The Art of the Race

For runners who toe the line at the Spring Lake Five Mile Run each year, crossing the finish line is only part of the thrill. Just as eagerly anticipated is the unveiling of the commemorative T-shirt, a tradition that has taken on a life of its own over the race’s 48-year history.

“It’s always been exciting to see the runners picking up their race pack and seeing the current race shirt,” says race committee member Luann McGraw.

The design story begins simply enough. In the 1970s, the race shirt was little more than a classic font identifying the event and the year. That was the understated approach for 13 years. Then, in 1990, a new leadership team took the reins and brought in a graphic artist, ushering in an era of bolder, more original designs. When the Friends of the Spring Lake Five Mile Run eventually assumed control of the race, the creative process was opened up to local artists. Over time, however, the committee streamlined its approach, looking inward and backward for inspiration, often revisiting the race’s vintage shirts to inform new designs.

Current Creativity

Today, the process is a collaborative, gut-driven effort led by a tight-knit committee. “The committee has several meetings and openly discusses the design and layout,” says committee member Sue Burrus. “This year, for example, we started over several times. At one point, we were at the printer and changed our minds. All it takes is one person to suggest a different route, and that usually gets the rest thinking.”

The timeline for that process is fluid. According to committee member Bernadette Taylor, planning typically kicks off in the fall, though inspiration can strike at any time. “Some years we get an idea while working on the current design and say we can use that idea next year,” she explains. For 2026, the direction was clear from the start: With the country’s 250th anniversary on the horizon, the committee knew it wanted to weave red, white, and blue into the design. They considered outside suggestions and designed something to capture it.

Color is central to the shirt’s identity from year to year, and the committee takes that seriously. The palette has been refined over time, with the goal of using a four-color process. As Burrus puts it, “A great T-shirt design often succeeds based on the colors the committee chooses. We strive to stay true to the spirit and history of the Spring Lake Five race.” There is no single person with final say; the decision belongs to the group. “There is not a vote,” Burrus notes. “It’s ‘gut’ and respect for other people’s opinions.”

One of the design’s most beloved constants is the sandpiper. The bird is part of the race’s corporate logo and has been incorporated into the design year after year. Its presence connects each new shirt to the race’s coastal identity and its long history in Spring Lake. Once the shirt design is locked in, the commemorative pint glass and medal follow, each serving as a variation on the main design. The glass is rendered in two colors, a practical and elegant extension of the shirt’s look.

Nostalgia plays a powerful role in the whole process. Vintage shirts from the 1970s, ‘80s, and ‘90s are having a moment, and the committee leans into that. “Shirts from the ‘70s, ‘80s, and ‘90s can look modern today,” Burrus observes. Collectors, meanwhile, are particularly keen on tracking down vintage pint glasses, often lost to breakage over the years, though the committee does not hold back stock, selling any leftovers until they are gone.

In the end, what makes the Spring Lake Five shirt special isn’t any single design element. It’s the care that goes into it each year, and the sense of history it carries forward.

Photographs by Michael Scotto