5 running, cycling, gran fondo, and other events in Greencastle, Indiana

Welcome to the 7th Annual Sham Rock 5k!

Join the City of Greencastle for a ROCKING 5k in celebration of Saint Patrick's Day!

This is a Saint Patrick's Day 5k you won't want to miss with:

• An amazing course that shows off Downtown Greencastle and DePauw

• Custom bibs for all athletes

• A rocking Sham Rock 5k t-shirt*

• A finisher beer for all 21 and over

(We will be checking IDs for your post-race beer so remember to bring your ID if you want your beer!)

• Awesome Saint Patrick's Day overall and age group awards

• Disposable chip timing

*Our guaranteed t-shirt cutoff date is March 4th, 2026

The event will begin and end at our event host Almost Home Restaurant in Downtown Greencastle (17 W Franklin St, Greencastle, IN 46135) There is plenty of parking along the streets downtown for everyone attending the event! Be sure to stay after the race for a fun community Saint Patrick's event after the race!

This event raises funds for the Greencastle Music Fest! A rocking 2 day community music festival in Greencastle which will take place in August 2026. You can learn more about the event at: https://www.greencastlemusicfest.com/

DINO returns (for the first time since 2013), to DePauw Nature Park, which offers stunning views in, and above, its rock quarry cliffs. The trail surface is mostly crushed stone, making it great for running when springtime trails are wet. It's an excellent choice for first time trail runners. There are a couple of steep hills of 50 to 100' vertical climb, but the majority of the route has very mild grades.

Visit https://www.facebook.com/AKineticChange/ for periodic race updates!

The 13th Annual C.A.R.R. 5k (that’s Camo America Rainbow Run) will take place Saturday, June 13th at 5pm in memory of Keith Carr. After party downtown Greencastle to follow.

Andrew Keith Carr was a jovial, fun-loving 21 year old from Greencastle, Indiana. He was preparing for his junior year at Marquette University in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, majoring in Supply Chain. While studying abroad for a summer term in Rome, Italy, Keith died in a tragic accident on June 11th, 2013. A memorial race, the C.A.R.R. 5k was created in his honor, with over 200 participants in its inaugural event in Greencastle, Indiana in June of 2014.

Among the things that made Keith a unique guy, he was particularly fond of camouflaged apparel, anything American themed, and colorful attire to match his colorful personality, hence the C(amo). A(merica). R(ainbow). Run.

Pay tribute to Keith’s unique sense of style by running, walking, trotting, or strutting 3.1 miles sporting any number of his favorite themes. Costumes/outfits are highly encouraged and combination themes may even earn awards. In the spirit of Keith, please wear something that would put a smile on his face, if you feel so inclined (and we hope you do).

A Kinetic Change, Inc. is the official benefiting charity for this race. AKC aims to increase community physical activity by creating recreation facilities, organizing fitness events, and motivating you to convert your potential energy into kinetic energy with movement.

The 2026 C.A.R.R. 5K will start and finish at Deer Meadow Primary School. Our usual post-race festivities will continue downtown Greencastle with live music, games, food and drink from 7-11 p.m.

We look forward to sharing race day with you!

Thanks and Just Smile Back.

Indiana's BIKE PARTY is back for 2026!!! Pedal Putnam ‘26 returns with all the vibes you’ve come to enjoy plus the chance to earn points towards Indiana's Race Series. Plus, donuts!

Our hallmark has become the overall sense of community surrounding the ride, whether it's the TEAM awards introduced last year, the pre-race donuts from Breadworks or the post-race festivities at Lost Hollow Beer Company! We are here for the party. Are you?

Pedal Putnam is an growing GRAN FONDO event aimed at the beginner, the racer and the weekend enthusiast. Whether you're looking to complete your first Gran Fondo, race against the best, or get in some great training miles before the Dust Bowl, this event is for you. Featuring three different routes (100k, 43 miles & 12.5 miles), there's a course for everyone. Even better, all three will take you past some of Putnam County's murals, including the new ones. We're excited to see Putnam County become central Indiana's backyard and a destination spot for arts, culture and food. And while many people have gotten to experience Putnam County's gravel scene, Pedal Putnam will give you a taste of our open roads.

Race/Ride Routes

The Mural Metric (62 miles)

For the 100K (62 miles) event, riders will be competing for top three places in several categories: open men's, open women's, Master's men (45+), Master's women (45+). Trophies and prizes will be awarded for each category. Results will be timed thanks to Racemaker productions. The Mural Metric will once again head west before circling back through covered bridges, up to Bainbridge and around Heritage Lake before returning home. The course will feature a lead vehicle to protect the pointy end, well marked turns and caution points, as well as great SAG support like last year.

The 43 Mile Route

Our 43 mile route will still feature plenty of climbing (~2,000 feet), and give you plenty of chances to soak in the best of Putnam County: covered bridges, sustained climbs, and rolling hills. Prizes will be awarded for top three men's & women's riders. Again, all riders will be timed.

The 12.5 Mile Route

Finally, our 12.5 “Scenic” mile route will allow you to see the highlights of the Putnam County Mural Project, including the famous grain silo murals, take you out to Big Walnut Sports Park and bring you back to Greencastle on some county roads. No prizes for this option. Just the enjoyment of a great day on a bike and maybe your first bike event! The scenic route also allows you to ride through DePauw University, Indiana's premier liberal arts college.

Pedal Putnam FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS (FAQ's):

1. Is Pedal Putnam a race or a ride?

Great question. It's both! Pedal Putnam is a chip-timed gran fondo cycling event similar to Ride Across INdiana (RAIN Ride) or the Hancock Flat 50.

Since it is timed, some will compete, especially since there are prizes for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd in the overall category (men's & women's) as well as master's (45+ // men and women). Last year, John Maegerlein and Hannah Wheatley won the men's and women's 62.3 mile race respectively.

But, I can't emphasize this enough ... you don't have to race. Riders will separate out according to ability very early in the ride, and with three different routes, you can choose how far and how hard you want the ride to be. The goal of Pedal Putnam is simply to get as many individuals and teams out on bikes as possible, all in support of Putnam Parks & Pathways

2. Is Pedal Putnam a road ride or gravel ride?

Pedal Putnam is a road ride/race. THERE ARE NO GRAVEL ROADS (but there may be chip-and-seal). All of the roads on the three routes are paved roads, although some of the county roads do have some gravel in corners or are chip-and-seal surfaces. Last year, we had riders on road bikes, TT bikes, recumbent bikes, tandem bikes, single-speed bikes, mountain bikes, gravel bikes.

3. Will the ride have support/SAG stops?

Yes, all three routes will have SAG stops. The 62 mile "mural metric" will have three SAG stops, the 43 mile will have 2, and the 12.5 mile will have one SAG stop. All SAG stops will feature hydration from Tailwind nutrition + water + energy bars/granola bars/bananas and more.

4. What do I get with my registration?

By registering at www.bikereg.com/pedal-putnam by June 1st, you'll get a FREE Pedal Putnam water bottle, FREE Pedal Putnam t-shirt, plus a registration bag full of other great offers and local info on some great Greencastle eateries. Registration is $70 until Feb. 1 & $80 until June 1st for the 62 and 40 mile rides. Then it jumps to $90 on June 1st. The 12.5-mile ride is a constant $30 and still includes the t-shirt and water bottle ??

5. What if it is raining?

Pedal Putnam is an all-weather event within reason obviously. Barring severe weather forecasts, the ride will roll out at 8 am for the 62 and 43 mile and 9:10 am for the 12.5 mile riders.

6. Will the course be marked?

Yes! Thanks to Putnam County Visitors Bureau, we have great signage for Pedal Putnam, including the bright green for the 62 mile, blue for the 43 and red for the 12.5 mile rides. HOWEVER, riders should strive to have a GPS device or phone WITH THE ROUTE loaded or saved to their device. While we will mark the course, it has happened where signs have been blown over or removed.

7. What about bike safety and vehicles on the road?

Pedal Putnam is an open-road ride/race, which means ... Rule #1 ... BE SMART and BE ALERT. In other words, don't be "that person"! The aim of this event is to support cyclists AND to foster more riding in Putnam County. That means showing drivers our best behavior. That also means you will be expected to follow all normal traffic laws. At certain, high-traffic intersections, local police and the Putnam County Sheriffs Office Indiana will be stationed to monitor and assist cyclists and motorists to ensure safety. On the 62 and 43 mile route, the major intersection will be at 231 at Brick Chapel. Most of the course, though, will occur on county roads. Cyclists are expected to stay in the appropriate lane and allow for cars to pass as needed. The 62 mural metric includes a lap around Heritage Lake Association - a beautiful loop featuring new pavement. The 62 and 43 mile ride/race will have a police escort for the first few miles out on West Walnut road before turning north where a lead vehicle

will stay in front of the 62 mile leaders ONLY. The 12.5 mile will include a police escort through DePauw University and out to the People Pathways before coming back to town on county roads.

You will be responsible for yourself out on the ride, although we encourage riders to look out and check on each other. A race support number will be provided closer to the race that you can call in the event of a major mechanical. As with most other bike events, riders will reach out to 911 in the event of a major medical emergency or injury.

8. What is happening before and after the ride?

Pedal Putnam will begin with a packet-pick-up at Lost Hollow Beer Co. on Friday, June 19th from 5 to 8 pm, and you're encouraged to check out Greencastle's wide range of great restaurants or eateries while in town.

Then, on the race/ride day, we're blessed to have Breadworks By Bridges providing pre-race donuts. Following the race, Lost Hollow Beer Co. will be provided post-race brews and we will have various food truck vendors along with a Kona Ice Truck for your post-ride hunger.

Your participation goes a little bit further in 2026.

Our event has partnered with Friends of the Park of Putnam County, Inc. (FOTP), a local 501(c)3 organization dedicated to the development and sustainability of outdoor recreation in Putnam County. Over the past few years, Friends has been involved in several projects, including the Putnam County Mural Project, Hamrick Station trail expansion, and the lighting of Robe-Ann Park for the Winter Wonderland Lights Festival.

FOTP is on a mission to create a $500,000 endowment for the county to leverage. To that end, it

will receive a portion of the revenue generated from this event. In the coming years, this funding will be

used to purchase land for trail and park development, generate additional outdoor events, and generally

support the growing County Parks Board.

If you are interested in learning more about FOTP, please, visit their website at:

https://putnamparks.org/friends/

Vulture Vista Ultra Year Three

June 27, 2026

DePauw Nature Park, Greencastle, Indiana

The Vulture Vista Ultra returns for its third year with a runner-built loop ultra set inside the former limestone quarry at DePauw Nature Park. Simple on purpose, challenging by design, and welcoming to runners of all levels.

The Course

The 4.5 mile loop winds through a reclaimed limestone quarry with tall rock walls, wooded singletrack, open trail, and wide views of the quarry cliffs. Turkey vultures circle overhead throughout the day, quietly observing who keeps moving and who starts to slow down.

The loop format keeps things honest and crew friendly, with runners passing through the start and finish area every lap.

Choose Your Challenge

• Six Hour Ultra

• Twelve Hour Ultra

Run solo or as part of a relay team and complete as many laps as possible before time runs out.

• 4.5 Mile Trail Run

A single loop option for newer trail runners, youth athletes, or anyone wanting to be part of race day without committing to an ultra.

Runner Experience

Expect two well stocked aid stations with ultra staples and Tailwind nutrition, a centralized start and finish area with space for crews or self support, clear course marking, and a laid back atmosphere that values effort over ego.

This is a race designed by runners for runners.

Giving Back

A portion of proceeds will support AKC A Kinetic Change and local high school and middle school track and cross country programs.

Your miles help create more opportunities for movement in the community.

Is This Race for You

If you enjoy loop ultras, honest courses, straightforward logistics, and a race that lets the trail and the work speak for themselves, Vulture Vista is waiting.