Run For Compassion 5K

JOIN US!! For the 2nd Annual Running of the “Elevating Autism 5K & 1M Fun Run/Walk”

Saturday, April 18, 2026

Sam Smith Park, Cartersville, GA

Presented by 'Academy ABA'

9:00am 5K

9:50am 1Mi. Fun Run/Walk

10:15am Awards Presentation

ACT NOW AND SAVE $$$ on the 5K!

5K Early Bird pricing* runs through Sunday March 1st. Price increases beginning Monday, March 2nd!

Get ready to join us once again at Sam Smith Park in Cartersville, GA for this USATF-Certified Race! This important event is not just about running and/or walking; it’s an effort to heighten awareness for folks in our very own communities who have Autism--both youth and adults--but are often misunderstood. Unless you are a parent of one with Autism, you might not know many of the facts. This race is to help us help them.

Q. What is 'Boost Abilities, LLC'??

A. While we are still relatively small for now, we intend to grow so that we can elevate autism awareness in our community to help everyone see the world from a different angle. Our mission is to help educate communities about autism, allowing everyone to begin thinking outside the box...this means connecting, sharing life experiences, and partnering parents with community leaders, all done for the safety of each of our members on the spectrum. With your help, we CAN DO it.

Whether you're a front-o-the-packer or pushing that kiddie stroller casually at the back, we invite you to come out to a lovely April race and see if it might just change you. We think it will!!! Register early to secure your spot, and even save some dough if you register in February. Either way, just grab a few of your friends and family members, and let’s have some FUN together!

WANT TO VOLUNTEER?? Contact Race Director Mandy Beavers: mandyjune0953@gmail.com

The 5K course is a USATF-certified and is a qualifying event for the 2025 AJC Peachtree Road Race.

RACE SCHEDULE:

7:30am Race Day Registration opens

8:45am Race Day Registration closes

9:00am 5K

9:50am 1 Mi. Fun Run/Walk

10:15am Awards Ceremony

REGISTRATION INFO: Pre-Race, on-line Registration will be open until 11:59 PM, Sunday, April 12th, 2026. (Pre-register by this date to guarantee your T-shirt size!)

• Pre-race Race Registration Fees:

• 5K "EARLY BIRD RATE" is $25 until March 1st...after that, it's $30

Race Day Rates:

• $40 for the 5K

• $30 for the 1Mi.

(Note: Wish we could, but we cannot absolutely guarantee your T-Shirt Size if you register on Race Day!)

PRE-RACE PACKET PICKUP & RACE SHIRTS: PRE-RACE PACKET PICKUP & RACE SHIRTS: For those who have pre-registered, we highly-encourage you to pick up your race packet & t-shirt Friday, April 17th from 12:00 Noon – 8:00 PM at the Big Peach Running Co. store located at 402 E Church St Suite 107 & 108, Cartersville, GA 30121). Saves time & stress on race morning! 5K & 1M participants receive a shirt based on size indicated in their online registration. Size exchanges not guaranteed.

MISCELLANEOUS ITEMS:

Restrooms – Available in the area before/after race

Water Stations – Water will be provided at a mid-point water station on course

Finish Area - Water, Gatorade, Fruit, & Snacks (free to runners)

5K AWARDS:

Overall awards in the 5K will be presented to the following:

Top 3 Overall M&F

Top Master M&F

Top 3 in each of the following Age Categories M&F:

10 & under, 11-14, 15-19, 20-24, 25-29, 30-34, 35-39, 40-44, 45-49, 50-54, 55-59, 60-64, 65-69, 70 & Over

NOTE: The '1 mILE fUN rUN' is mostly just for fun...BUT...we will present medals to the first 3 Boys and first 3 Girls who finish the race.

PARKING on RACE DAY: There is plenty of FREE parking available at the Ric Mason Soccer Complex parking lot, behind Cartersville Middle School.

CANCELATION / WEATHER / REFUNDS: This event will be held rain or shine, warm or cold weather unless event organizers determine in conjunction with local authorities that conditions necessitate cancelation. If cancelation is necessary, no credits or refunds will be provided and registered participants for the 5K/1M distances will be transferred to the rescheduled date.

Please join us for the 7th Annual “Wag & Walk” 5K to benefit the Etowah Valley Humane Society!! SATURDAY MORNING - May 2nd. 2026! Sam Smith Park - Cartersville, GA – 8:00 AM Race Time! Come enjoy this fast and beautiful course that rounds the Milam Farm property and it's all for a great cause to benefit the EVHS! Dogs are (of course!) welcome to run with you (some would even say they are "encouraged" to do so!!) But as always, please keep your furry friends on a leash.

Registration: $30 Pre-Race Registration Fee (Runs until 11:00 PM, Monday evening, April 27th 2026. You must register by this date to guarantee your T-shirt size and lock in at the reduced rate!) $40 Race Day Registration Rate.

Race Start-Finish & Race Day Parking.

*Both the Start and Finish Line(s) will be located at the entrance to the Sam Smith Soccer Complex, behind Carterville Middle School (off Milner Road just past the intersection of Milner Rd. and Walnut Grove Rd.) There is PLENTY of Event Parking within the Cartersville Soccer Complex parking lot off Milner Rd. Click here for Google Maps' location of Parking: Cartersville Soccer Complex. Cartersville Soccer Complex

Race Route:

See 5K Map of the Route Below. NOTE: This is a Peachtree Qualifier and is a USATF-Certified 5K Course [GA18023WC].

Race Day Schedule of Events:

*7:00 AM Race Day Registration Opens

*7:55 AM Pre-Race Announcements

*8:00 AM Wag & Walk 5K Start Time

*9:15 AM Race Awards Presentation

Pre-Race Packet Pick-up for those pre-registered:

Pre-Race Packet Pick-up will be held Friday, May 1st from 10 AM – 6 PM at the Big Peach Running Co. Cartersville Location – 402 E. Church St., Suite 107, Cartersville, GA 30121.

Awards:

Awards will be given to the following:

*Top 3 Overall Male and Top 3 Overall Female Winners

*Top Masters Male and Top Masters Female Winners

*Top 3 Male & Female in the following Age Categories: 10-Under, 11-14, 15-19, 20-24, 25-29, 30-34, 35-39, 40-44, 45-49, 50-54, 55-59, 60-64, 65-69, 70 & Over

We Do hope you (and maybe your 4-legged friend!) will join us in support of a GREAT CAUSE!

Please note, this is a rain or shine event.

Cartersville GLOW RUN 5K / 1M / Wire2Wire Wobble®

Saturday, May 2nd, 2026 * Sam Smith Park *

Presented by * Wire2Wire Running, LLC

7:40pm - Wire2Wire Wobble® 50 Yds.

7:45pm - 1M

8:00pm - 5K

Hope you-and-yours can join us for this night of FAMILY FUN in Cartersville, GA.

WEAR YOUR GLOW-ABLES!

• A 'First-5K-Ever-Medal' will be awarded if it's your first one!!

• Enjoy a new USATF-Certified 5K Course (and Peachtree Qualifier) that will meander through Sam Smith Park in a way you've never run before!!

• Stick around for MUSIC, AWARDS, & MORE! Bring the whole gang for this family-oriented event.

• A few Unique Categories: Oldest 5K Finisher; Fastest Veteran, Newest Mom

Proceeds from the race go to benefit Bartow Family Resources.

To learn more about their history, click here: https://bartowfamilies.com/about/

To find out about what they do and whom they serve, check us out at: https://bartowfamilies.com/

EVENING SCHEDULE:

6:15 PM Event Opens (Registration. Music! People having fun.)

7:40PM Wire2Wire-Wobble® ( 50 yd. dash - Ages 4&U) FREE EVENT ♥

7:45PM 1 Mile (Run/Walk....Dance?)

8:00 PM 5K Race

9:15PM Awards Ceremony

REGISTRATION INFO.

Early-Bird Registration - Feb. 26 thru March 17 ...mucho bucks saved here. Nice planning!

5K: $25

1M: $25

Registration - March 18 thru March 31

5K: $30

1M: $30

Registration - April 1 thru April 19

5K: $35

1M: $35

(Race Week & Race-Day) Registration -

April 27th thru May 2nd ...Look, at least you made it! No respect lost.

5K: $40

1M: $40

PLEASE NOTE: T-shirt size can only be GUARANTEED for those who register by April 26th, 11:59pm. (Think, "No soup for YOU!")

LOTS O' AWARDS:

⇒ 5K ⇐

Top 3 Overall - Male & Female

Overall Masters - Male & Female - (40 & Over)

Overall Grand Masters - Male & Female - (50 & Over)

Unique Categories: Oldest 5K Finisher; Fastest Veteran, Newest Mom

Plus, Medals to Top 3 in following Age Groups:

( 10 & under, 11-14, 15-19, 20-24, 25-29, 30-34, 35-39, 40-44, 45-49, 50-54, 55-59, 60-64, 65-69, 70-74, 75-79, 80 & Wiser )

⇒ 1M ⇐

Top 3 Overall - Male & Female

Medals to Top 3 in following Age Groups:

( 8 & under, 9-10, 11-12 )

Free smiles to everyone else.

⇒ Wire2Wire Wobble® ⇐

Claps, cheers, hoorays!!!!

PRE-RACE PACKET PICK-UP:

Pre-Race Packet-Pick-Up will be held Thursday, April 30th from 10:00 AM - 6:00 PM at Big Peach Running Co.

402 East Church St.

Suite 107 & 108

Cartersville, GA 30121

(Tel: 470-888-2987)

PARKING:

Parking available at Cartersville Middle School. Additional overflow parking (requiring only a short walk) is available at Ric Mason soccer fields parking lot (by the Cartersville bus barn), as well as at the Sr. Aquatic Center, and/or Dellinger Park.

TIMING & RESULTS will be provided by Wire2Wire Running, LLC. https://www.wire2wirerunning.com/

This is a Rain-or-Shine event and given the charitable nature of the event, there are no refunds available.

We hope to see you there!

Saturday, May 16, 2026 JOIN US!

5th Annual "Cartersville Half-Marathon"

21st Annual "Pinwheel Pursuit 5K" (formerly the “Duck Dash”)

Presented by Chick-fil-A & Big Peach Running Co.

Proceeds Benefiting Advocates for Children! (www.advochild.org)

• Custom-designed Medals for Half Marathon finishers

• Both races have been designed to be fast

• Traditional Age Group awards for the 5K

PLEASE JOIN US for one of two GREAT Races - on the Same Day! The Cartersville Half-Marathon Presented by Chick-Fil-A & Big Peach Running Co.'s or the 21st Annual Running of the "Pinwheel Pursuit 5K” (formerly the “Duck Dash”) Big Peach Running Co. knows a thing or two about running!...and Chick-Fil-A knows a thing or two about customer satisfaction! So combine the two and you get one of the most amazing road racing days annually in NW Georgia!

This Half-Marathon/5K tandem promises to deliver a first-class running environment that you and your friends will want to be a part of. The 5th Annual running of the Half-Marathon will be combined with the 21st. Annual running of the legendary “Duck Dash” now the “Pinwheel Pursuit 5K” with proceeds from BOTH races going to benefit Advocates for Children! To Learn More about Advocates...(Click Here)

2025 Race Results: https://www.wire2wirerunning.com/051725-cartersville-half-marathon-5k

2024 Race Results: https://www.wire2wirerunning.com/051824-cfabig-peach-half-5k

2023 Race Results: https://www.wire2wirerunning.com/051323-cfabig-peach-half-marathon5k

2022 Race Results: https://www.wire2wirerunning.com/cfabig-peach-half-marathon-5k

Parking:

1.) (RECOMMENDED) Directly Across the Street from Start / Finish Link Locations, in the Crosspoint City Church lot located at 325 Old Mill Rd.

2.) In the Cartersville Elementary School Parking lot located at 340 Old Mill Rd.

*Please note you also MUST enter EITHER lot from the Old Mill Road Entrance as ALL other entrances to each lot will be closed.

For those Parking in the Crosspoint City Church Lot, PLEASE cross Old Mill Rd. where you see the Cartersville Police Department Officer FOR YOUR SAFETY!!!

Pre-Race Packet Pick-up:

Pre-Registration Packet Pick-up will be held Friday, May 15th from 10:00 AM - 6:00 PM at the Big Peach Running Co. in Cartersville, located at 402 E. Church St., Suite 107, Cartersville, GA. More information on Pre-Registration Packet Pick-up will be provided to all runners via email the week prior to the race!

Race Information Recap:

Date: Saturday May 16th, 2026

Location: Georgia Quick Start - Cartersville Campus, located at 315 Etowah Drive, Cartersville, GA 30120 (i.e. The "Old" Cartersville Primary School)

Schedule of Event:

*7:00 AM Chick-Fil-A / Big Peach Half-Marathon Start

*7:10 AM Pinwheel Pursuit 5K Start

*8:20 AM Pinwheel Pursuit 5K Awards Presentation

*9:45 AM Half-Marathon Awards Presentation

[Please Note: For the Half-Marathon, the roads will be controlled for 2.5 hours, at which point the roads will then be opened back up for normal traffic flow.]

Half-Marathon (Rates & Awards):

$75 -- EARLY Pre-Race Registration (until Sunday evening, March 1st, at 11:59 PM)

$95 -- March 2nd. Through May 11th, at 11:59pm (when Pre-Registration ends.)

$115 -- Race Day Registration

Overall Awards given to Top 3 (Female/Male), as well as the Top 3 Masters (Female/Male) finishers.

Additionally, AWESOME custom-designed Medals will be provided for ALL FINISHERS of the Chick-Fil-A / Big Peach Half-Marathon!!

Pinwheel Pursuit 5K (Rates & Awards):

$35 -- Pre-Race Registration (until Sunday evening, March 1st at 11:59 PM)

$40 -- March 2nd through Sunday May 11th, at 11:59 PM (when Pre-Registration ends)

$45 -- Race Day Registration

5K Overall Awards

Top 3 (Female/Male), as well as the Top Masters (Female/Male) finishers.

5K Age Group Categories

Medals to TOP 3 in each of the following age categories:

*10-and-Under,11-14,15-19, 20-24, 25-29, 30-34, 35-39, 40-44, 45-49, 50-54, 55-59, 60-64, 65-69, 70-and-Over

PLEASE NOTE: This is a Rain or Shine event!!! And there is a 2.5 hour time limit for the Half-Marathon

Remember WHY WE'RE DOING THIS IN THE FIRST PLACE...Proceeds from the race go toward preventing and treating child abuse in all its forms through the programs and services that Advocates for Children serves. Please see www.advochild.org for more information and thank you for planning to join us!

9th Annual Wire2Wire Youth Running Camp

[CARTERSVILLE * GA]

June 1-3, 2026 - 8:00 AM - 12:00 PM

Dellinger Park

(100 Pine Grove Rd., Cartersville, GA 30120)

The camp is designed for Rising-3rd...through...Rising-8th Graders

All abilities Welcome!

DISCOUNTS APPLY for 'Repeat Campers' and for 'Multi-Sibling Campers.' To receive the discount code, email us at racecalendar@wire2wirerunning.com

CAMP INCLUDES

• Daily Instruction

• Camp T-Shirt

• Running Gear

• Lunch & Fluids Daily

FACILITIES AVAILABLE DURING CAMP

• Dellinger Park's trail system

• 400m. track

• Sheltered pavilions

PAST GUEST SPEAKERS

• Jay Stephenson (all-American, 14:09 5K PR, Founder GoGo Running)

• Sherry Spinks (Masters National Champion, former Woodland M.S. coach)

• David Bishop (Legendary Coach, collegiate all-American, running streak of 20+ years)

• Dr. Tim Ryan (1:53 800m. runner from Syracuse)

• Bill Archer (4:32 mile as a Junior & 4-time XC County Champion )

• Abby Forristall (Top HS multisport athlete and motivator)

• Parker Breedlove (Varsity runner for Reinhardt College and rising star)

• Dr. Joell Hathaway (AMAZING Nutritional Knowledge!)

• Dr. Lance Berry (Podiatrist and Boston Marathon qualifier)

• Ricky Silver (3-time all-American, 30:25 10K PR)

• Susie Lackey (70 yr. old legend who has run for over 50 years)

A TYPICAL DAY AT RUNNING CAMP, W2W-STYLE

8:00am--8:15am Registration/Check-in

8:15am--8:45am ‘Stretch-ture’ (Stretching/Lecture)

8:45am--9:30am Run/Workout 'A' + Hydro-challenge

9:30am--10:00am Learning Session #1 (& Snack)

10:00am--10:30am Fun, Sun, Run, and Games

10:30am--10:45am Guest Speaker

10:45am--11:15am Run/Workout 'B' + Hydro-challenge

11:15am--11:45pm Fun, Sun, Run, & Games

12:00pm Pick-up!

EXAMPLES OF PAST STRETCH-TURE LESSONS

• The differences between Static & Dynamic stretching

• 5 Mistakes runners often make

• Principles of Track & Field

• 5 Tips to Tone-up

• The 3 biggest Keys to Training

• 5 Things all Champions do

• 5 Great Women in the sport of Running

MEET THE WIRE2WIRE CAMP DIRECTORS

• Coach David Matherne

• Cartersville HS coach for 34 years including 4 State XC Championships

• Coached 9 Individual state champions in Track and XC

• Individual National Champion in Masters 5K and Mile--both Indoor & Outdoor; P.R. of 4:02

• In 2022, Ranked #1 in the World for the Mile, (Masters 55-59 age group)

• 5-time collegiate all-American in 1,500m.

• Coach Matt Terry

• Cartersville HS coach for 15 years (Track & XC)

• Florida State University scholarship athlete in Track & Field (400M and High Jump)

• Personal Bests of 47.9 for the 400m. and high jumped 6'10"

• Race Director for Duck Dash 5K, the longest-running 5K in Cartersville (21th annual)

HEY KIDS, IT'S GOING TO BE A GREAT CAMP, SO LET'S GET READY TO HAVE SOME FUN...SUN...and RUN !

Find out more about Wire2Wire's Charity by clicking this link: "SHOES FOR KIDS"