ChesLen Chase 2026

Supporting vulnerable children and young adults with physical and intellectual disabilities.

100% of funds raised from race participants and donors support Hopewell United Methodist Church’s New Life Rockstars (a Christian program for young adults with disabilities) and our sister ministry, Ma’s for Wellington in South Africa.

Ma’s for Wellington serves preschool children and young adults with physical and intellectual disabilities, providing meals, medical care, transportation, and a safe space to grow in self-worth and belonging.

Your impact:

• $10 nurtures one child for a full day of programming

• $20 provides a month of transportation for one young adult

• $50 provides medical care and four meals per week for a young adult

We believe every person is uniquely created, deeply valued, and gifted for a purpose!

Who We Are: Healthy Kids Running Series is a five (5) week running program in the spring and fall for kids Pre-K through 8th grade. Each HKRS Series takes place once a week and offers age-appropriate running events including the 50 & 75 yard dashes, the 1/4 mile, the 1/2 mile and the 1 mile run. Kids will earn points for each race they complete based on their finish.

Pricing: The registration fee covers the entire five (5) weeks of the Series which includes race bibs for each week, a runner shirt, a finisher medal and any sponsor giveaways. Registration is non-refundable and non-transferable. Online Early Bird registration increases three weeks prior to the first race event.

Challenger: This Series offers a Challenger Division which is an adaptive 75 yard race for children with disabilities and/or special needs. This allows for parents, siblings, and friends to be on the course with runners to provide support as well as bringing their own supportive devices such as crutches, braces, wheelchairs, etc. to be used by runners.

Makeup Date Information: 6/07/2026

Single Day Racing: Single day race registration opens one hour prior to the start of each race. The registration fee covers one single race to be run on the day of registration. ALL single day registrations should be completed onsite at the race location. Single day racers will have the option to upgrade to the full series (see tab on the left side of the page for instructions). There is a strict no-refund and no-transfer policy.

Awards: All participants receive a medal on Week 5! Trophies will be awarded to the overall top finishers in each of the divisions listed below (broken out by boys and girls respectively):

Kindergarten & 1st Grade

2nd & 3rd Grade

4th & 5th Grade

6th to 8th Grade

Challenger

Share your running photos with our community! Find us on Facebook @HealthyKidsRunning or Instagram @healthykidsrs!

#GetUpandGo

For over 30 years, the LINK (Leaders Involved in Networking Kids) program has been the heartbeat of student leadership at Unionville High School. Now, we invite you to lace up your sneakers and join us on May 9th 2026 to celebrate three decades of connection and to help us pave the way for the next generation of leaders.

Our Mission: Empowering the Future

Founded in 1995, LINK is a premier peer-leadership organization dedicated to breaking down social barriers and fostering a culture of respect, tolerance, and empathy. Through our student-led retreats, LINK provides students with the "links" they need to form a massive support system of peers and faculty.

The impact of LINK goes far beyond a single weekend; it shapes the very atmosphere of our schools, teaching students the benefits of conflict resolution, intentional decision-making, and service-oriented leadership.

Who Should Participate?

Whether you are a "LINKer" alum, a current student, a proud parent, or a community member who believes in the power of youth leadership, this event is for you!

The 5K Run: A timed, professional course perfect for serious runners and weekend joggers alike.

The 1-Mile Fun Walk: A family-friendly stroll through the heart of our community.

Post-Race Celebration: Stick around for refreshments, music, and the chance to meet the student leaders who make LINK possible.

LINK has provided hundreds of students with the confidence to lead. By participating in this race, you aren't just supporting a club; you are investing in a more respectful, supportive, and empowered community.

The Kennett Run Charities has reached its 36th year of giving back to the community which has always been center stage. Take part in supporting our great community and register for one of our exciting events.

Event Race Choices:

• 5K Presented by ChristianaCare

• 10K

• 5K PoweRun – PoweRunners either perform bench presses or pull-ups prior to running in the 5K. Each lift completed reduces running times by 30 seconds

• 10K PoweRun – PoweRunners either perform bench presses or pull-ups prior to running in the 10K. Each lift completed reduces running times by 1 minute

• 1 Mile Walk/Run

• Kids Pond Run

Race Course Information:

All courses start and end within Anson Nixon Park, making it very easy to watch these key parts of the races.

• The 5K and 10K courses are of moderate difficulty featuring both hills and flat terrain. The finish is an easy downhill glide. About 70% of the 5K and 10K course is on the main streets of Kennett Square, the remaining 30% on Anson Nixon Park trails and roads and the road accessing the park.

• The 1-mile course is flat for the first half, then a couple of moderate hills.

• The Kids Pond Run is a flat course around the ponds within Anson Nixon Park.

Race Day Schedule:

6 AM: Anson Nixon Park opens

6:30 AM: Race Registration and packet pickup begin; runners may pick up their shirts and bibs

7:30 AM: Roads through Kennett Square close (State St from N Walnut St to Mill Rd., and N Walnut St from State St to Anson Nixon Park entrance)

7 AM: PoweRunners start their exercise

8:15 AM: PoweRunners complete their exercise

8:20 AM: Last bus pickup from the high school and borough hall before races start.

8:30 AM: Registration closes; N., Walnut Street closes out to Route 1 Bypass bridge.

8:45 AM: Runner packet pickup ends.

8:45 AM: Bands start to play along the State St part of the course (Library second floor deck, intersection of State and Union St., in parking lot in front of El Ranchero)

9:00 AM: 10K race starts; (est. slowest end time is 10:10 AM); beverage and food are available for runners

9:10 AM: 5K race starts (est. slowest end time is 10:10 AM)

9:15 AM: 1 mile walk/run starts (est. slowest end time is 9:45 AM)

10:20 AM: Kids Pond Run starts

10:30 AM: Race results announcements start (approximate time, actual will be after last 5K/10K runner has finished)

10:45 AM: Mascot race starts

12:00 PM: Race Day concludes

Packet Pick up and On-Site Registration:

Packet pick-up will be at the Kennett YMCA on Friday, May 15th from 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm. Race Day packet pickup will start at 6:30am at the Start/Finish Line in Anson B. Nixon Park.

PowerRun Standards:

The standards by which the PowerRun will by judged by can be viewed here: PowerRun Guidelines

Records:

The current Kennett Run course record times are:

Men's 5K - Fastest: 16:12.6 Average: 29:26.5

Women's 5K - Fastest: 18:50.4 Average: 35:19.1

Men's 5k PoweRun - Time adjusted for pre-run lifts: 6.23.3. Fastest: 19:56.1 Average: 26:09.2

Women's 5K PoweRun - Time adjusted for pre-run lifts: 15.29.8. Fastest: 23:11.0 Average: 28:39.6

New 10K Course!​ The 10K course is 2 laps of the 5K course.

Are you ready to set a new record for yourself? For the course?

Swag:

T-SHIRTS ONLY GUARANTEED FOR RUNNERS REGISTERED BEFORE APRIL 21, 2026!!

Post Race Party:

A post-race party will be held at Anson B. Nixon park and is open to all participants and spectators. The party features food and beverages (including beer for those 21 and over) will be provided for everyone. We hope you bring your whole family as well as friends.

Directions:

Traveling South on Route 1: Take the first exit on the Route 1 Bypass, it is identified as the Kennett Square exit. Turn left onto Route 82 and drive through Kennett Square to the Kennett High School. Parking is available in the front parking lot of Kennett High School (entrances to the lot are on E South St and S Union St). Buses will take you to the park.

Traveling North on Route 1: Take the Kennett Square exit. At the end of the ramp turn right onto Route 82. Follow the directions above to park at the Kennett High School.

Traveling south on Rout 82: Drive into Kennett Square. Turn left on to E Linden St. Park in the Kennett Square Parking Garage on your right and walk to Anson Nixon Park. Or, at the intersection of Routes 82 and 926, turn left onto Rt 926. Drive about a mile and turn right onto N Walnut Rd. Just after the Rt 1 Bypass bridge, turn right into the parking lot for the Tino Leto fields and park. Walk on into Anson Nixon Park to the stage area.

Traveling North on Route 82 or Route 7/Kaolin Rd.: Drive to the Kennett High School. Park in the lot at the front of the school. Buses will take you to the park.

Parking:

Anson B. Nixon Park

405 N. Walnut Road, Kennett Square, PA

There is limited parking at Anson B. Nixon Park available on a first-come, first served basis but keep in mind that space is usually exhausted by 7:30am. One lot is off the entrance road near the center of the park.

Kennett High School

100 E. South Street, Kennett Square, PA

Your best bet for parking on race day is to head over to Kennett High School. There are entrances off South Street and Union Street and we will be running shuttle buses from the high school parking lot to and from Anson B. Nixon Park.

Kennett Square Parking Garage

East Linden and North Union Streets, Kennett Square, PA

Metered parking is available at the centrally-located Kennett Square Parking Garage on East Linden and North Union Streets. It's a pleasant and easy walk into the park. Mapping software can show you the way. For more information, please visit:

https://www.kennettsq.org/departments/parking/index.php

Kennett Borough Offices at 600 South Street

This parking is across South Street from the Kennett High School parking lot. The entrance is on S Broad St. The shuttle bus serving the high school will also provide transportation to the park from this lot.

Safety Note:

We strongly discourage unofficial entrants (bandits) from competing in our race. Bandits consume scarce resources and can delay or inhibit accurate race results. Unregistered runners, running with dogs and strollers, rollerblading, riding a bicycle, and the wearing of headphones are prohibited on the race course at any time, to ensure runner safety and to comply with liability insurance standards.