Running with the King 5k

Le Bonheur Pumpkin Run

Tupelo, MS

October 10, 2026

Jessie Knight went for a routine ultrasound when she was 20 weeks pregnant. Jessie and her husband, Cory, were excited to see their growing baby but instead they received unexpected news: their baby had several severe medical conditions.

The Knights were referred to a specialist who told them their baby would have major spinal, abdominal and neurological defects. After Katy Mae was born, she was diagnosed with cloacal exstrophy ─ a rare and severe birth defect that caused her organs to develop outside the abdomen. She was also diagnosed with spina bifida, a club foot and hip dysplasia.

The Knights turned to Le Bonheur for treatment.

At Le Bonheur, Katy Mae received care from an orthopedic surgeon and urologist. She has undergone 25 surgeries on her legs, feet, hips, spine and abdomen. While being in the hospital can be scary, according to Jessie, everyone at Le Bonheur, from doctors and nurses to respiratory therapists and Child Life specialists, makes Katy Mae and her family feel well cared for and heard.

Katy Mae is also able to receive care closer to her Mississippi home at the Le Bonheur Tupelo Outpatient Center.

“It’s such a blessing to be able to go to the Tupelo clinic and not have to drive more than two hours to Memphis to get a five-minute X-ray,” Jessie said. “We have also been able to get her leg braces fit there. This has made a huge difference for our family and enables us to spend more time with our other two children.”

Today, 18-year-old Katy Mae is thriving. She is walking, a milestone her family was unsure if she would reach. Katy Mae also recently achieved a monumental goal by graduating high school with her class.

The Knight family is so thankful for Le Bonheur Children's. When you participate in this year’s Pumpkin Run, you are making a difference for kids like Katy Mae.

Course Description It's year 5 for the Tupelo Trail Shuffle! We will be doing hoodies again for all race participants and if you are one of our few 5 year finishers we'll have a really special treat for you! It will be held November 21st in the beautiful and serene Trace State Park located at 2139 Faulkner Road, Belden, MS, 38826. There will be a 10K and a 20K option. The race will take place on mostly single track trails that meander through beautiful hardwood timber and old growth pines that partially run along the Trace State Lake. It’s the most beautiful time of the year to be in the woods in North MS as the first few weeks in November we have peak fall foliage. The course is designed to be fun yet challenging. There are a few rolling hills but don’t expect any big climbs or real technical sections. Roughly 400 ft of elevation gain for the 10K and 900 ft of gain for the 20K. These trails are fun, fast, and flowy! Our purpose in creating this event is to showcase the natural beauty of

our local state parks (check out Tombigbee too while you’re in town) and introduce folks to the wonderful trail community and the gorgeous running, hiking, and biking trails in North Mississippi. Race Day Info Race day registration:There will be race day registration from 6:00am - 7:30am. Race shirt not guaranteed if signing up after 11/8 end of day. Packet pick-up:Friday 11/20 from 3-6 PM at Core Cycle & Outdoor (1697 Coley Road, Tupelo, MS 38801). Race day packet pick-up from 6:00am - 7:30am at Trace State Park (2139 Faulkner Road, Belden, MS, 38826)Packets not picked up on race day are considered forfeited and will NOT be mailed or available after race day. Start location/directions:Once you enter the park and go through the gates you will go left and follow the signs. Start times: 20K will begin at 8:00 and 10K will start at 8:15. Cutoffs:There will be a 4-hr. cutoff for both the 10K and 20k so if someone wants to hike the 10K they could easily do it and still beat the cutoff.Aid

Stations:We will have aid stations around the 4- and 9-mile mark. Aid stations will consist of typical trail race fare with chips, cookies, fruit, water, and electrolytes. In an effort to reduce waste and littering, we encourage participants to bring their own reusable cup or water bottle. Aid stations will be at approximately miles 4,8,and 10. Pricing $55 for 10K and $65 for 20K. Refund Policy No refunds. About the Event Community and the great outdoors! That’s the driving force behind this event. Tupelo, MS, and the surrounding area of North Mississippi is world renowned for its music, food, literary contributions, and vibrant Southern culture. What many people don’t realize is that we’ve also got some beautiful countryside to explore. This year’s spotlight will be on Trace State Park, one of Mississippi’s beautiful state parks located in Pontotoc County just west of Tupelo. This is a great opportunity to come out and support our wonderful state park and spend time with like-minded

individuals who love and want to protect our natural spaces. A portion of the proceeds for this event will go directly back to the MS State Parks Fund and will help to maintain and improve these areas we all love and cherish. Awards and swag Awards to 1st, 2nd, 3rd place overall male and female for 10K and 20K. All runners will receive a finisher’s medal.Race hoodie or medal not guaranteed for participants signing up after 11/8/2026. Post race There will be drinks and light refreshments. We have a vendor who will provide adult refreshments. Sponsors Title Sponsors: MasterCraft Builders, Geno’s Tire ProsOther sponsors: Trails & Treads, CORE Outdoors, Hillary's Salon, Ford Physical Therapy, PLLC, Apex Fitness, TrainHer Fitness, Property Works Tupelo Beverage Sponsors: Mitchell Distributing & Coca Cola Bottling Tupelo Lodging Tent camping, RV camp sites, and cabins are available for rent at the park, but they go quickly so you’ll need to make arrangements soon. Also, there are plenty of hotels

and AirBnBs in and around the Tupelo area. Event's current local time: 3:40 AM CT