2026 Wonder Run 5K [8AM] & Kids Fun Run [9AM]

About This Event

The Lions 5K is an annual event organized by the Newton South Booster Club to support athletics and school spirit at Newton South High School. The race is open to the public and runs through the streets surrounding Newton South High School.

All participants who register before May 1, 2026, will receive a FREE t-shirt and a ticket to a prize drawing. After May 1, t-shirts will be available on a first-come, first-served basis, so make sure you register early to secure your t-shirt.

You can run as individuals or as part of a South athletic team. Race prizes will be awarded in many categories, including Best Lion-themed costume. If you are a teacher, please contact [email protected] before registering for a discount code.

Registration fees before race day:

$35 + $4.94 processing fee - ADULT

$25 + $4.94 processing fee - YOUTH AND HIGHSCHOOL STUDENTS

Race Day Registration:

Race day registration will open at 7:30am. Race day registration fees:

$40 - Adult

$30 - Youth and Highschool Students

Course Description:

Start at Newton South High School adjacent to the Newton South Preschool Program playground. From the start, runners follow the Brandeis field’s access road and turn right onto Brandeis Road. Then left onto Greenwood, right onto Dudley, up a steep, but fairly short hill and a quick right onto Drumlin Road. A downhill and a right onto Hartman Road, crossing Greenwood Street before taking a left onto Meadowbrook, a right at Country Club Road, a right onto Arnold Road, a right again at Sharpe Road and a left onto Wheeler Road. At the end of Wheeler, the course turns right onto Parker Street, right again onto Roosevelt, then left back onto Brandeis. For the FINISH, runners will turn right into the high school’s main parking lot, proceed to Winkler Stadium, enter the track doing a counter-clockwise lap before finishing at the track finish line.

Sponsorship:

Interested in being a race sponsor. Use this link to learn about our sponsorship opportunities http://www.nsboosters.org/lions-5k-sponsorship-info

Donation:

Donations of all sizes are appreciated and support athletics and school spirit events at South. To donate, please use this link www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=GHETU3WJWM592

WHY WE RUN!

Susan McDaniel, an avid athlete, actress, and equestrian, was a student at Lovelane throughout her two-year battle with cancer. Susan showed us how to defiantly live life. When surgery took the coordination in her right hand, she learned to write with her left. When treatments left her too exhausted to ride, she took joy in stable chores and teaching other students. Susan’s family spearheaded the Run in her memory to ensure all families have access to Lovelane’s unique and effective therapy.

All proceeds from the Run support Lovelane’s Tuition Assistance Program, so that all children in need can receive the highly beneficial therapy at Lovelane regardless of their family’s financial situation. Support for tuition assistance is critical for our families now more than ever.

RUN DETAILS

Run or walk to benefit the children at Lovelane Special Needs Horseback Riding Program at the Susan McDaniel Run for Lovelane. This year’s run is on Sunday, June 7th! Join elite and novice runners, families, walkers, and children as they run or walk to support Lovelane Special Needs Horseback Riding Program at Weston Town Hall in Weston, MA. This family friendly event has live music, a food truck, a clown, prizes and more!

This is a USATF certified race.

Online tickets will close at 5pm on Saturday! Walk ups on Sunday morning are welcome. Please arrive between 8-8.15am to register on the day.

SUNDAY, JUNE 14th at 8:30 AM

We invite you to run, walk, saunter or mosey through the beautiful Natick Community Organic Farm and surrounding conservation land. Our scenic course is a 3 x 1 mile loop that includes road, gravel, grass, and trail. If you have a farm or animal themed costume you would like to wear for the run, this would be very welcome!

This event is for runners and walkers of all ages. Kids have the option of completing the full three laps (approximately 5k) or just one lap. All participants will receive a commemorative chicken medal!

Proceeds will support NCOF's work including our scholarship fund, which provides financial assistance to students who would not otherwise be able to participate in the farm's extensive educational programs and to the farm's Teen Programs which offer paid work experience opportunities to local young people year-round.

RACE DAY DETAILS:

Check In / Registration

Online registration is open until 5PM the day before the race. Walk ups are welcome day-of, but please take a note of registration timings below.

Runners are expected to check in and pick up bibs by 8:15AM. To register on the day please arrive by 8AM. A list of registered runners with your bib numbers will be posted online and at registration table on Race Day.

Parking

Enter the shared driveway at 117 Eliot St and head toward Memorial Elementary School. Parking is available in the teardrop, by the tennis courts, and behind the school.

The Race

Runners will start at 8:30AM. We will start everyone at the same time. However, we will ask those wanting to run to start at the front and those wanting to walk or just do one loop of the course to start at the back of the group. This will allow faster runners to make it through the course without too much congestion in some of the tighter trail areas and allow walkers to enjoy the route. Runners can record their times by “gun time”. The Farm will not record individual times but will track the top 3 'three-loop' runners in the Adult (11yrs +) and Kid (10 and under) categories.

The Course

The NCOF Course is a three loop course which is approximately 5k. The loop begins at the NCOF driveway, runs past the farmhouse, some of our garden beds and into the Forest Gnome Trail. You will then bear right onto the Aqueduct Trail, and then exit at the Memorial School. The course runs behind the Memorial School, into the Athletic Fields, skirting the outside of the soccer field, before taking a hard right onto the sidewalk and heading back to the Farm driveway. After your third lap, you will head down the driveway, pass the barn, and finish by the rabbits and chickens.

The course is about 40% Trail, 40% Field and 20% Road / Gravel. If you are new to running trails, the course is not very technical, but you still need to be aware of your footing while running. Please be sure to follow the directions of volunteers and course markings (there will be signs and flags to follow) to ensure you run the full course.

*Kids in strollers can join the race.

*No dogs allowed.

Refund Policy

We will issue full refunds up to and including June 7. From June 8th no refunds will be made.

Post-Race & Awards

There will be refreshments post-race for runners and walkers. Awards will be presented to the top finishers. After the race, we welcome you to enjoy exploring the Farm with your friends and families.

If you have questions, or would like to volunteer email us.

About the Program

The Needham Track Club Summer Track Program is open to children age 4-14. The program meets on Monday and Wednesdays from June 22 – July 22, 2026 at DeFazio Track in Needham. The session times are 5:55 – 7:05 pm for age 7-14 and 6:00 – 7:00 pm for age 3.5-6. Children age 6.5-14 can choose a sprinting team or a distance team. Children age 6.5 may remain with an age 5-6 team.

The semi-weekly sessions include warm up, stretching, running drills, sprinting and distance training, hurdles, field event technique building and warm down. Field event training will be available on events such as long jump, shot put, high jump, and turbo jav. Children are placed in teams where they remain for the entire session.

The season tuition includes an NYTC Spring Program T-shirt, and all sessions.

Jog Your Memory 5K, Inc. was founded in 2014 by Jess Rice and her husband Bob. Since then, the Jog Your Memory Board has grown to eight, dedicated members, who are all-in to help fight Alzheimer's. The non-profit hosts a 5K race and walk every year out of Needham in an effort to raise funds and awareness for Alzheimer's research and caregiver reprieve. To date, they have raised over $2.35 million; for the past twelve years, 80% has gone to research, and 20% has been set aside for a Caregiver Grant - a reserve used for those caring for loved ones who might need a little extra incentive to get the help they need.

The 2026 5K run and 1.5-Mile walk for Alzheimer's will offer flexible options. Our 13th Annual race will be held in-person in Needham on Sunday, October 18th and a virtual option will be available for those who are unable to make our in-person event.

Find more information on our story here.