Bayshore Shirt Contest
2027 Bayshore 45th Anniversary T-Shirt Design Contest
Official Contest Rules
The Traverse City Track Club (TCTC) is celebrating 45 years of Bayshore in 2027, and we're inviting creative individuals to help commemorate this milestone!
We're looking for an original design for our Brooks Podium race shirts that captures the spirit of Bayshore: the beauty of Northern Michigan, the energy of our running community, and the tradition of racing along Grand Traverse Bay.
The winning design will be featured on the official 2027 Bayshore Brooks participant shirt, worn by participants in the Marathon, Half Marathon, and 10K.
1. Contest organizer
The contest is organized by the Traverse City Track Club, organizer of the Bayshore Marathon, Half Marathon, and 10K.
Contact: shirt@bayshoremarathon.org
2. Eligibility
The contest is open to individuals age 18 or older
No residency requirement applies.
Entrants do not need to be TCTC members or registered Bayshore participants.
TCTC employees, contest judges, and their immediate family members are not eligible.
Each individual may submit one design.
No purchase, race registration, or entry fee is required.
3. Contest Dates
Submissions open: October 15, 2026.
Submission deadline: November 15, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time.
Finalists announced: Approximately November 18, 2026.
Public voting: November 20-24, 2026.
Winner announced: Approximately November 30, 2026.
TCTC may adjust the schedule if necessary and will communicate material changes through its official website.
4. Design requirements
Submissions should:
Celebrate 45 years of Bayshore.
Incorporate the words “Bayshore Marathon, Half Marathon, and 10k” and “Traverse City Track Club” and a reference to 2027 and/or the 45th anniversary.
Represent the broader Bayshore experience rather than one particular race distance.
Reflect the character of Bayshore, Northern Michigan, or the running community.
Be suitable for printing on a technical running shirt.
Use no more than four ink colors.
Be original artwork created by the entrant.
Be appropriate for a broad audience of runners and spectators.
Designs may incorporate imagery such as Grand Traverse Bay, Old Mission Peninsula, running, nature, or other elements associated with the Bayshore experience.
Entrants should avoid using copyrighted images, third-party logos, photographs, or other material they do not have permission to reproduce. Any official Bayshore or TCTC branding must be used in accordance with materials provided by TCTC.
Artwork created wholly or partially using generative AI tools is not eligible; use of traditional design software is eligible (Canva, Illustrator, etc.).
TCTC reserves the right to reject submissions that do not meet these requirements.
Please note the color of this year’s t-shirt is Brooks Blue:
5. Submission instructions
Entrants must complete the official online submission form at the bottom of this page.
Initial submissions may be uploaded as JPG, PNG, or PDF files. Finalists may be asked to provide additional artwork files or information about the design process.
The selected winner must provide production-ready artwork, or cooperate with TCTC and its apparel partner to prepare the design for production.
6. Selection process
Stage 1: Initial review
A committee appointed by TCTC will review eligible submissions and select approximately three to five finalists.
Designs will be evaluated using the following criteria:
Connection to Bayshore and its 45th anniversary
Creativity and originality
Visual appeal and overall design
Suitability for production on a race shirt
Stage 2: Community voting
Finalist designs will be displayed on the official Bayshore website and social media for public voting.
Voting will be open for approximately four days. Individuals may cast one vote during the voting period. TCTC may use reasonable measures to identify and exclude duplicate or fraudulent votes.
Stage 3: Final selection
The TCTC judging committee will incorporate public voting into final selection criteria. TCTC will select the winning design using the published criteria and results. All selections are subject to eligibility verification, originality review, and confirmation that the artwork can be produced.
If the highest-ranked design cannot be used for legitimate eligibility, rights, or production reasons, TCTC may select another finalist. TCTC may decline to award a prize if no eligible submission meets the published requirements.
7. Prize
The winning designer will receive:
Two complimentary entries into an eligible 2027 Bayshore event, subject to event registration and participation requirements.
A gift basket from Cherry Republic Traverse City.
A pair of Brooks running shoes, official Bayshore beanie, and a $100 Playmakers gift card.
Recognition on the Bayshore website and social media as the official 2027 Bayshore T-shirt designer.
If a design is created collaboratively, the submitting entrant is responsible for arranging any division of the prize and obtaining all necessary permissions from collaborators.
8. Artwork ownership and usage
Entrants retain ownership of their original artwork unless a separate agreement is executed.
By submitting an entry, entrants grant TCTC a nonexclusive, royalty-free license to display, reproduce, and share their submitted design solely for administering, judging, and promoting this contest, including public finalist voting and winner announcements, with appropriate artist credit when practicable.
This limited license does not authorize TCTC to commercially manufacture or sell products featuring nonwinning designs.
As a condition of receiving the grand prize, the selected winner must enter into a separate written artwork rights agreement with TCTC. That agreement will grant TCTC the rights necessary to reproduce, modify, distribute, and use the winning artwork in connection with Bayshore, including participant shirts, promotional materials, and related merchandise. The agreement will also address production modifications, artist attribution, and permitted future uses.
If the selected winner declines to enter into the required agreement, TCTC may select another eligible finalist.
9. Design modifications
The winning design may require adjustments to meet apparel production specifications, including changes to colors, size, placement, typography, or other technical elements.
TCTC will make reasonable efforts to collaborate with the winning artist on modifications.
TCTC retains final approval over the finished shirt design, including any additional race logos, sponsor recognition, or other required elements.
10. Originality and intellectual property
By entering, participants represent that:
They created the submitted artwork and have the necessary rights to submit it.
The design does not knowingly infringe another person's intellectual property rights.
They have permission to use any third-party elements included in the design.
The design has not been previously sold or licensed in a manner that would conflict with the rights required by this contest.
The design complies with the contest's generative AI restrictions.
TCTC may request reasonable documentation of originality or authorship.
11. Winner notification
The selected winner will be contacted using the email address provided with the submission.
The winner must respond within seven calendar days and complete any required eligibility, tax, and artwork rights documentation within the timeframe provided by TCTC.
If the winner cannot be reached or does not complete the required documentation, TCTC may select an alternate finalist.
12. Additional conditions
TCTC reserves the right to disqualify submissions that violate the published rules, contain fraudulent information, or infringe the rights of others.
TCTC may suspend, modify, or cancel the contest if circumstances beyond its reasonable control materially compromise the integrity or administration of the contest, subject to applicable law.
Decisions regarding eligibility, judging, and production will be made in accordance with these rules.
Participation in the contest does not guarantee selection, public display, or use of a submitted design.
13. Privacy
Personal information collected through the submission process will be used to administer the contest, communicate with entrants, verify eligibility, and award the prize.
The names and submitted artwork of finalists may be published as part of the voting process. Additional personal information will not be publicly shared without permission.
14. Acceptance of rules
By submitting an entry, participants acknowledge that they have read and agree to these Official Contest Rules.
Questions? Contact shirt@bayshoremarathon.org
This contest is administered by the Traverse City Track Club and is not sponsored, endorsed, or administered by any social media platform used to promote it.