RUMFORD – As part of the annual Moontide Water Festival Week, on Saturday, July 1, the Rumford Rotary Club will co-sponsor with Rumford Hospital and Franklin Savings Bank its 10th annual Rotary River Valley Road Races/Walks. Included will be the certified River Valley 5K (ME99001WN), the River Valley 10K and the 1/4 to 1 mile fun runs/walks.

The River Valley 5K Road Race/Walk has been certified by the USA Track and Field Road Running Technical Council. It is routed through the towns of Rumford and Mexico, crossing five historic bridges and traversing the downtown sections of each town. The race starts and finishes at Hosmer Field.

The River Valley 10K Road Race, in its sixth year on the program, will involve running the 5K course twice. Participants can run in both races with prior notification.

The fun runs/walks will provide an opportunity for young runners and children to try running competition or participate in a health walk. The routes will be one, two or four times around the Hosmer Field track.

Participants who preregister by Sunday, June 25, will receive a free commemorative T-shirt. Contact Paul Jones at 562-7172 or [email protected] or P.O. Box 451, Dixfield, ME 04224. Preregistration for the 5K/or 10K races is $12. Race day registration is $15. Fun runs/walks registration is $5. Participants may also register on www.active.com.

Raceday registration will be from 7 to 3:30 a.m. The fun runs/walks will begin at 8 a.m., and the 5K and 10K races at 9 a.m.

Split times, water stops and refreshments after the races will be provided. L.L. Bean gift certificates will be awarded for new race records. Awards will be given for the three top race finishers (M/F) and the two top finishers in each age group (M/F).

There will also be a River Valley Series, including the Rotary Race, Dixfield Bicentennial 5K on Aug. 20 and the Black Mountain 5K in October. There will be a $10 fee to cover the cost of series awards. Awards will be based on the sum of results achieved in any two of the three races. Results of the 2005 series will be announced and awards presented during the awards ceremony following the races.

The bleachers will be set up at the finish line for the races, and refreshments will be available following completion of the races. Awards will also be presented as soon as the results are determined.