2026 Annual Optimist 5K Walk/Run (All Ages!) Bringing Out the Best in Kids!

Who We Are: Healthy Kids Running Series is a five (5) week running program in the spring and fall for kids Pre-K through 8th grade. Each HKRS Series takes place once a week and offers age-appropriate running events including the 50 & 75 yard dashes, the 1/4 mile, the 1/2 mile and the 1 mile run. Kids will earn points for each race they complete based on their finish.

Pricing: The registration fee covers the entire five (5) weeks of the Series which includes race bibs for each week, a runner shirt, a finisher medal and any sponsor giveaways. Registration is non-refundable and non-transferable. Online Early Bird registration increases three weeks prior to the first race event.

Challenger: This Series offers a Challenger Division which is an adaptive 75 yard race for children with disabilities and/or special needs. This allows for parents, siblings, and friends to be on the course with runners to provide support as well as bringing their own supportive devices such as crutches, braces, wheelchairs, etc. to be used by runners.

Single Day Racing: Single day race registration opens one hour prior to the start of each race. The registration fee covers one single race to be run on the day of registration. ALL single day registrations should be completed onsite at the race location. Single day racers will have the option to upgrade to the full series (see tab on the left side of the page for instructions). There is a strict no-refund and no-transfer policy.

Awards: All participants receive a medal on Week 5! Trophies will be awarded to the overall top finishers in each of the divisions listed below (broken out by boys and girls respectively):

Kindergarten & 1st Grade

2nd & 3rd Grade

4th & 5th Grade

6th to 8th Grade

Challenger

Share your running photos with our community! Find us on Facebook @HealthyKidsRunning or Instagram @healthykidsrs!

#GetUpandGo

Get ready to move, groove, and feel the Vibe of Valley View Middle School!

This community 5K run/walk is all about bringing people together for a day of fun, fitness, and to share the Vibe of our community.

What is the VVMS Vibe?

At Valley View Middle School, the Vibe is more than just energy—it’s a movement. It’s a commitment to love up and level up, fostering a school culture that is inclusive, connected, and focused on personal and collective growth.

The Valley View Vibe is rooted in community, respect, and excellence. We believe in the power of all of us helping all of us, where students, staff, parents, and caregivers work together to create an environment that is both supportive and challenging. We embrace accountability, celebrate diversity, and encourage curiosity, knowing that education is about more than just academics—it's about becoming the best versions of ourselves.

Our Vibe means that we:

Your favorite things all in one place: running and donuts! Whether you are a runner, a walker, or a donut-enthusiast, this is the event for you! We are excited for our 12th annual Donut Dash 5K and Mini-Donut Dash ½ Mile for Kids, with the course leaving and finishing at Eagle Ridge Academy in Minnetonka This route is an accurately measured 5K course, is chip- and mat-timed, and takes you on a picturesque run or walk, just north of Bren Road. There will be complimentary chair massages and rock tape applications, DJ music, giveaways, fun youth activities and obstacle course, post-race refreshments and snacks, and mini-donuts! 5K finishers will receive a free Chick-fil-A meal. Fun for all ages!

New this year: Purchase your signature Donut Dash 5K sticker decal (3"x2") to proudly display on your water bottle. Add it on at check-out.

All 5K registrants will receive a commemorative 2026 Donut Dash tech shirt (tri-blend), post-race refreshments and snacks, and DONUTS. Mini-dashers will receive a 2026 Donut Dash shirt (50/50% poly/cotton), participation medal, and bag of mini-donuts.

To view ROUTE: https://www.eagleridgeacademy.org/page/donut-dash

To view photo gallery from 2025 Donut Dash: https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.1513004443053207&type=3

Never done a 5K? There are apps out there to help you out work your way up to a 5K: Endomondo, Runkeeper, Runtastic, Nike+ Run Club, Map My Run, Zombies, Run!

Proceeds will benefit Eagle Ridge Academy, offering a time-tested, Classical Liberal Arts education to students in grades K-12.

5K Pricing*:

$35 Student and Alumni 5K (through May 6)

$40 Student and Alumni 5K (Same Day Registration: May 9)

$40 Adult 5K Registration (through April 2)

$45 Adult 5K Registration (April 3 - May 8)

$50 Adult 5K Registration (Same Day Registration: May 9)

Kids Mini Donut Dash 1/2 Mile Pricing*:

(Kids 10 and younger)

$20 Mini-Donut Dash Pricing (through April 2)

$25 Mini-Donut Dash (April 3 through May 10)

Online Registration Ends 5/6/2025 at 9 p.m.

All registrations are non-refundable.

To register via mail with cash or check (written to FERA), please visit https://www.eagleridgeacademy.org/page/donut-dash to download the registration brochure, and return with your payment to Eagle Ridge Academy.

Packet pick-up is on Friday, May 8 from 3:30 - 6:30 p.m. at Eagle Ridge Academy, 11111 Bren Rd. W, Minnetonka, MN, or on race day, May 9, starting at 7:15 a.m.

Not interested in running? Consider volunteering! We need more than 100 volunteers to make this event run smoothly. Sign up will be available in late January.

*Please note that the shirt order will go in on 4/3/2026 so registrations after 4/2/2026 are not guaranteed a shirt (or a shirt in their preferred size.) We will do our best to accommodate requests based on limited overages ordered.

If you do not wish to run but would like to make a 100 percent tax-deductible donation to Friends of Eagle Ridge Academy to help support student enrichment and Classical Education, please click here.

Friends of Eagle Ridge Academy, a 501(c)(3) foundation, exists to solely support and sustain the future of Eagle Ridge Academy.

On Sunday, June 28, 2026 Bloomington, MN will host the co-ed format for the Midwest Twin Cities Half Marathon Series Event for the 2026 racing season. Each event will offer a Half Marathon, 10K & 5K, and our Kids One Mile Fun Run, finishing in the family-friendly atmosphere of Normandale Lake Park in the heart of Bloomington, Minnesota. Join us for this Midwest Half Marathon Series Event Presented by Hellmuth & Johnson.

Our Half Marathon Series Event is produced by Premier Event Management in conjunction with our host community partner of Bloomington, Minnesota. Our Kids One Mile Fun Run will start and finish from our main finish line structure making the Kids event something extra special on race morning. Children from ages 5 to 15 are encouraged to join us on race morning to begin a lifestyle change at our Kids One Mile Fun Run!