St. Albert the Great Church Viking Dash 5k 2026

Dart for Head Start 5K Run & Walk

Join the Ohio Valley Educational Foundation (OVEF) for its 3rd Annual Dart for Head Start 5K Run & 1 Mile Walk, a fun, family-friendly event for a great cause! We’re excited to be back and aiming for bigger and better than ever as we lace up our sneakers at Tom Sawyer Park on June 6, 2026.

Participants can choose between a 5K run or an 1 mile walk, both taking place the same morning. This event is perfect for runners, walkers, families, and supporters of all ages. In addition to the race, we’ll have a DJ, yard games for kids and a playground nearby, making it a great outing for the whole family.

*** Please note this is a FUN RUN COMMUNITY EVENT! It is a chip-free event; we rely on personal recording at the finish line for unofficial times, but we will have a large timing clock displayed. ***

Check-in begins at 8:00 AM, with races starting promptly at 9:00 AM.

Best of all, 100% of the proceeds go directly to support the OVEC Head Start program, helping children and families in our community get the strong start they deserve. Come out, have fun, and make a difference, every step truly matters!

Head Start is a comprehensive early childhood education program that supports young children and their families by promoting school readiness, healthy development, and family well-being. Through education, health services, and family support, OVEC Head Start helps children build a strong foundation for lifelong success.

Looking for something active for your children to be involved in this summer while also investing in their future? Do they have an interest in running but are you afraid of pushing them too soon? Swag’s is offering its first ever running camp and we want your children to be part of it. This is a week-long camp designed to strengthen your children's interest in running while also having fun. They will have the opportunity to train with collegiate athletes/professional runners and learn from people who know the sport inside and out.

Age: 3rd-8th Grade

Date: June 22nd - 26th

Pre-register only! Must be registered by June 14th? This gives us plenty of time to print shirts and get Swag bags ready.

Location: Seneca (M,W,F) Tom Sawyer (T, TH)

Time: 6:30pm-8:30pm

Cost: $75 January 1st - midnight February 28th, $85 March 1st - midnight April 30th, $100 May 1st - June 14th

Includes: 2 hour training/5 days (organized and designed by coaches), refreshments, Swag bag ($40 value), advice from prestigious coaches/athletes/business owners/health professionals

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.

Just Added! Little Patriot Fun Run, sponsored by Goldfish Swim School

Just for the 9 and under crowd!

Distances: 6 and Under: 1776 inches (49 yards); ages 7-9 250 feet (84 yards)

Date: July 3rd

Time: promptly at 4pm to open the Freedom Fest street festival (which runs 4-9pm)

Where: Independence Bank, 3901 Shelbyville Rd.

Cost: $10

Please note the Little Patriot Fun Run is on July 3rd at 4:00 p.m. at Independence Bank, 3902 Shelbyville Rd.

NEW THIS YEAR, SAVE WITH A FAMILY OF FOUR REGISTRATION

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

Join us at 8:00 am on Saturday morning, July 4th for the St. Matthews Independence Day 5K, presented by Independence Bank. This race has its origins back to the 1970's (with the course unchanged) in what was then called the St. Matthews Pavement Pounder. This fun and fast timed race begins and ends at St. Matthews Baptist Church (3515 Grandview Avenue). Walkers are welcome!

Race will be limited to the first 700 registrants so don't miss out, register sooner than later. Race has sold out the past four years!

Entry includes:

NEW THIS YEAR! RACE MEDAL FOR ALL FINISHERS!

• Closed course through St. Matthews neighborhoods

• Choice of unisex short sleeve tech shirt or women's tech tank

• Chip timing with online results

• On-site parking

• Free race photos

• Race goodie bag with packet pickup

• Post race food and vendor booths

• Lots of awards and door prizes

Awards and door prize drawings will take place in the parking lot following the race.

Our 2026 Charity

St. Matthews Baptist Church’s annual “Love 40207” campaign.

“Love 40207” is the church’s commitment to be an active and positive member in and within the community. This past year the church reached people all over the 40207 area through “Love 40207”--working in dozens of locations doing such things as working in the community missions garden, visiting shut-ins, doing home repairs for the elderly, putting together care packages for frontline workers, providing resources for local cyclists, making blankets for those in need, doing local park clean-up, and beautifying St. Matthews Elementary.

The church is proud to also partner with St. Matthews Area Ministries (St. MAM) as part of “Love 40207” and throughout the year to provide additional services and programs to the community. Race proceeds directly benefit St. MAM as well.

Join us for the annual Summer Sizzler 5k/10k/15k! A fun summer event that is perfect for the whole family.

The fun includes -

• Great Swag - designer shirt & custom medal

• Chip-timing with live results and awards

• Free photos

• Delicious Treats waiting at the finish line

• FREE Kona Ice

• Plenty of fun!

Grab your friends and family, you are not going to want to miss this one!

Can't make the race? No problem! We offer a virtual race option where you can run anywhere, at any time, and still earn the fun swag!

*Youth-based pricing for the 5k/10k, 12 & Under are only $17!

• 5k/10k/15K registration includes a custom bib, designer shirt, and a custom finisher medal!

• 1 Mile registration is untimed and includes a custom bib, designer shirt, and a custom finisher medal!

• The kid's dash is a fun, untimed dash for our kiddos ages 10 and under. Registration includes a mini bib, youth-sized shirt, and a specifically crafted medal for our kids' dash event! (If your child wants to run the kid's dash, and doesn't want the SWAG, they are welcome to run with us on race day for free!)

*Register by midnight on Thursday, two Thursdays before race day, to guarantee your shirt!

🏁🏅Create a team, or join an existing team during registration. Once 4 people have registered on that team, all team members will be refunded $5, once ten people register another $5 will be refunded for a total of $10!