21ST Annual Run/Walk for Autism

Law Enforcement officers from across the state raising funds and awareness for over 11,300 athletes involved in Special Olympics. This race will be the opening event for the 2026 Special Olympics Summer Games. All proceeds will go towards benefiting the Special Olympics Kentucky. Special Olympics believes that competition among those of equal abilities is the best way to test its athletes’ skills, measure their progress, and inspire them to grow. Special Olympics believes that its program of sports training and competition helps people with intellectual disabilities become physically fit and grow mentally, socially, and spiritually. Special Olympics believes that consistent training is required to develop sports skills.

Special Olympics is founded on the belief that people with intellectual disabilities can, with proper instruction and encouragement, learn, enjoy and benefit from participation in individual and team sports, adapted as necessary to meet the needs of those with special mental and physical limitations.

This race is part of the River City Races Run the 502 series. Run six races on our calendar and get a Run the 502 Finisher Medal with charms of all the races finished. Click here to register for the Run the 502.

NEW THIS YEAR, SAVE WITH A FAMILY OF FOUR REGISTRATION

Register a Family of Four and save $10 off the registration fee.

Lace up your running shoes and join us for a fun, family-friendly event that supports a great cause!

The Parklands & WLKY 5K helps fund the annual maintenance and operations of The Parklands, a visitor-and-donor supported public park system that receives no tax dollars for annual operations. Your registration ensures the park remains safe, clean, fun, and beautiful—365 days a year, for free.

The 5K will begin at 8:30 AM on Saturday, June 6th, in Beckley Creek Park. This 3.1-mile walk/run features a course that combines road sections with the scenic Louisville Loop trail. Both in-person and virtual options are available, and each participant will receive a race medal and a 2026 t-shirt.

The Parklands & WLKY 5K supports the annual maintenance and operations of The Parklands of Floyds Fork. The Parklands is one of the largest visitor-and-donor supported public park systems in the country and receives no tax dollars for annual operations. Open 365 days a year at no charge to visitors, it is one of the region's most popular destinations and has nearly 4 million visits each year.

The Parklands features over 60 miles of trails for hiking and biking—including a mountain bike park and a 19-mile, ADA-certified, multi-use paved trail that spans the length of the park—and 22 miles of paddling trail along Floyds Fork. Help us continue providing safe, clean, fun, and beautiful park experiences by registering for the Parklands & WLKY 5K today!

For those participants who sign up for the Virtual 5K, you will be able to complete the race at any time and any place. Please submit your results on the registration website from Friday June 5th through Monday June 8th.

Race entry includes:

• Short sleeve tech race shirt

• Finisher medal

• Free race photography

• Post race refreshments

The Parklands & WLKY 5K is on Saturday, June 6th. This 3.1-mile run/walk will start and finish at the Egg Lawn at Beckley Creek Park. Runners and walkers will go out on the road, then return partly on the Louisville Loop. The race will start at 8:30 am.

Come Run/Walk and Help Us Kick Cancer in the Butt!

-By 2030 colorectal cancer will be the #1 cancer killer in 20–49-year-olds

-rectal cancer is more common in younger patients

-Early age onset colon cancer is on the rise, and we are spreading awareness

-gather your family history of cancer and polyps

-If you are having symptoms please talk to your doctor

-Let's support our survivors

SATURDAY, August 29th, 2026, at 8:00AM at Waterfront Park in Louisville

RACE FEATURES:

• Scenic paved route at Waterfront Park in downtown Louisville

• Commemorative race shirts

• "Daisy" best dressed dog award

• Free Race Photos

• Chip timing by RaceRise

• Teams

• Overall & Age Group Awards

• Free Kids Dash (1/4 mile)

• Prizes for our Top Fundraising Teams

PACKET PICKUP Our packet pickup will be held on Friday, August 28th from 11am-6pm in front of our office Prevention Project (Address: 1640 Lyndon Farm Ct #108, Louisville, KY 40223). Foundation For A healthy Kentucky Building. We will also have race morning packet pickup from 6:15-7:45am at Waterfront Park.

RACE DAY SCHEDULE

• 6:15AM Packet Pickup Opens

• 7:00AM Healthy Village Opens

• 7:40AM Kids 1/4 Mile Dash (Ages 9 and under)

• 7:50AM Prerace Program

• 8:00AM Kicking Butt 5K Race Start

• 8:02AM 1 Mile Fun Walk starts

• 9:00AM 5K & Fundraising Awards Ceremony

KID'S DASH We'll have a FREE Kid's Dash (1/4 mile distance) at 7:40am. All kids will receive a participation medal but there will be no timing or awards for the Kid's Dash. Kid's can join their parents in the 1 Mile fun walk or 5K but they will not receive a bib, shirt or be chip timed.

DAISY AWARD: This is a best dressed dog award in honor of Meredith Potthast.

5K RACE AWARDS Top 3 M/F Overall and Top 3 M/F in the following age groups: 0-12, 13-19, 20-29, 30-39, 40-49, 50-59, 60-69, 70-79 and 80+

5K ROUTE MAP

1 MILE FUN WALK ROUTE MAP

Blackacre Barnstormer 4 & 8 mile trail race benefiting Blackacre Conservancy!

Come out and enjoy a one of a kind experience running through the trails of Blackacre Nature Preserve. Starting near the Tyler Homestead and Historic Barn, this years course will traverse both field and trail. Spy goats, cows and other farm animals along the way.

Finisher Medals

Check out the finisher medal below.

Packet Pick Up

Packet pick-up will be on-site race day. Please plan to pick-up your race packet with enough time to allow for pinning your bib before race start.

Awards

Each race will have awards for Overall Male & Female

All finishers will receive our Unique Blackacre Barnstormer medal.

Additionally, race shirts featuring the Barnstorming Goat are available for $5 to any and all who would like to order one from the RunSignUp race page Store.

Post Race Refreshments

We will have ice cream cups at the finish line along with pre-packaged snack items post race. A perfect way to cool down and great excuse to stick around and socialize post race.

Stay Hydrated & Stay Safe

This event is CUPLESS. Please bring your own water bottle, hydration pack, or cup.

Course Description

After talking to many who have previous run Blackacre trails and running them many times over the past few weeks, we believe we have mapped out a course which sticks to more trails and less Cross Country style running, as well as taking participants to areas possibly less traveled previously. We start near the 1790 Double Crib Barn and follow the lane to jump on the Sunrise Meadow trail. This section runs along the tree line and meadow area. About the 1 mile mark we dip into the woods on the Waterfall Trail. This section is a bit rocky in places but beautiful. As we near Mile 2 we pass one of the oldest White Oaks in Kentucky following a lollypop loop on the Cattail Pond trail. Heading back toward the homestead, we will dip to the right and run past the Spring House. Following along side the barn we will head out toward Dragonfly Pond. From Dragonfly Pond we will figure 8 the Sunset Trail and say Hello to the goats as we make out way to the barn. Passing through the barn you will loop

around Dragonfly Pond one more time and finish next to the Presley Tyler homestead. 8 Milers will continue for a second loop while the 4 Milers finish at the arch.

See Course Map Below

Link to Garmin Course Map and GPX File: https://connect.garmin.com/modern/course/392247115

T-Shirts

Shirts for this series are an optional add-on. This keeps the cost of the race reasonable for families and those who have way too many race shirts. We will have a limited number of shirts available for sale on race day. If you know you want a shirt, please pre-order during registration. Or use the link at the top of the page. Be sure to place your order no later than 2 weeks before race day.

Parking--ARRIVE EARLY & CARPOOL

We ask that you plan to arrive early for parking. A large portion of parking will be in a grass field. We want to be respectful of the property so we are able to have many more great events in the future. Carpooling is preferred to make space for everyone planning to participate. If you are planning to run with a friend, we encourage carpooling.

Water/Snacks

This event is CUPLESS. Please bring your own water bottle, hydration pack, or cup. Bottled Water will be available in limited supply. Water and pre packaged snacks will be available post race.

This race is part of the River City Races Run the 502 series. Run six races on our calendar and get a Run the 502 Finisher Medal with charms of all the races finished. Click here for more details and to register for the Run the 502.

SAVE WITH A FAMILY OF FOUR REGISTRATION

Register a Family of Four and save $10 off the registration fee.

The Gaslight 5K Walk/Run registration is open for all ages including wheelchair participants. Over 750 runners start and end at the Jeffersontown Chamber of Commerce on Saturday morning to kick off the weekend. An awards ceremony, power snacks, and door prizes take part after the runners cross the finish line.

Awards

Cash awards to top three male and female - $75/$50/$25 and Ken Combs Gift Certificates ($50/$40/$30)

Medals to top three male/female in each of the following age groups:

9 and under, 10-14, 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 and over.

Race Day Packet Pickup

Saturday, September 5th starting at 7:30 a.m. at Jeffersontown City Hall.

PLEASE NOTE THE JEFFERSONTOWN GASLIGHT FESTIVAL IS A PET FREE EVENT SO DOGS WILL NOT BE ALLOWED IN THE RACE.

VIRTUAL RUN

A virtual race is a race that can be run or walked from any location you choose. You can run, jog, or walk on the road, on the trail, on a treadmill or track. You get to run your own race, at your own pace. Virtual runners not eligible for awards.

For Virtual Runners: Run between Thursday, September 3rd and Sunday, September 7th, upload time by Sunday, September 6th at midnight.