Hold the Fort 10K, 5K, & 1 Mile Warrior Walk

The 2nd Annual Alabama Pride Hike is back — bigger, bolder, and even more intentional.

What started as the first Pride event ever hosted at an Alabama State Park is now becoming a movement — and 2026 is where it levels up.

This year, we’re proud to partner with REI, bringing their local hike guides to lead three thoughtfully designed routes:

-Beginner Route – Welcoming, social, and perfect for first-time hikers, families, and anyone wanting a relaxed, community-focused experience. 3 miles

-Intermediate Route – A steady climb with rewarding views and that “I did that” feeling at the finish. 5 miles

• Advanced Route – Technical, challenging, and built for those who want to earn their Pride with sweat and grit. 8 miles

• ADA-Friendly Option – Because belonging isn’t optional. We are committed to creating space where everyone can participate, move their body, and be part of this day. 1.5 miles

This isn’t just a hike.

It’s visibility in outdoor infrastructure.

It’s community in motion.

It’s Pride where it hasn’t always existed before.

Expect vibrant energy at the trailhead, music, local partners, photo moments, and the kind of welcoming atmosphere that makes you immediately feel like you’re exactly where you’re supposed to be. Whether you’re an elite trail runner, a parent with kids, brand new to hiking, or simply showing up in support — there is a place for you here.

Last year we made history.

This year we build momentum.

Join us for a day that celebrates movement, nature, inclusion, and the simple power of being outside together in Alabama — boldly, safely, and joyfully.

Let’s fill these trails.

Registration for guaranteed shirts ends May 22, 2026

Oak Mountain State Park requires an entry fee for all entering the park! Help our Alabama State Parks with your attendance and help more events like this happen!

Adults: $5

12 & younger: $2

Welcome to the 45^th Annual Peavine Falls Run. This iconic event is a 4th of July tradition in Central Alabama. Why go to Atlanta and run (walk) with 60,000 people when you can visit the beautiful Oak Mountain State Park, run with a few hundred of your closest friends, enjoy a great race on a fun course, and have a great time all the way around!

Shirts

Participants receive a gender-neutral shirt designed especially for this race. You must register by June 20 to guarantee receiving a shirt.

Event Description

The 2nd annual Raffle Run is a go! As always, our goal is to motivate you to do your best. However, for Raffle Run, our focus is to be insanely generous to the runners that come to our events. We will be giving away around $2,500 worth of prizes at Raffle Run. No strings attached! Literally, it’s that simple. Runners/walkers of all ages are welcome. At this event, you can literally be the slowest runner/walker and still win BIG!

Have you ever wanted to be a part of a raffle drawing where there is no limit to the number of raffle tickets you can have in the raffle? Do you also enjoy running/walking and pushing yourself? Well, Raffle Run is just for you. This is the most unique raffle you’ve ever heard of or ever been a part of. You control the number of raffle tickets you get based solely on your effort. Raffle tickets are only earned at this event and are NOT for sale. So, how does it work?

Runners will receive a Raffle Run wristband at packet pick-up. You must keep this wristband on your wrist, and it must be visible at all times to receive your raffle ticket upon completion of each lap. Without this wristband, you will not receive any raffle tickets during the event.

Once the event starts, runners will have 1 hour and 30 minutes to complete as many laps as they possibly can. (We have listed this event as a 5K, 10K, 1.5 Hour Run. However, this is only for the purpose of people being able to search for this event. The distance is totally up to you based on your effort. You can run one lap or twenty laps. We're good with either. Just know, the more laps you complete, the more chances you have to win the prizes given away at the end of the event. Strategy is key!) Upon completion of each lap, runners will receive a raffle ticket that corresponds with the prize they want to be in the drawing for. Only completed laps count. The runner must keep their raffle ticket until the conclusion of the event when the prize drawings occur. There will be five prizes given away at the conclusion of the event. If you happen to lose your ticket, no replacement tickets will be given under any circumstances. Keep up with all your tickets!

For example, a runner completes their first lap and wants to be in the drawing for prize #2. As the runner completes the lap, the runner runs through the lane corresponding with prize #2 and receives a raffle ticket for prize #2. The runner continues to run, and this cycle continues until the hour and a half is up. Runners can receive a ticket for any prize they choose and there is no limit to the number of tickets they can earn for each prize.

At 8:45 AM sharp, the raffle drawing will begin, and prizes will be awarded. To win the prize, the participant must be present, and the matching ticket must be presented to the race director.

Schedule

5:30 AM - 6:30 AM – Packet Pickup/Check-In

6:45 AM – Pre-race briefing

7:00 AM – Race begins

8:30 AM – Race cutoff

8:45 AM – Raffle drawing

The Prizes

There will be a total of 5 prizes given away at this year’s event. However, we are changing the format a little bit this year to increase your chances of winning. For prize #3 below, 3 raffle tickets will be drawn and each winner will receive $200. For prize #4, 2 raffle tickets will be drawn and each winner will receive 5 ounces of pure silver. The following is a list of prizes that will be given away:

#1 Carnival Cruise Lines $500 Gift Card

#2 Southwest Airlines $500 Gift Card

#3 $600 Cash Money

#4 Pure Silver (Approximately $500 Value)

#5 Pure Gold (Approximately $600 Value)

Course Description

The approximate 1.25-mile course will wind through the beautiful Veterans Park in Hoover, AL. The course will be well marked and consists of both paved surfaces and trails.

Time and Location

Saturday, August 1, 2026 @ 7:00 AM

Raffle Run will be held at Veterans Park in Hoover, Alabama.

Address: 4800 Valleydale Road Hoover, AL 35242

The GPS coordinates of the parking lot you’ll want to park in are: (33.3899887, -86.7267562)

Packet Pickup

There is no early packet pickup for this event. Race day packet pickup will be at the start/finish line which will be located at the pavilion by the playgrounds at Veterans Park. There will be plenty of parking and access to restrooms.

Runners will receive a custom Raffle Run wristband. This is how the race directors will identify you as a participant to receive your raffle ticket upon completion of each lap. On your final lap, runners will return their wristband in exchange for their final raffle ticket and finisher's medal.

Swag

All runners will receive a finisher's medal upon completion of their last lap. Runners can earn unlimited raffle tickets for your chance to win the prizes.

Aid Station

We will provide one water station during the course at the start/finish line area. Runners will be able to hydrate at the start/finish line area. However, no food will be provided at this event, only really awesome prizes.

Refunds

We understand things happen in training and in life itself. However, no refunds will be given to any runner for this competition. In the event you can find another runner to take your spot, you can transfer your entry to them. You can also defer your entry to next year’s event. Just email us and we will make sure to get it taken care of.

Contact Us

If you have any questions about this event, contact us at [email protected]

Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok @therunningbirds to keep up with our events! Don’t forget to like and share our events!

Race start is at North Trailhead

Beginning with a short service road start, runners will quickly sort themselves before entering the single track of Blue Trail. After some rolling uphill, you will take a hard left up one of Oak Mountain's gnarliest climbs, and my favorite training hill, Outback Highway! Once summitted, good news, the most grueling stretch is behind you. But you still have 2.5 miles of rugged Alabama terrain. After the next, shorter, and gentler hill, you will crest over onto one of my favorite top-outs with boulders towards a slippery pine straw downhill. Next is a walk-worthy climb to your halfway point, your water station, and the crown of this race: King's Chair! After a quarter mile of mostly runnable trail, you will come to your second toughest, but final climb to Eagles Nest. From there, it's about a half mile of technical downhill till you get back to Red Road for a fast finish. But make sure you watch your ankles here!

So, come test your grit with the Southeast's toughest 5k. ~1,100 feet of climbing, and descending over only 3.1 miles, on Oak Mountain's rugged terrain.

Race start is at North Trailhead

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