North Jersey Pop Warner Memorial Day 5K Run/Walk

Join us for the 4th Annual Kean University Founders 5K to celebrate Kean University's inception in 1855!

Sunday, April 12th, 2026

Check in: 7:30am

Race Start: 9:00am

Location: Campus Course, North Avenue Entrance

1000 Morris Ave, Union, NJ 07083

Course Description: Flat & paved 2 loop course

Packet Pickup:

Skip the check in line on Sunday morning! All runners and walkers can pick up their race shirt and bib on Saturday 4/11 from 10:00am-2:00pm in Kean's North Avenue Academic Building Lobby (Google Maps)!

USATF Certified: 26-07-161984

Age Groups:

14 and Under

15 to 19

20 to 24

25 to 29

30 to 34

35 to 39

40 to 44

45 to 49

50 to 54

55 to 59

60 to 64

65 to 69

70 to 74

75 to 79

80 and Over

On Saturday, April 18, 2026 St. Joseph will celebrate our 40th Anniversary and the 40th consecutive year of our Soup Kitchen program with a community walk from The Parish Community of St. Helen in Westfield, NJ to St. Joseph Social Service Center in Elizabeth, NJ. The Camino de St. Joseph is modeled after the European pilgrimage Camino de Santiago and there are several ways to participate in the event.

Ways to Participate

Pray with Us

Join us for Mass at The Parish Community of St. Helen, 1600 Rahway Ave, Westfield, NJ 07090

Time: 9:00 A.M.

Walk with Us

There are 3 options to join the walk:

• 9-mile walk: This option is the full walk and begins at The Parish Community of St. Helen in Westfield. This option may take approximately 3.5 - 4 hours with stops at St. John the Apostle in Clark and Warinano Sports Center in Roselle. Check-in for the 9-mile walk begins at 9:15AM. *If you will be joining Mass and joining the 9-mile walk, please feel free to check-in for the walk at 8:30AM.

• 6-mile walk: This option allows participants to join the walk at St. John's and it may take 2.5 hours. Check-in for the 6-mile begins at 10:30AM.

• 3-mile walk: This option allows participants to join the walk at Warinanco Sports Center which will take approximately 1 hour and 15 minutes. Check-in for the 3-mile walk begins at 11:15AM.

Break Bread with Us

Location: St. Joseph Social Service Center, 118 Division St. Elizabeth

Time: approximately 2:00 P.M. - 3:00 P.M.

Donate Food

Each starting point will also serve as a food donation site if you are interested in donating non-perishable food items. Currently, our urgent needs include 1 lb bags of rice, boxed pasta, plastic jars of pasta sauce, assorted boxed cereal, canned and dry black beans, and shelf-stable milk.

Donate Funds

Please consider making a monetary donation to support our work. You can donate via RunSignUp at the top right of this page, visit our website at https://www.sjeliz.org/donate-online.html, or mail a check to St. Joseph Social Service Center 118 Division St. Elizabeth NJ 07201.

The Camino de St. Joseph represents more than a path. It represents a journey of hope, stability, and community. When you give, you walk with families facing hardship. You help place food on tables, provide warm clothing, assist with life-saving medications, and connect individuals to vital social services. Every gift, at every level, strengthens this path. Thank you for always supporting St. Joseph Social Service Center's mission.

Saturday, April 25, 2026

8K Road Race | 1.5 Mile Run/Walk | Liz Kid's Run

The ELIZABETH 8K is a family-friendly event with a competitive edge, held each spring in Charlotte, NC. Celebrating its 40th anniversary, the race has become a beloved local tradition, drawing more than 1,300 runners in recent years to experience one of the city’s oldest and most beautiful neighborhoods.

Starting and finishing just off Elizabeth Avenue, the course winds through the historic, tree-lined streets that make this event a Charlotte favorite. Whether you’re chasing a personal best or just out for a good time, there’s something for everyone:

An 8K timed race: Whether you’re a competitive runner going for some of the best awards in Charlotte or a casual runner looking to enjoy a scenic course, this timed event offers a fantastic tour of the Elizabeth neighborhood’s residential and commercial streets.

A 1.5M untimed run/walk: Great for casual participants and young competitive runners alike—walk with friends, jog with your kids, or let the next generation test their speed on a fun, approachable course through the neighborhood.

The Liz Kids’ Fun Run: A free, ~50-yard dash for children six and under. This fan and parent favorite is the perfect way for the little ones to join the excitement—no registration needed, just show up ready to run!

SPONSORS. We’re deeply grateful to our local, regional, and national sponsors whose support makes the Elizabeth 8K possible. Their generosity not only brings this event to life but enhances the experience for every participant. We encourage everyone to thank them by supporting their businesses throughout the year.

BENEFICIARIES. Proceeds benefit the beautification of the Elizabeth Community Association, and TreesCharlotte, a public/private nonprofit dedicated to growing, diversifying, and stewarding Charlotte’s iconic urban forest.

The Strides For Scholars point-to-point, downhill course is the fastest 5K in Connecticut. Set a new PR!

Registration and Packet Pickup starts at 7:30 AM and takes place at the Union Elementary School,18 Kinney Hollow RD, Union, CT. This year, the 5K Run or Walk will also take place at Union School, going off at 9:00 AM. There is plenty of parking on site.

The race will start at the school and proceed down Kinney Hollow Rd for 3.1 miles through the scenic Yale Forest. There will be a shuttle bus at the finish line to transport runners back to the school. This a among the fastest 5K courses in the state, perfect for a PB.

T-shirts for the first 100 runners/walkers registered by April 1st, 2026.

Proceeds from this race go to the Union School Association Scholarship Foundation. Since the first scholarship was awarded in 1995, scholarships have been awarded annually to graduating high school seniors. Donations to the USASF can be made directly to the scholarship fund via RunSignUp.

We’re thrilled to introduce an all-new, adrenaline-packed race experience coming to Staten Island — Freshkills Park Presents: The Shaolin Showdown on Sunday, April 26, 2026!

This event brings together trail runners and mountain bikers for a one-of-a-kind challenge in one of New York’s most scenic natural spaces!

🔥 Why You’ll Love The Shaolin Showdown

Scenic course at Freshkills Park — a beautiful, rugged park space on Staten Island.

Multiple ways to compete:

• 5-Mile Run — perfect for runners looking for distance and dirt trails.

• Duathlon (Run + Mountain Bike Loop) — test your endurance and bike skills.

• Mountain Bike Races — choose from multiple distances for all skill levels.

Unique combined timing competition where run + bike performance counts toward special prizes.

🎯 Early Bird Pricing Is Happening Now!

Sign up before March 1 at 11:59 PM EST to lock in the lowest rates for the 5-Mile Run and other race categories.

Whether you’re chasing a personal best, competing with friends, or just looking for a new challenge this spring — join us at Freshkills Park for the inaugural Shaolin Showdown!

See you at the start line!

To join the Duathlon or just the bike race click here: www.Bikereg.com