Though the Strawberry Festival celebrates the berrys consumption in many forms chocolate-covered, cheesecake and fruit salad, among others the fitness-minded berry-lover has several Festival-endorsed means of compensating for overcompensating on strawberries.

The Golf Tournament
Friday, June 8, 8 a.m.
Cedarcrest Golf Club

The annual golf tournament ostensibly kicks off this years Strawberry Festival with an 8 a.m. tee time at Cedarcrest Golf Course.
Said event organizer Angie Miller, a non-golf player herself, the golf tournament is one of several festival events that contributes registration proceeds to a scholarship fund for the festival royalty.
With more players and more sponsors on board this year, the tournament appears poised to be a highly successful part of the festivals scholarship legacy.
The tournament registers individuals and groups, organizing participants into groups of four. Teams play the four-man scramble format, Miller said, in which everyone tees off and teams go on from the longest shot.
Over 18 holes, teams must use at least four strokes from each participant, at least two drives and two putts.
In addition to basking in the glory of team victory, individuals have incentives to perform at their best.
We have a hole in one where Robinson donates a car each year, Miller said, adding that though a second tournament hole in one is not guaranteed a car, theres a few other hole in one opportunities.
Entrance into the Strawberry Festival Golf Tournament will set a team of four back $100. They will also accept individual registrations, Miller said, though teams are usually made up of business foursomes.

Adult Trike Race
Friday, June 15, 7 p.m. Race
Ebey Waterfront Park

Perennial trike race competitor Mike Kossak has invested a lot of money and love into his tricycle.
Its made for this competition, he said, estimating he has invested about $1,000 into his ride.
Kossak, who owns the Golden Corral and sponsors a trike race team every year, said he was drawn to the Strawberry Festivals trike race when, as a child, he and his family first moved to town.
I came into town with my parents when I was about eight or 10 years old. I saw my uncles in the trike races, Kossak said. When I was a kid watching my uncles, I always knew I wanted to compete in the trike races. So when I grew up, I bought the Golden Corral and I got trikes.
Although the events obstacles are tweaked year to year, several obstacles are constants.
One is a giant see-saw, which requires tricyclers to ride up one side and down the other. Another, Kossak dubbed the poop pit, in which competitors are required to roll through a humungous mound of mud.
The obstacle race always ends in a pit of Jell-O.
I think its probably the most exciting obstacle because its at the end. Everyone has this expectation of jumping in. At that point its not even the competition, its who can make the biggest splash and get out. Youre covered in pink, Kossak said.
He added that he doesnt have a favorite event, getting the most pleasure from competing with his team.
I think its just fun bringing my crew out, getting people alongside me doing things that youd never do in a million years, he said.



The Berry Run
Saturday, June 16, 8 a.m.
Smokey Point Plant Farm

When one wants to participate in a strawberry shortcake-eating contest, such as the one taking place the afternoon of June 16, one wants to win.
And what better way to work up an appetite than a one-mile or 5k run?
Get up a little earlier and get an edge on the competition with the Strawberry Festival Berry Run.
The mile race begins at 8 a.m. at the Smokey Point Plant Farm, 15022 Twin Lakes Ave., and is followed a half-hour later by the 5k.
According to organizer Judy Anderson, the race was moved from downtown Marysville to recognize the citys expanding borders.
Its getting so large and the Plant Farm is part of Marysville, she said. And we thought it would be a good opportunity to have it there.
Still not ready to gorge on strawberry shortcake?
Park a few blocks away and jog over to Asbery Field for the eating contest festivities.