds on to the 5K with a trek into the Blue Sky reserve and a 10 percent incline climb to the Ramona Dam.

There is also a Heroes Heat that will honor active-duty firefighters, law enforcement personnel and members of the military.

The races include professional chip timing and more than $1,500 in cash rewards. The event also will include live entertainment and exhibits.

Each year, the Trail Run features a Trailblazer, an inspirational athlete or athletes that will run in the race with their own Trailblazer team.

This year’s Trailblazers are students at Reflections Central, a school in the San Diego County Juvenile Court and Community Schools system for students with mental health needs who have committed juvenile offenses. The school established a running club to help students learn discipline, set goals and find success and a sense of accomplishments by running in local races, according to a press release.

Those registered are encouraged to attend the Pre-Race Expo from 4 to 7 p.m. Friday, May 6 at The Triathlete Store, 12222 Poway Road, to pick up your race packet, including your race bib, timing chip and race shirt. Packet pickup and registration are available on site, but not encouraged.

Registration opens the day of the race at 6:30 a.m., with the 10K beginning at 7:30 a.m., the 5K at 8:30 a.m. and the Kids Race at 9:30 a.m.