Livestrong at the Y 5K & Half Marathon

Run for a cause. Run with the Y. Join the Saugus Family YMCA's Not a Walk in the Park 5K and help support your community. This family-friendly run/walk takes you through the beautiful scenery of Breakheart Reservation in Saugus. Registration includes post-race refreshments and prizes for runners in every age category. All proceeds support the YMCA of Metro North Annual Fund to provide access to YMCA child care, camp, and health and wellness programs to everyone.

NEW this year! Our "Family Rate" allows 4 participants from the same family household to register together for just $100. This rate is for family members only-- perfect for parents, kids, and siblings ready to get active together!

Race Details:

Saturday, April 25th, 8:30am Race Start

Packet pick-up for Pre-Registered Runners: 7:00am

Race day registration: 7:00am

Where: Breakheart Reservation - 177 Forest Street, Saugus, MA 01906

Packet Pick-up:

Friday, April 24th, 3:00pm-6:00pm

Saugus Family YMCA, 298 Main Street, Saugus, MA 01906

Race Features:

Chip Timing by Bay State Race Services

Post race refreshments

Awards to the top finishers in each age group

T-shirt guaranteed to those who register prior to April 4th

The YMCA of Metro North Road Race Series raises funds for a variety of charitable activities that benefit our community. Participants in our four unique 5K races run or walk to support the YMCA of Metro North Annual Fund and raise money to provide access to YMCA child care, camp, and health and wellness programs to everyone. In 2025 the YMCA of Metro North provided more than $3 million in financial aid providing all children, adults and families with opportunities to develop a healthy spirit, mind and body regardless of income.

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.

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):

Pre-K 50 Yard Dash

Pre-K 75 Yard Dash

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

The Course

The 5K is a flat road race around scenic Lake Quannapowitt, beginning and ending at the same area on the lower common. The Kids 1-Mile Fun Run, for children ages 10 and under, also takes place from the lower common. Although the 1-mile route is protected and lined with parents cheering on their children, parents do not run the 1-mile, so this race may not be appropriate for children under age 5.

Facilities

Port-a-potties will be available for the race.

Proceeds

The proceeds will benefit the Greenwood School PTO and the Wakefield Educational Foundation (WEF), both 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations. The Greenwood School PTO funds innovative classroom supplies, books for the school library, STEAM enrichment resources, and cultural and school community events. WEF provides a bridge to allow funding for hands-on learning that is unobtainable within the current school system budget.

Schedule of Events

Check-in and Registration: 8:15 AM

Warm Up for kids: 8:30 AM

Children's 1-Mile Fun Run: 9 AM

5K Start: 9:30 AM

Awards: 10:30 AM

Directions & Parking

The race will begin at Wakefield's lower common on Lake Quannapowitt. The roadways that intersect at this point are Main Street and Church Street.

Current Greenwood Students

Current Greenwood School students should register through this webpage to run in the 1-Mile race and fundraise.

Sponsorship

If you would like to sponsor the Gator Gallop with $100 or more, please visit our Sponsorship page for further details.

The Theodore Star

Theodore has been honored in the sky with a special star named after him: The Theodore Star.

We lost our little boy / Vanessa’s little brother - Theodore - in 2021 about a month after he turned 2 years old. He was born without any kidneys, but nevertheless was born a medical miracle - and flourished quite marvelously for 2 years despite not having the typical blueprint that was compatible with life. While he did have some challenges given his medically complex situation, nevertheless -this little boy, like all children, filled our life with love and laughter. He was our little hero. During the last month of his life, he unfortunately became critically ill and his condition/situation wasn't understood nor able to be medically solved…

To fill this gaping hole in our heart and lives…we have sought lots of helpful outlets. One of which is why we decided to start this memorial race in his honor. He, and we, loved our stroller walks through our neighborhood, so it gives us great peace and happiness to be able to keep his memory alive with this meaningful race event. We have brought many in our community together as a result as well as to raise awareness and funds for Boston Children’s Hospital, Johns Hopkins, as well as the Children’s House (Believe in Tomorrow foundation). We would love to have you join as well!!!

Info about this Memorial Event

Theodore had just celebrated his second birthday one month before he had to go to heaven, so we have elected this to be an annual 2-mile race in honor of the beautiful time we had with him here on Earth.

The race will start in the Fuller Meadow Elementary School parking lot, continue into the Brigadoon neighborhood through the paved path, loop around the entire Brigadoon neighborhood, and then finish back through the connecting path back into the school parking lot. Runners, trotters, walkers, strollers, or even just spectators are all welcome!

The venue of our neighborhood is very special, as it’s full of so many beautiful family memories. We hope you can join us! Theodore (and all of the special stars of everyone's hearts) will surely be soaring with us through this course as we remember and celebrate together!