Run with Heart 5K and 1 Mile Tater Tot Trot

42nd Annual July 4th Sunshine Festival 5k Race and 1-mile on St Simons Island!

Finisher medals for all 5k and 1-mile finishers!

Website

There are many local social media and web "local event" calendars for the Golden Isles, they are not always up to date for our event in spite of our efforts. This is our OFFICAL Race Website!

Hotel Discount

Sea Palms Resort

Attention Runners! Getting a good night's rest is essential for crushing your 5k race, come stay with us at Sea Palms for a quiet and peaceful rest with a view!

Use this link for 10% off! Sea Palms Resort (travelclick.com)

IMPORTANT NOTES

Starting Line is self-seeded by average expected pace per mile

Strollers ARE ALLOWED, be careful and respectful of the Adaptive Athletes.

Dogs ARE NOT ALLOWED; this is due to insurance liability and safety issues.

PRE-RACE DAY Walk-up registration on July 3rd is available.

NO RACE DAY registrations on July 4th

RACE DAY Packet up is available on July 4th

PACKETS unclaimed by 8 am on Race Day are forfeited.

AWARDS cannot be picked up early. This is a chip timed event that starts when you cross the starting line; early result print outs are subject to change.

No shirt exchanges, until after the race has ended

Pre-Race Day Packet Pickup & Walk Up Registration

Friday, July 3rd, 4-7 pm at (Location to be determined)

Your friends or family can pick up your packet but may have to get in multiple lines.

After picking up your bib, you will proceed to a different line to pick up your shirt.

Race Day

NO RACE DAY registrations

RACE DAY packet pick up is available

Saturday, July 4th, 6 am Kings Park basketball courts (Park & Mallery streets)

Race Day 5k packet pickup: 6 am until 6:45 am

5k Race starts: 7 am

1 Mile packet pickup: 6 am until 7:45 am

1 Mile Run starts 8 am

Unclaimed packets/shirts will be forfeited at 8:15 am

Awards Ceremony: 8:30 am

Starting Line:

Start/Finish Location: St Simons Park / Kings Park, 515 Park Ave, St Simons Island, GA 31522 (Across from Mallery Park and by the basketball court)

Only the Overall Fastest Male and Female winners are scored by gun time, everyone else is by chip time including Masters and Age Group. Otherwise, your time doesn't start until you cross the starting line

The starting line will be sorted by expected pace with 10 different pace group sections.

PLEASE seed yourself in the right location. Fastest up front and slower in the back. The line will stretch all the way back to Oak Street.

The Push Rim division of 5 racing strollers for Adaptive athletes will be in front and start 2 minutes ahead of everyone else.

Starting Line Sections by Pace per Mile

Section 1: 5–6-minute pace

Section 2: 6-7-minute pace

Section 3: 7-8-minute pace

Section 4: 8-9-minute pace

Section 5: 9-10-minute pace

Section 6: 10-11-minute pace

Section 7:11-12-minute pace

Section 8:12-13-minute pace

Section 9:14-15-minute pace

Section 10: Walking

Bathrooms:

2 multi-stall bathrooms across the street in Mallery Park by the ball field,

8 bathrooms in the Village Pier Casino building on Beachview Drive (0.25 miles)

8 Porta-potties by the starting Line.

Photos:

Sports in Motion Photography will be photographing our event this year. We are providing the digital images for FREE! Please look for an email after the event with a direct link to your images or you can go to www.simphotos.com to view photos too.

Food and Snacks On-Site Race Day

Sandy Bottom Bagels - bagels

Parkers - water handing out water bottles

Georgia Watermelon Association - handing out watermelon

Pepsi & Coca Cola - donated water bottles

Fuse Frozen Yogurt - handing out frozen yogurt while it lasts

Winn-Dixie & GITC - oranges, bananas, cookies

Friendly Express - handing out water bottles

Starbucks - serving cold brew

Golden Isles Center for Plastic Surgery, PC / Centered on Wellness Cooling Scarves while they last.

5K ROUTE

USTAF Certified 5k route

5K Route video preview

Sunshine Festival July 4th 5k Map - MapMyRun

1 MILE ROUTE

Start and Finish will be at 5K starting Line.

Course will follow 5K course on Park Ave. turning right onto Magnolia Ave where you make a turnaround between Park and Bartow Street, stay to the right, cross Mallery Street, turn left on Oak St. and finish at the Start Line on Park Street.

The 1-mile fun run will be chip timed.

Sunshine Festival 1 Mile MAP

AWARDS

Awards cannot be picked up early. This is a chip timed event that starts when you cross the starting line; early result print outs are subject to change.

The Award Ceremony will take place at approximately 8:30 am

All 5k and 1-mile Mile participants who complete the course and are wearing a bib will receive a Finisher medal

Chip timing provided by Second Wind Timing

5k Awards:

Overall, Masters (40-49), Grand Masters (50-59), Senior Masters (60+), and top 3 male and female finishers in each age group. Age groups - 9 & 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 & over.

Overall & Master Awards include a medal, a bag of Vidalia Onions from Herndon Farms, and a free pair of shoes from Game Changers Running Store

Note: Overall Male and Female start time is at gun time, Masters and Age Group awards are from chip time.

1 Mile Awards:

12 and under, 1st, 2nd, 3rd male and female

13 and over, 1st, 2nd, 3rd male and female

Award for the Best Costume. (1st Place only, must be present at the Awards ceremony for judging)

Award for the Best Team (Largest). (1st. place)

Award for the Fastest Team. (1st, 2nd & 3rd place)

To compete in the Fastest Team awards, your team must have at least 2 men and 1 female. We take the top 2 fastest men and the fastest female (1) for a total of 3. You don't have to do anything to compete, it is automatic as long you meet these requirements.

Award for the best-decorated homes along the route. 3 awards: Patriotic, Creative, and Old Glory

Parking

Parking is a challenge, please carpool, be dropped off, ride a bike, or walk! Otherwise, you can park along Mallery Street, around the ballpark, in the village, by the library or lighthouse. Stay away from private residences.

Golden Isles Track Club uses the race proceeds to encourage and promote Good Health in the Golden Isles

July 4th Activities

Sunshine Festival Craft Show (Postell Park)

530 Beachview Drive, St. Simons, GA

Be sure to visit our 3-day festival with 60 artists and makers featuring exquisite handmade items, original art, and specialty foods. We'll have fresh lemonade and our local Kona Ice out.

Friday July 3rd 10-5

Saturday July 4th 10-5

Sunday July 5th 10-4

More at: www.facebook.com/CraftsintheVillage

Golf Cart Parade – July 4, 11:00am

Deck out your golf cart in red, white and blue and join the golf cart parade! Carts line up adjacent to Mallery Park, then make their way through the St. Simons Island Village.

Live Music – July 4

Throughout the day, live bands entertain on the bandstand in the village area.

Fireworks – July 4, 9:00pm

The annual fireworks display is launched from the pier, so the best viewing areas are Neptune Park and nearby waterfront locations. Bring a chair, sit back and enjoy the show! Parking is tight, so arrive early, walk or bike.

Open Division

Top 3 Males and Top 3 Females and top 3 in the following age groups: include 10 & under, 11-14, 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, 80-84,85-89, 90+

*all participants will receive a finisher medal

TIMING & SCORING

5K Race will be timed and scored with a disposable chip provided, which will be attached to the back of the bib. Bib's must be on the front of the runner for accurate timing.

Race Entry

5K Entry fee before April 30: $40 per adult, $20 per child (12 and under).

5K Entry fee before June 27: $45 per adult, $20 per child (12 and under).

5K Entry fee after June 28 : $55 per adult, $25 per child (12 and under).

Race Day Schedule

6:30 a.m. – Registration & Pre-Registrations Opens

8:00 a.m. – 5k Run/Walk - Chip Timed

8:45 a.m. – Kid's Fun Run

9:15 a.m. – Awards Ceremony

For All Levels: Whether you're a seasoned runner or just want to enjoy a few laps, on paved trails, under the beautiful oak trees of St. Simons Island, this event is for YOU!

🚨 How It Works:

• Run Anytime: You can join us at any time between 7 AM and 7 PM. (6:30 final lap) Run as many laps as you want – even if it’s just one, you're part of the action!

• Complete One Lap (5k) Get a Medal: Every participant who finishes a lap gets a commemorative finisher’s medal and shirt.

• Push Your Limits: Want to go for the entire 12 hours? Great! Run at your own pace and challenge yourself.

• Aid Stations: There will be a water point with snacks at the aid station at the start/finish. This is a self-supporting race, but there will be a Jimmy John’s and Smoothie King at the race start/finish.

🏆 Awards:

• Top 3 kings & queens: The top finishers with the most miles will be awarded special medals and exclusive prizes!

Please join us for the Pedal Golden Isles ride on October 17, 2026, sponsored by Bike Walk Golden Isles.

Early Packet Pickup: TBD

Ride Day Packet Pickup; Saturday 10/17 7 am at Risley Middle School

Bike Walk Golden Isles is a non-profit organization based in Glynn County working to make the area safer and friendlier for people who bike, walk, run and roll. We hold community events year-round, as well as work with local authorities to increase safer roads for all. BWGI is funded by a generous grant from the Georgia Governor's Office of Highway Safety, as well as local grants, donations, and memberships. Events like Pedal Golden Isles allow us to expand the reach of our programs as well as purchase items like bike helmets, lights and safety gear. To work with our organization or learn more about upcoming events, visit us on Facebook, Instagram, and bikewalkgoldenisles.org.

The event offers rides of 20, 40, and 62 miles. One of the goals of Bike Walk Golden Isles is to promote safe cycling. Accordingly, the rides are intended to be recreational rides rather than races. The rides will allow you to cycle with friends and hopefully you will make new friends along the routes and at the frequent rest stops. Each rider will receive a quality, ride themed t-shirt to commemorate the event.

All participants are required to wear a bike helmet; Bike Walk Golden Isles can provide you with a correctly-fitted helmet if riders are in need. E-bikes, tandems, adult trikes, stand-up bikes, and recumbent bikes are permitted. E-motos, mopeds, and similar Electric Personal Assistive Mobility Devices (EPAMDs) are NOT allowed. The general rule is that bikes must use pedals to propel forward. Please reach out to [email protected] for clarity about this regulation.

NOTE: You must register by October 1st to guarantee a shirt.

The bike ride will begin and end at Risley Middle School at 707 South Port Parkway, Brunswick GA

20 Mile Route: https://ridewithgps.com/routes/48830458

40 Mile Route: https://ridewithgps.com/routes/46169193

62 Mile Route: https://ridewithgps.com/routes/45821583