Little Backyard Adventure

Stride for Sight

Olympia Host Lions Club is hosting the second annual "Stride for Sight." This event offers 5k, 10k, and 1-mile options that are open to all ages and abilities. Course begins at Horizons Elementary and continues onto the Chehalis Western Trail. Our 5k and 10k courses are USATF Certified. Walkers, runners, and wheelchair rollers, are all welcome. Strollers allowed for 1-mile run option only. Trained service animals welcome. Please, no pets. 100% of Stride for Sight proceeds benefit the Lions Low Vision Resource Center in Olympia, WA.

Registration Fees (5k/10k):

• Register by March 31 - $35*

• Beginning April 1 - $40

*Register by March 31 to guarantee T-shirt in your size

Family Freebie (1-mile):

• 1-mile course

• Fun prizes for the kids

• T-shirt not included

• T-shirt purchase is available for $10

Donations Welcome!

Your donations are tax deductible through the Olympia Host Lions Club Foundation.

Organization participation

We would love to have your organization participate. You can volunteer, sponsor, or send a team of runners to represent you! Message us for more info at strideforsight@gmail.com.

Blind or low vision teams and individuals

Blind and visually impaired individuals and teams are welcome and there are no registration fees for guides.

Interested in learning more about being a guide?

United in Stride is a fantastic free resource for supporting blind and visually impaired walkers, runners, and wheelchair rollers.

2026 marks the 50th Anniversary of the Olympia Lakefair Races, which include the Jerry Miller Half Marathon, an 8K and a 3K including free entry for Kids 14 and under; taking runners on routes that circle around the town of Olympia and beyond into Tumwater and Thurston County.

Both the 3K and 8K start and finish on 5th Avenue in front of Heritage Park. They both circle Capitol Lake, with the 8K continuing into Tumwater Historical Park before returning. Both are flat and fast courses.

The Jerry Miller Half Marathon heads briefly through downtown Olympia, then along the Woodland Trial and Chehalis Western Trail biking paths. The course continues on rural streets and a short trail and tour of Squaxin Park before heading back along East Bay Drive and running through downtown Olympia to the finish line in front of Heritage Park. Runners will enjoy tree-lined trails and scenic landscapes while enjoying flat and narrow paved trails throughout.

Once runners have completed the course, there is an awards ceremony with several raffle awards as well as age group award up to 90+ for all three races. Participants, family and friends can then enjoy festival activities that are held all around Heritage Park including food and beer tents, carnival rides, booths, a parade and more.

The Valley Athletic Club is proud to be the 2026 Presenting Sponsor. The Olympia Lakefair Races are brought to you by the Lake Run Organization and the Rotary Club of Olympia, and benefit local public High School Cross Country and Track programs and Rotary Club of Olympia Scholarship and Grant recipients.

See you July 18, 2026!