DAPHNE, Ala. — When the start gun fires on Saturday morning, March 1, for the 2008 Classic Rock 5K and Fun Run, over 1,000 running enthusiasts and Daphne students, parents and teachers will take off to the sounds of old-time rock and roll and compete for top honors in Supporting Educational Enrichment in Daphne’s Schools’ fourth annual road race to benefit local schools.

The event is once again part of the area’s Corporate Cup competition and is expected to attract runners from throughout the region.  Peggy Olive, long-time director of Mobile’s Azalea Trail Run, will return as race producer. 

The Classic Rock 5K (3.1 miles) gets under way at 8 a.m. from near Daphne Public Library on Main Street and follows a mostly flat, loop course through the downtown area.  Participants in the 1-mile fun run will set out from Centennial Part (across from Daphne City Hall) at 9 a.m. and finish near Daphne Public Library. The post-race party will feature the Tempest Band as well as merchandise from the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame for top runners, grilled hamburgers and hot dogs, soft beverages, door prizes and numerous children’s activities through 11 a.m. Parking will be available in the Daphne Civic Center complex area and, where allowed, in Olde Daphne near Centennial Park — with shuttle service provided between the two locations.

The school program sign-up competition held over the past two weeks had a record response in the five Daphne public schools and at Christ the King Catholic School.

Winners of the Classic Rock homeroom party to be given by SEEDS later in the spring on each campus will be announced — along with all age-group and overall race winners — during Saturday’s awards ceremony set for 9:30 a.m.

Major sponsors for the 2008 Classic Rock 5K and Fun Run include First Gulf Bank; Merrill Lynch, D’Oliveira-Frick Group; Performance Contractors, Inc.; and Terry Thompson Chevrolet — all of which have close ties to the Daphne schools. Additional support will be provided by Point Clear Insurance Services, White-Spunner Construction, Buffalo-Rock Pepsi, ARK Builders, Daphne United Methodist Church, the Bounds Family YMCA, the Bay Area Runners, the City of Daphne and PTA/PTO groups in the Daphne schools. Local artist Robin Richards created the 2008 Classic Rock T-shirt design.

Day-of-event registration will be held from 7 to 7:45 a.m. in front of the Daphne Public Library. The 5K entry cost on Saturday will be $20 and the fun run sign-up fee is $10.

The 2008 Classic Rock event benefits SEEDS’ Classroom Enrichment Grant Program.