War Within Challenge: Honoring Anthony Salem

The Run to the Beach 5K and One-Mile Easter Eggs Scramble on April 11, 2026, features beautiful courses that loop around Portage Lakes State Park.

Great swag! Finisher medals for ALL 5K runners and walkers.

The Run to the Beach 5K and 1-Mile Easter Egg Scramble is set to take participants for a mostly flat and fast run or walk along the lakeshore of Portage Lakes State Park, where more than 2000 acres of lakes, camping sites and hiking trails make it a popular recreation spot for boating and fishing here in northeastern Ohio.

Both races start in the parking lot near the beach area with a mix of road and trails and end on the sand on the beach.

Entrants will also receive a tech tshirt in the 5K, food and a goodie bag.

The event benefits the Portage Lakes Advisory Council. Become a race sponsor or donate to our organization by going to our fundraising page HERE. Donations can also be made through the registration process.

Location/Schedule

Portage Lakes State Park (5031 Manchester Road, Akron, Ohio 44319)

7:30 AM - Packet Pickup Begins

8:30 AM - 1-Mile Easter Egg Scramble Starts

9:00 AM - 5K Run & Competitive Walk Starts

1-Mile Easter Egg Scramble

• A one-mile race, with Easter eggs along the course. Participants finish on the beach!

• The Easter eggs then can be redeemed for prizes after the race. Parents of children running may run with their child for no additional charge.

• Participants receive a cotton shirt.

• Awards to the Top 3 Overall Males and Females.

5K Run

• Finishers receive a very unique finisher medal!

• Participants get a technical t-shirt.

• Awards to Top 5 Overall Males and Females.

• Additional awards to Top 3 in Age Categories: 11 & Under, 12-15, 16-19, 20-24, 25-29, 30-34, 35-39, 40-44, 45-49, 50-54, 55-59, 60-64, 65-69, 70 & Over.

5K Competitive Walk

• All participants must walk the entire event, no running/jogging!

• Finishers receive a very unique medal.

• Participants will get a technical t-shirt.

• Awards to Top 5 Overall Male and Female.

Team Challenge

Largest team wins no matter the time or event!

Winning team will enjoy a team prize. The team leader will be given details of the team prize.

Gather up everyone you know to be on your team. Participants can do either the 5K, 1-Mile, or the Virtual Run/Walk. Each team member signs up individually for their event and can create/join a team when registering for the event. Get your friends and/or co-works together, come up with a unique team name, and come on out! Team members must cross the finish line at the race to count! Virtual members must turn in their completion of event by Friday, May 2nd, at 5:00pm.

Your team leader should create the team and then you can choose it from the dropdown list of existing teams so that no spelling errors occur!

Join us for the 2026 Race Judicata on Tuesday, April 21, 2026, at 5:00pm from the University of Akron School of Law. All proceeds benefit the Akron Bar Foundation that provides scholarships and law related grants.

Course: The course is on the University of Akron Campus.

Awards: Top Male and Female Finishers in the following categories: Top Overall and Top Age Groups: 24 and under, 25-34, 35-44, 45-54, 55-64, 65-74, 75+, and Tortoise (last to cross)

Law Student Team Competition - Join your class members and compete as a team! Time to race for bragging rights!

Join us on April 25, 2026 for the Puzzle Dash 5K at Columbia Woods Park!, a fun-filled run supporting autism awareness and benefiting Kids First, Tops School! Lace up, dash for a cause, and help make a difference for children and families in our community. 💙🧩 The race/walk will take participants on a scenic route from Columbia Woods to Norton City High School and back. For children with disabilities or those looking for a fun stroll through the park, a smaller, accessible path within Columbia Woods will host a separate race.

All runners and walkers will receive race medals, t-shirts, water, and bananas. The 5K will receive race numbers and trackers so family and friends can track their progress.

🏁 Puzzle Dash 5K Race Day Schedule

Friday, April 24, 2026:

Columbia Woods Pavilion

8:00 AM-6:00 PM - Pre-race packet pickup

Saturday, April 25, 2026:

7:30 AM – Race Day Sign-Ups & Packet Pick-Up Opens

8:30 AM - Kids Fun Run

8:45 AM – Pre-Race Announcements

8:55 AM – National Anthem

9:00 AM – 5K Race Start!

9:45 AM – Post-Race Refreshments & Fun Zone Open

10:15 AM – Awards Ceremony

10:45 AM – Community Fun & Wrap-Up

Event Highlights:

-Vendors will be set up throughout Columbia Woods

---Food and Drink

---Petting Zoo

---bouncy house

-50/50 and Potential Raffle Baskets

-Halfway Water Station provided by Aaron Greene.

-Entertainment includes DJ Abner Santiago

---John Dugos, our Official Photographer

T-Shirts:

We offer the following shirt sizes Youth Small-Large, Women X-Small-2X-Large, & Men Small-2X-Large. We also offer a no shirt option for a $5 discount. To be guaranteed a shirt size please register by April 3. Limited selection will be available after!

Awards:

5K:

Top 3 - Overall Female & Male

Top 1 - Female & Male in the following age groups 14 & Under, 15-19, 20-29, 30-39, 40-49, 50-59, 60-69, & 70+

Volunteer Support:

-Athletico: Pre-race stretching tent & support on the smaller track

-Race Penguin staff

Safety & Support:

-Norton City Police: Road security

-Norton City Fire Department: First aid support

Promotion & Media:

-Social Media

-WEOL Wadsworth Radio Station will provide on-air advertisements

Giving Back:

All proceeds from Race Penguin will go to Kids First Tops Copley. For more information please visit their website at https://www.summitesc.org/AboutUs1.aspx.

We are actively seeking major donors to help make this event a success and support our community goals.

Thank you for supporting the Puzzle Dash 5K!

The Connect 5K Run for Youth Missions is a fundraising event that supports the youth of Connect Church in Akron, OH. Our high school and middle school students will serving their local Akron community this summer through partnership with local organizations! Our own backyard matters to God and also matters to us. Additionally, students will be going to camp to develop their faith and community with one another. Every step you run and dollar you donate helps get them that much closer to having a life-changing summer they will never forget.

This is also a great course for running on hills!

Clocktower is back for year 6!!!! This is a fast out and back course that will start at Coventry High School, take you down Portage Lakes Drive, almost to the Clocktower, a quick jaunt through a neighborhood, and then back down to the high school. There will be prizes, awards, awesome medals, and most importantly; FUN!!! This race supports the Coventry Cross Country Team and the proceeds from this race will help send them to XC camp this summer and will buy them new shoes and spikes this fall! We will have a fastest stroller and fastest dog category!!! We will also host a 1 mile fun run on the road immediately following the 5k.