The next way to take part in Bayshore does not require a training plan. The Traverse City Track Club is inviting creative adults to design the participant shirt for the event’s 45th anniversary in 2027, with entries due November 15, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. Eastern.

The invitation gives artists and runners a shared local project: create an image that represents the event across its marathon, half-marathon and 10K. The winning work is intended for the official Brooks participant shirt rather than a single distance’s separate souvenir.

Read the requirements before drawing

The official contest rules say entrants must be at least 18, with no residency requirement or need to register for the race. There is no entry fee, and each person may submit one design. Listed exclusions apply to club employees, judges and their immediate families.

Artwork must be original, use no more than four ink colors and include the required event and club wording with a reference to 2027 or the anniversary. The page identifies the shirt color as Brooks Blue. It also explicitly excludes artwork made wholly or partly with generative AI tools.

Those requirements make the full brief essential. Check the required wording and file instructions on the live page rather than copying a short social post. Initial files may be JPG, PNG or PDF, with production-ready artwork required later from the selected winner.

A community vote follows the first review

An October 28 announcement distributed through Running USA says a committee will select three to five finalists, followed by public voting November 20–24. A winner is expected around November 30. Treat the later announcement dates as the organizer’s current plan, subject to updates.

The same announcement describes a prize package including two entries into an eligible 2027 Bayshore event and local prizes. Review the official conditions before assuming the entries provide access to any distance regardless of registration or participation requirements.

For someone entering, a useful starting question is what makes the event recognizable without crowding the shirt. Consider whether your idea communicates clearly at a glance and whether the lettering remains readable when reduced. These are design-planning suggestions, not additional judging rules.

More than a race-day organization

The Track Club’s community-giving page describes scholarships, grants, support for volunteer groups and its Golden Shoe Fund among its charitable activities. The contest offers another route for people outside the start line to contribute to the club’s public identity.

You do not have to reproduce a previous shirt to make that connection. Look at the official brief, develop your own idea and keep records of your work. If you have a question about branding materials or another requirement, use the organizer’s contest contact before submitting.

Make a submission plan

Leave time to review the artwork, check the required text and complete the actual online form. Exporting a file is only one step; verify that the submission has gone through and retain any confirmation for your records. Do not wait until the final minutes to discover a file problem.

The contest was checked October 31, 2026, while submissions remained open. Use the official page for the current deadline, full eligibility conditions and submission form, and return later in November if you want to take part in the public vote.