Trak Shak Retro Run takes over downtown on July 30

There are a lot of 5K runs in the world, but there aren’t too many like the colorful Trak Shak Retro Run 5K in downtown Homewood July 30.

The 7 p.m. start of the Retro Run, which celebrated its 20th anniversary in 2015, offers participants and spectators a great chance to liven up a hot summer night.

The runners create the “retro” part by wearing old-school clothing items, including short shorts and tie-dyed T-shirts, as well as period hairstyles.

The runners keep the competition going with a costume contest with a $100 grand prize after the race.

Best of all, the organizers at the Trak Shak retail shop, on 18th Street S. downtown, say the event is not meant to be taken too seriously. The Retro Run is a “very laid-back race,” said event director Jeff Martinez. 

“It's a great, family-friendly event, with the run, of course, but also the costumes are quite entertaining,” Martinez said.

The Retro Run is a chip-timed event, and awards will be given to the top three competitors in each age group, the top three overall male and female runners, and the top master male and female participants. 

Prior to the 2015 run, Martinez said he had seen a few participants in recent years dressing up as pop-culture icons such as Forrest Gump. However, the winner of the 2015 contest “was simply retro [with] no real theme,” he said.

That may change this year, given the recent sad, unexpected death of a certain musical legend. 

“I totally expect a few Prince costumes this year,” Martinez said.

The Trak Shak started the Retro Run in 1995 as a means of reviving the old Twilight 5, a 5-mile night race through downtown Birmingham.

Each participant will receive a shirt, packet and meal ticket and be entered in the costume contest.

Registration is $35. To sign up, go to runsignup.com/Race/AL/Homewood/2014TrakShakRetroRun5K. For more about the race, call 870-5644, go to trakshak.com or contact jeff@trakshak.com.