September 8, 2025 • 8 mins
Matt Cook with Lake Michigan Credit Union joins us to discuss the 2025 LMCU Bridge Run!
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
It's Talk of the Town on news radio with thirteen
hundred and one oh six nine FM. Steve Kelly and
Brett Pakita from West Michigan's Morning News. Welcoming once again
the vice president of Community Relations at Lake Michigan Credit Union,
Matt Cook. Thank you so much for doing this again today.
Speaker 2 (00:14):
Of course, thanks for having me.
Speaker 1 (00:15):
Well, it's coming up on the fourteenth, though, there is
an event for kids on the thirteenth. It's the Lake
Michigan Credit Union net Bridge Run twenty twenty five. Matt,
talk to us a little bit about the commitment with
your organization to this amazing event.
Speaker 2 (00:31):
Yeah, so we're really excited here at LMCU to once
again be the presenting sponsor of the LMCU Bridge Run.
We partner with Brian Deemer and his family to put
on this race, and it's one of my favorite events
over the fall, and it's a chance for entire families
to come out and enjoy a beautiful fall morning, but also,
you know, to pursue their athletic endeavors or just have
(00:54):
a beautiful walk, you know, or maybe a first time
five k or somebody that's competitive wants to participate in
the ten mile run. We're really excited once again to
offer that opportunity and so looking forward to Sunday, September
fourteenth for this year's.
Speaker 3 (01:09):
Run, Matt highlight a couple of things that are unique
to this I think, and thus the great participation. One,
it's a Sunday morning. A lot of races happen on
a Saturday in downtown grind Rapids, but that makes it
easy as far as parking. You don't have to deal
with a lot of people downtown yet because of the
Sunday morning starts. It's a beautiful setup usually the fall
back drop with our prize everything else. And then there's
(01:31):
that unique ten mile race that a lot of people
like when they're getting ready for maybe a bigger distance
to go to.
Speaker 2 (01:39):
Yeah, it really is Brett, and I think you know,
for a lot of people, there are a number of runs,
you know, particularly five k's that happen in the greater
Downtown area and grend Rapids, but this one is really
unique in the aspect of both. You know, the route itself,
it's a unique route. A few years ago we moved
to have the start just right around the owner from
(02:00):
the sixth Street Bridge, and you know, really when you
think about the iconic shots of down the river, you
know in photography. You know, it's a chance for people
to go and cross the number of those bridges. You know,
we are unique and that we are the run that
the run or walk that covers the most of those bridges,
and so whether you're doing the five k the ten mile,
you'll have a chance to go over multiple bridges, you know,
(02:23):
and our team is really intentional about that route, working
with the city as far as getting in some of
those great downtown sites, but also taking advantage of some
things that you know, other races don't. So you mentioned
Riverside Park, So our ten mile run will go you know,
north down and do their turnaround in Riverside Park, and
so they get a chance to be able to experience
(02:43):
you know, both the core downtown area but also you know,
the river, the sites and sounds of Riverside Park right
down there. But the five k route also has some
really unique aspects in crossing those bridges but also taking part,
you know, in that downtown core area.
Speaker 1 (02:57):
We're talking to Matt Cook on Talk of the Town
with Lake Michigan Credit Union is the LMCU Bridge Run
is coming up on Sunday the fourteenth, talk to us
a little bit about getting those tickets and a little
discount for wood radio listeners. I know the website is
the Bridge Run dot com, right.
Speaker 2 (03:14):
Yeah, so we're really excited to partner again with you
all and be able to offer your listeners the chance
to participate at a little bit of a discount. And
so if you go to the Bridge run dot com
and register, when you get to the final page before
you pay, put in the code iHeart. That's the code iHeart,
and you'll get five dollars off your race entry. And
(03:35):
so really excited to be able to send that out.
You know, again, if somebody has never participated in the event,
or maybe they have and haven't registered yet, we'd encourage
you to use that to be able to get your entry.
That's good for either of the races, both the five
k or the ten mile, but also you know it's
a chance for somebody, you know, if you've been on
the fence. You know, hopefully that little discount we'll be
(03:57):
able to get you over the registration burden and get
you signed up today.
Speaker 3 (04:03):
Well and take us through packet pickup. And it's unique.
You guys, make it real easy there too as far
as people that are participating in the run or walk
to get their information, and the Kids Dash is tied
into the Saturday event at lmcu Ballpark.
Speaker 2 (04:16):
Yeah, so we're excited. So the race obviously is on Sunday,
September fourteenth, and so if people register and they're not
able to make it to any of other packet pickups,
you actually can still do that race morning, but it's
a little bit crazy. And so Gazelle Sports was actually
the founder of this race and so over twenty years
ago and so they're still a strong supporter, and so
they host packet pick up on Friday September twelfth from
(04:39):
four to six pm, but then also on Saturday, September thirteenth.
We've partnered with our friends at the White Caps and
been able to host packet pick up the last couple
of years on that Saturday, the day before the race.
So packet pickup this year on Saturday September thirteenth is
from ten am to eleven forty five. And then last
year we introduced a new as part of the l
(05:01):
mc Bridge Run, and it's the Kids Dash, and so
we're really excited once again to have crash out there
racing kids. There's two different distances, both really manageable for
kids of all ages. So there's one hundred yard dash
and a two hundred and fifty yard dash where they
can race crash, So that'll be at eleven to fifty am.
We do ask that people sign up online as well,
(05:22):
so you can do that at the Bridge Run dot com.
But it's a chance for your kids to come out.
You know, you can pack up your packet for the
next day, but then your kids can take on crash
in a little bit of a race.
Speaker 1 (05:32):
And it's not just that the view is amazing for
the Bridge Run, right, there are some really unique entertainment
opportunities for those who are watching and participating too, including music.
Speaker 2 (05:43):
Yeah. So Rob Hyde is one of our co race
directors and he's done a really nice job of adding
to the race experience and putting partnering with a number
of area bands and so you know, you'll have a
marching band, you know, potentially you know in one spot
of the course, but then you have a rock band
at a different spot, and so it's a fun you know,
(06:03):
different experiences you go through different pieces of both the
five k and the ten mile you've got some cheer stations.
We also partner with a number of area high school
you know, cheerleading teams and other spirit squads, and they
can use it as a fundraiser for their team, so
their incentivised to go out there, but they add to
the experience for those runners and walkers that are participating
(06:23):
in the race. So we're really excited to welcome them
all out again to this year's event.
Speaker 3 (06:27):
Since our partnership, I participated all in the five k walk.
I think one year I ran the five k when
I was a little bit of shape. But I will
say this, The one thing I will say that Matt
and his group doing rob is this is the most
inclusive event that I've ever seen or been a part of.
And what I mean by that is you'll have groups
out there, You'll have causes out there, you'll have family,
(06:48):
and everyone is out there having a good time. But
yet there's the competitive side of it too. Sure, everyone
gets medals, but there are people that are competing to
win that. And what I think is a signature event
for you guys, Matt, and you see it too because
you partic is the fact that so many people come
back each year and then they bring someone with them
the next year.
Speaker 2 (07:05):
Yeah, I mean, I think that's one of the reasons
we've loved partnering with the Allen seu Bridge Run and
their team, you know, as a sponsor. Is just for us.
It's a chance for our own employees to get out
and participate. We'll have over two hundred and fifty of
them join every year. You know, I'll hear from a
fellow teammate, you know, that it's their first time ever
doing a five k. But then we also have people
(07:26):
that are out there, you know, maybe not at the
front of the pack, but you know, doing you know
it competitively, whether it be the five k or the
ten mile, you know. But we have a number of
really elite runners in this region, you know, and this
is one of their signature events and races, you know,
to be able to do that in Brian Deemer and
his team, you know, provide some incentives and awards for
(07:48):
those individuals in their accomplishments, and so I think that's
the piece. You can watch a really elite performance, but
also you can watch somebody that is really incredibly excited
about completing their first race. And not to mention my
team triumph you know, the the nonprofit partner of ours
that has captains and angels, you know that are pushing
(08:10):
individuals that don't have the opportunity to participate themselves as
an able bodied individual, but they have you know, their
their individual that's pushing them, you know, to be able
to get across the finish line as well.
Speaker 1 (08:23):
You will find out more at the bridgerun dot com.
Vice President of Community Relations at Lake Michigan Credit Union
Matt Cook. Always great information, Thank you, Thank you both.
It's Talk of the Town on news radio WOULD thirteen
hundred and one oh six nine FM.
It's Talk of the Town on news radio with thirteen
hundred and one oh six nine FM. Steve Kelly and
Brett Pakita from West Michigan's Morning News. Welcoming once again
the vice president of Community Relations at Lake Michigan Credit Union,
Matt Cook. Thank you so much for doing this again today.
Speaker 2 (00:14):
Of course, thanks for having me.
Speaker 1 (00:15):
Well, it's coming up on the fourteenth, though, there is
an event for kids on the thirteenth. It's the Lake
Michigan Credit Union net Bridge Run twenty twenty five. Matt,
talk to us a little bit about the commitment with
your organization to this amazing event.
Speaker 2 (00:31):
Yeah, so we're really excited here at LMCU to once
again be the presenting sponsor of the LMCU Bridge Run.
We partner with Brian Deemer and his family to put
on this race, and it's one of my favorite events
over the fall, and it's a chance for entire families
to come out and enjoy a beautiful fall morning, but also,
you know, to pursue their athletic endeavors or just have
(00:54):
a beautiful walk, you know, or maybe a first time
five k or somebody that's competitive wants to participate in
the ten mile run. We're really excited once again to
offer that opportunity and so looking forward to Sunday, September
fourteenth for this year's.
Speaker 3 (01:09):
Run, Matt highlight a couple of things that are unique
to this I think, and thus the great participation. One,
it's a Sunday morning. A lot of races happen on
a Saturday in downtown grind Rapids, but that makes it
easy as far as parking. You don't have to deal
with a lot of people downtown yet because of the
Sunday morning starts. It's a beautiful setup usually the fall
back drop with our prize everything else. And then there's
(01:31):
that unique ten mile race that a lot of people
like when they're getting ready for maybe a bigger distance
to go to.
Speaker 2 (01:39):
Yeah, it really is Brett, and I think you know,
for a lot of people, there are a number of runs,
you know, particularly five k's that happen in the greater
Downtown area and grend Rapids, but this one is really
unique in the aspect of both. You know, the route itself,
it's a unique route. A few years ago we moved
to have the start just right around the owner from
(02:00):
the sixth Street Bridge, and you know, really when you
think about the iconic shots of down the river, you
know in photography. You know, it's a chance for people
to go and cross the number of those bridges. You know,
we are unique and that we are the run that
the run or walk that covers the most of those bridges,
and so whether you're doing the five k the ten mile,
you'll have a chance to go over multiple bridges, you know,
(02:23):
and our team is really intentional about that route, working
with the city as far as getting in some of
those great downtown sites, but also taking advantage of some
things that you know, other races don't. So you mentioned
Riverside Park, So our ten mile run will go you know,
north down and do their turnaround in Riverside Park, and
so they get a chance to be able to experience
(02:43):
you know, both the core downtown area but also you know,
the river, the sites and sounds of Riverside Park right
down there. But the five k route also has some
really unique aspects in crossing those bridges but also taking part,
you know, in that downtown core area.
Speaker 1 (02:57):
We're talking to Matt Cook on Talk of the Town
with Lake Michigan Credit Union is the LMCU Bridge Run
is coming up on Sunday the fourteenth, talk to us
a little bit about getting those tickets and a little
discount for wood radio listeners. I know the website is
the Bridge Run dot com, right.
Speaker 2 (03:14):
Yeah, so we're really excited to partner again with you
all and be able to offer your listeners the chance
to participate at a little bit of a discount. And
so if you go to the Bridge run dot com
and register, when you get to the final page before
you pay, put in the code iHeart. That's the code iHeart,
and you'll get five dollars off your race entry. And
(03:35):
so really excited to be able to send that out.
You know, again, if somebody has never participated in the event,
or maybe they have and haven't registered yet, we'd encourage
you to use that to be able to get your entry.
That's good for either of the races, both the five
k or the ten mile, but also you know it's
a chance for somebody, you know, if you've been on
the fence. You know, hopefully that little discount we'll be
(03:57):
able to get you over the registration burden and get
you signed up today.
Speaker 3 (04:03):
Well and take us through packet pickup. And it's unique.
You guys, make it real easy there too as far
as people that are participating in the run or walk
to get their information, and the Kids Dash is tied
into the Saturday event at lmcu Ballpark.
Speaker 2 (04:16):
Yeah, so we're excited. So the race obviously is on Sunday,
September fourteenth, and so if people register and they're not
able to make it to any of other packet pickups,
you actually can still do that race morning, but it's
a little bit crazy. And so Gazelle Sports was actually
the founder of this race and so over twenty years
ago and so they're still a strong supporter, and so
they host packet pick up on Friday September twelfth from
(04:39):
four to six pm, but then also on Saturday, September thirteenth.
We've partnered with our friends at the White Caps and
been able to host packet pick up the last couple
of years on that Saturday, the day before the race.
So packet pickup this year on Saturday September thirteenth is
from ten am to eleven forty five. And then last
year we introduced a new as part of the l
(05:01):
mc Bridge Run, and it's the Kids Dash, and so
we're really excited once again to have crash out there
racing kids. There's two different distances, both really manageable for
kids of all ages. So there's one hundred yard dash
and a two hundred and fifty yard dash where they
can race crash, So that'll be at eleven to fifty am.
We do ask that people sign up online as well,
(05:22):
so you can do that at the Bridge Run dot com.
But it's a chance for your kids to come out.
You know, you can pack up your packet for the
next day, but then your kids can take on crash
in a little bit of a race.
Speaker 1 (05:32):
And it's not just that the view is amazing for
the Bridge Run, right, there are some really unique entertainment
opportunities for those who are watching and participating too, including music.
Speaker 2 (05:43):
Yeah. So Rob Hyde is one of our co race
directors and he's done a really nice job of adding
to the race experience and putting partnering with a number
of area bands and so you know, you'll have a
marching band, you know, potentially you know in one spot
of the course, but then you have a rock band
at a different spot, and so it's a fun you know,
(06:03):
different experiences you go through different pieces of both the
five k and the ten mile you've got some cheer stations.
We also partner with a number of area high school
you know, cheerleading teams and other spirit squads, and they
can use it as a fundraiser for their team, so
their incentivised to go out there, but they add to
the experience for those runners and walkers that are participating
(06:23):
in the race. So we're really excited to welcome them
all out again to this year's event.
Speaker 3 (06:27):
Since our partnership, I participated all in the five k walk.
I think one year I ran the five k when
I was a little bit of shape. But I will
say this, The one thing I will say that Matt
and his group doing rob is this is the most
inclusive event that I've ever seen or been a part of.
And what I mean by that is you'll have groups
out there, You'll have causes out there, you'll have family,
(06:48):
and everyone is out there having a good time. But
yet there's the competitive side of it too. Sure, everyone
gets medals, but there are people that are competing to
win that. And what I think is a signature event
for you guys, Matt, and you see it too because
you partic is the fact that so many people come
back each year and then they bring someone with them
the next year.
Speaker 2 (07:05):
Yeah, I mean, I think that's one of the reasons
we've loved partnering with the Allen seu Bridge Run and
their team, you know, as a sponsor. Is just for us.
It's a chance for our own employees to get out
and participate. We'll have over two hundred and fifty of
them join every year. You know, I'll hear from a
fellow teammate, you know, that it's their first time ever
doing a five k. But then we also have people
(07:26):
that are out there, you know, maybe not at the
front of the pack, but you know, doing you know
it competitively, whether it be the five k or the
ten mile, you know. But we have a number of
really elite runners in this region, you know, and this
is one of their signature events and races, you know,
to be able to do that in Brian Deemer and
his team, you know, provide some incentives and awards for
(07:48):
those individuals in their accomplishments, and so I think that's
the piece. You can watch a really elite performance, but
also you can watch somebody that is really incredibly excited
about completing their first race. And not to mention my
team triumph you know, the the nonprofit partner of ours
that has captains and angels, you know that are pushing
(08:10):
individuals that don't have the opportunity to participate themselves as
an able bodied individual, but they have you know, their
their individual that's pushing them, you know, to be able
to get across the finish line as well.
Speaker 1 (08:23):
You will find out more at the bridgerun dot com.
Vice President of Community Relations at Lake Michigan Credit Union
Matt Cook. Always great information, Thank you, Thank you both.
It's Talk of the Town on news radio WOULD thirteen
hundred and one oh six nine FM.
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