Burke Sunrise Rotary Strides for STRIVE 5K

The 2026 Meet Me at the Fountain 5K is July 26, 2026

Proceeds from the 12th running of the 5K will benefit Local Rutherford County Needs.

Schedule:

Friday - July 24th

4:00 - 6:00pm: Packet Pick Up and On-site Registration at Smith's Drugs of Forest City

Saturday - July 25th

7:00 - 8:00am: Packet Pick Up and Late On-site Registration

8:00am: 5K START

9:00am: Fun Run START

Registration:

5K Run/Walk

$25 EARLY BIRD: 2/1/2026 - 2/8/2026

*CUTOFF TO BE GUARANTEED A T-SHIRT IS 7/6/2026*

$30 Regular Registration: 2/9/2026 - 7/19/2026

$35 Late Registration: 7/20/2026 - Race Day

$15 Kids 12 & Under *(CUTOFF TO BE GUARANTEED A T-SHIRT IS 7/6/2026)*

Fun Run (ages 8 and under): FREE [While FREE we do ask that you register in advance] Shirts are available for $15.

Awards & Age Groups:

5K: Top 3 Male/Female Overall. Top Male/Female Masters

5K: Top 3 finishers in each Age Group < 8, 9-11, 12-14, 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+

Course Map:

Click HERE for a map of the 5K course

Race Information

The race starts at 8:30 AM.

Packet pickup starts 30 minutes before the race and ends 10 minutes before the race starts.

All runners must register on RunSignup.

No on-site registration.

Additional Information

Parking and restrooms are located at the Trailhead- https://maps.app.goo.gl/tJmT7w8PjTeEZpnXA

Registration and starting line are located north of the VFW, across the street from the corner of 16th Ave Pl NW and 12th St Dr NW- https://maps.app.goo.gl/5xTSLJccYk39YjU37

5K Course (0.78M)

https://www.mapmyrun.com/routes/view/6233736925

The course is an out-and-back (1.56M)

The 5K does the out-and-back two times.

Half Marathon Course (1.09M)

https://www.mapmyrun.com/routes/view/5975171281

The course is an out-and-back (2.18M).

The Half Marathon does the out-and-back six times.

Course Time Limit

3 hours and 30 minutes.

Finisher Medals

All finishers will receive a themed medal.

Best Costume

It is not required to wear a costume, but we do encourage it.

At the beginning of each race, we take a group photo.

The best costume will be awarded at the beginning race.

Series Points

This race earns points towards the US Road Running Race Series.

For more information, go to https://usroadrunning.com/S.php

Awards

https://usroadrunning.com/Awards.php

Frequently Asked Questions and Information

https://usroadrunning.com/FAQ.php

US Road Running

https://usroadrunning.com

Come out to Valdese and join us for the 50th running of the Great Waldensian Footrace to celebrate the Festival of the Glorious Return. A long-running staple of the August race calendar, the Great Waldensian Footrace features a 5K, 10K, and 1 Mile Fun Run/Walk, surrounded by the Historic Valdese Festival. All participants & guests are invited to take a cool, post-race swim in the Valdese Community Pool. Enjoy local crafts, food, and great entertainment throughout the day.

Day of race registration is available from 7:00am to 7:45am. Race entry fees are $20 through March 1st; $25 from March 2nd through July 31st; and $30 through August 6th. Race day entries are $35. Students may enter the 5K or 10K for $15 through August 6th. Entries received after July 15th cannot be guaranteed a tee shirt. Register early, claim your preferred tee shirt size, and save!

Join us for our 4th Annual Pirate 5k Run/Walk

(dress in pirate costume theme if you wish)

Date: Saturday

August 15, 2026

Time:07:30am 5k Kicks off

Register on race day between 6:30-7:00am

Age Based Pricing for Students

Location:

St. Luke’s Episcopal

Church

315 North Cedar Street

Lincolnton, NC 28092

Packet Pickup:

Friday Aug 14th from 4-6pm

Saturday Aug 15th from 6:30-7am (At the Parrish house at St Luke’s)

Awards:

Overall Male and Female

1st, 2nd and 3rd place in each age group

Finisher medal for all participants

Age Groups (Male and Female) 14 and under 15-19, 20-29, 30-39, 40-49, 50-59, 60-69, 70-79, 80+

Deadline for guaranteed shirt: Aug. 3rd

The Third annual Pirate 5K Run/Walk will begin on North Cedar Street in Lincolnton at Historic St. Luke’s Episcopal Church. The church graveyard is the final resting place of Lorenzo Ferrier who may or may not be Jean Lafitte.

From St. Luke’s the runners will work their way to the Lincolnton Rail Trail at First Federal Park at East Pine Street crossing.

For more information pertaining to St. Luke’s please visit the church website.

https://www.stlukeslincolnton.com

St. Luke’s Episcopal Church, Lincolnton, is a North Carolina non-profit 501 (c)(3) and donations may be tax deductible.

​

ABOUT THE RAIL TRAIL:

The Marcia H. Cloninger Rail-Trail, known locally as the Lincolnton Rail-Trail, is a 1.5-mile paved trail, and is especially popular with walkers, joggers, bikers, and parents pushing baby strollers. Benches line the route, inviting you to pause and take in this enchanting town and trail. The trail is maintained by the City of Lincolnton.

The trail offers a chance to search the heart of this small Southern town, highlighted by a stately courthouse, model Main Street, thriving arts scene, and nearby lakes and mountains. Once an eyesore covered in kudzu and debris, the former Norfolk Southern Railroad corridor is now the pride and joy of “Lovable Lincolnton”.

For more information on the Lincolnton Rail Trail visit https://www.carolinathreadtrailmap.org/trails/trail/marcia-h-cloninger-rail-trail

ABOUT THE PIRATE:

"In 2021, a book entitled Jean Lafitte Revealed, Unraveling One of America’s Longest-Running Mysteries by Ashley Oliphant and Beth Yarbrough presents the theory that Jean Laffite, did in fact successfully change his name and live out the rest of his natural life, dying 1875 at the age of 96, under the pseudonym, “Lorenzo Ferrer” in Lincoln County, North Carolina. Ferrer is buried in a marked grave at Saint Luke's Episcopal Church in Lincolnton, North Carolina. The grave is commonly referred to as locals as “The Pirate’s Grave.” Whether or not the story is true, it would make for a great movie."

https://potus-geeks.livejournal.com/1456158.html

The Current:

"Laffite’s legend in Lincolnton involves a possible son by Louisa, an alleged murder at a plantation, an argument with another Frenchmen also living undercover and a sword with his initials hidden in plain sight."

https://thecurrentla.com/2021/a-pirate-gets-his-due