50th Annual Great Waldensian Footrace

We are celebrating our 20th year of the Charity Chase Half Marathon!!!!

The Charity Chase Half Marathon is a rewarding run for those up for the challenge. Hickory is in the foothills of North Carolina and the race course winds around the city with elevation changes that will require some effort. You will have run up and down the equivalent of a sixty-story building before you finish but don't be scared off! We have participants that run/walk and runners as young as seven and as old as seventy.

The Charity Chase 5k will take participants through the downtown area of Hickory.

Charity Chase Half Marathon will start at 7:30 AM.

Charity Chase 5K will start at 7:00 AM.

Our Charity volunteer groups help make Charity Chase Half Marathon run smoothly. There will be over 300 volunteers at the start/finish and along the race course to cheer you on, provide water, Gatorade & GU. They may even entertain you along the way! Hickory's Police Department will be at every controlled intersection and our EMS will be on standby along the course for your safety.

Packet Pick Up will be Friday, April 17th from 12pm-6pm at the Hickory Metro Convention Center.

Race Day Packet Pick Up is available at race venue between 5:30 am - 6:45 am.

Everything we do at Charity Chase Half Marathon is geared to giving our RUNNERS a rewarding race where, hopefully, new PERSONAL BESTS and GREAT EXPERIENCES will be found. We look forward to seeing you there!

Awards:

Half Marathon

Top 3 Male/Female Overall

Top 3 Age Group Male/Female Awards: 1-14, 15-19, 20-24, 25-29, 30-34, 35-39, 40-44, 45-49, 50-54, 55-59, 60-64, 65+

5K

Top 3 Male/Female Overall

1st place in each age group awards: 1-14, 15-19, 20-24, 25-29, 30-34, 35-39, 40-44, 45-49, 50-54, 55-59, 60-64, 65+

Race Information

The race starts at 8:30 AM.

Packet pickup starts 30 minutes before the race and ends 10 minutes before the race starts.

All runners must register on RunSignup.

No on-site registration.

Additional Information

Parking and restrooms are located at the Trailhead- https://maps.app.goo.gl/tJmT7w8PjTeEZpnXA

Registration and starting line are located north of the VFW, across the street from the corner of 16th Ave Pl NW and 12th St Dr NW- https://maps.app.goo.gl/5xTSLJccYk39YjU37

5K Course (0.78M)

https://www.mapmyrun.com/routes/view/6233736925

The course is an out-and-back (1.56M)

The 5K does the out-and-back two times.

Half Marathon Course (1.09M)

https://www.mapmyrun.com/routes/view/5975171281

The course is an out-and-back (2.18M).

The Half Marathon does the out-and-back six times.

Course Time Limit

3 hours and 30 minutes.

Finisher Medals

All finishers will receive a themed medal.

Best Costume

It is not required to wear a costume, but we do encourage it.

At the beginning of each race, we take a group photo.

The best costume will be awarded at the beginning race.

Series Points

This race earns points towards the US Road Running Race Series.

For more information, go to https://usroadrunning.com/S.php

Awards

https://usroadrunning.com/Awards.php

Frequently Asked Questions and Information

https://usroadrunning.com/FAQ.php

US Road Running

https://usroadrunning.com

Poovey’s Chapel Light the Way 5K will host it’s annual 5k run on May 8th, 2026.

Funds from the run will help sponsor our youth’s activities for the year.

For more information visit our Light the Way 5k page on facebook, pooveyschapel.org, or runsignup.com

Thank you for your continued support for Poovey’s Chapel youth!

God Bless!

Registration starts @7:00 PM, Kids Fun Run @7:30 PM,

Fitness Walk/Stroll @8:00 PM and 5K Race @8:45 PM

“5K Race will be Chip Timed”

Registration is $15 until April 26th.

T-shirt dead line is April 26th. We will not offer a T-shirt after this deadline so sign up early to guarantee a race T-shirt

Prizes for each category of racers!

After April 26th and walk up Registration is $20

All donations & proceeds are for the Poovey’s Chapel Baptist Church Youth for Mission Trips, Youth retreats, youth conference and special events!

For more information CALL 828-499-3505

Or the church office 828-728-7210

See pooveyschapel.org or Light the Way 5K Facebook page

See runsignup.com to register online TODAY !!!

The 5K will begin @ 8:45 p.m. (dark). The course goes through the beautiful town of Hudson and is lite by torches and people holding lights to Light the Way! We have fun runs for kids, walks and strolls for anyone and the 5K is open to anyone (running, walking, pulling a wagon, pushing a stroller, crawling, etc.)

Awards: 1st Place Overall M&F

Age Groups M&F: 1-14, 15-19, 20-29, 30-39, 40-49, 50-59, 60-74, 75-99

Join us for our 5th annual Positive Pathways Mental Health Awareness 5k! We will be running the original route this year!

Wisdom Path is excited to host this event to celebrate Mental Health Awareness Month! We hope to bring more awareness to the integration of physical and mental wellness with a 5k event while also bringing the Morganton community together.

Race Morning Saturday, May 23rd 2026--5k kicks off at 8:30 am

Pre-Race packet pick up:

Friday, May 22, 2026 5:00pm-6:00pm at Wisdom Path (220 West Union Street, Morganton, NC 28655)

Race day packet pick up:

Saturday, May 23, 2026 7:00am - 8:00am in the parking lot near Bouchelle Street behind the Burke County Courthouse

Address on website is the main address of the courthouse-- please come to the parking lot behind the courthouse for the event!

Who we are: Wisdom Path offers integrative, holistic counseling services that address the mind, body, and spirit on your path to healing and recovery. One hundred percent of the proceeds from Positive Pathways Mental Health Awareness 5k will go toward the Wisdom Path Scholarship Fund for clients who need assistance with payment for treatment.

Why run? Running and other forms of exercise have been shown to improve overall mood, reduce stress, reduce anxiety and depression, and improve quality of sleep. Our hope is that the Morganton community will come together for this event to celebrate Mental Health Awareness Month and experience the positive benefits of running/walking and connecting with others!

Course description:

This is a 2 loop race course, starting in downtown Morganton and continuing through residential neighborhoods, then finishing in downtown

Please note that this course will be open from 8:30am-10:00am

T - Shirt deadline is May 8, 2026

Any participants who register May 9 or after can still select a shirt size although it may not be guaranteed!

If mailing in registration:

Wisdom Path, 220 West Union Street, Morganton, NC 28655 attn: Marie Carey

Awards break down:

1st Place Top Male/Female Overall

1st, 2nd, 3rd in age brackets (Male/Female)

1-14, 15-19, 20-29, 30-39, 40-49, 50-59, 60+