Mineshaft 10k

Enjoy the beauty of Fables and Feathers vineyards while logging some miles with friends and supporting the furry friends at Southwest Virginia Wildlife Center! This beginner-friendly four-mile route winds in and around the vines and property at Fables and Feathers, and the epic finish line of sipping and socializing awaits you! Rather than traditional timing for this event, Wine 4 Wildlife 4-miler overall male and female winners will be crowned based on closest to their PREDICTED FINISH TIME. That's right, all participants who wish to be eligible for the prediction run prizes will leave all watches/phones/devices at the start line and wind through the vineyard without any technology. Participation in the prediction run challenge is optional, but you must denote prior to race day whether or not you wish to participate in the challenge. The male and female participants closest to their predicted finish time will win a prize package from Hoka and our friends at Fables and Feathers Winery!

ALL finishers receive a limited-edition Wine 4 Wildlife wine-stopper medal- then present your medal at the tasting room for a free glass of Fables and Feathers wine! Additional tastings and purchases available onsite. Tasting room stays open late just for us, let's thank our event hosts at Fables and Feathers by supporting their small business! Event merchandise will also be available for purchase as well so bring your trail shoes and your thirst for fun- it's going to be a great day to walk, jog, run, and have fun for a great cause! Don't forget, our event overlaps with the Christmas in July event at Fables and Feathers so wear your festive Santa gear and earn $20 in store credit just for displaying your holiday spirit!

Salem Distance Run

52nd Anniversary Salem Distance Run

Date: Saturday, August 8, 2026

Location: Longwood Park, 601 E. Main Street, Salem, VA 24153

Races will start in front of the "Shrewd Outdoors" building at 201 E. Main Street

Race founder: Richard Browder, Retired Track Coach, Roanoke College

5K: Race starts at 8:00 a.m., $30.00 (includes t-shirt). Additional $5.00 if registered after July 31, 2026

10K: Race starts at 8:00 a.m., $35.00 (includes t-shirt). Additional $5.00 if registered after July 31.2026

Kids Run: 1 mile fun run through Longwood Park. Race starts at 7:30 a.m., $20.00 (includes t-shirt). Additional $5.00 if registered after July 31, 2026

Volunteers are an essential part of our success! Sign up for yourself or a group looking for a fun community service project.

Packet Pickup: Friday, August 7th at RunAbout Sports Roanoke from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. & Saturday, August 8th at Longwood Park from 6:30 a.m. - 7:30 a.m.

Rules & Details:

• Runsignup.com registration is available thru race day. Preferred-sized shirts are available thru July 10, 2026

• The race will start on Main Street and finish at Longwood Park

• Parking is available at Longwood Park or downtown Salem

• Award ceremony will be held at the conclusion of the race

• No pets or strollers are permitted

Contact:

Salem Parks & Recreation: [email protected] or (540) 375-3057

*Note: The Poplar Forest Parkway off Enterprise Dr. will be closed on race day. All participants must enter via our service entrance at:

687 Poplar Forest Dr.

Forest, VA 24551

Written directions to Service Entrance can be found at https://www.poplarforest.org/visit/the-retreat/directions/

Description

Are you up for an adventure? Challenge yourself to beat the clock as you take on a 3.1-mile obstacle race through Thomas Jefferson’s Poplar Forest plantation encountering obstacles (and some mud) along the way!

Entry fees will support educational programming at Poplar Forest.

Registration Information

Register early and save! Registration fees increase to $50 on July 25, 2026.

Late registration and day-of registration fees increase to $60 beginning on Thursday, August 14th.

Race Day registration will be available beginning at 6:30 AM on Saturday, August 15th. T-shirts will ONLY be guaranteed to those who registered before July 25th. All others will be invited to come back immediately after the race and claim their t-shirts. First come, first served.

Elite Runners and Teams - The first four waves of the race are reserved for Elite (or competitive) runners. Participants will compete for cash prizes and free entry into next year’s race. Elite runners must complete all obstacles (completion will be monitored by race volunteers at each obstacle) to qualify for prizes.

Corporate Teams and Elite Teams - Teams of 5-8 participants complete for the chance to win prizes. Teams are not required to stay together, but it is encouraged as much of the course will require teamwork to come out on top. Individual finishing times will not be provided. Teams will receive one finishing time for the last member of the team who crosses the finish line.

Non-Competitive Waves - These waves begin at 8:20 a.m. These waves are designed for the vast majority of racers. Participants in these heats are not racing for cash and prizes. All obstacles are optional and there are no penalties for not completing an obstacle. If you want to race with a specific person, please make sure you register in the same wave time. We cannot guarantee we can move you to another wave time.

Please make sure all participants you wish to race with choose the same wave time. Register early as once a wave time is filled, it will disappear! (20-person limit per wave time). Race organizers cannot guarantee the addition of runners to team waves who did not register with the team.

Packet Pick Up

Packet Pickup will be held at Thomas Jefferson's Poplar Forest’s Service Entrance (687 Poplar Forest Dr. Forest, VA 24551) from 7 a.m.-9 a.m., 11:30 am - 1:30 pm and 4-6 pm on Friday, August 14th.

We highly encourage everyone, if able, to pick up your packet on Friday, August 14th at Poplar Forest. Once you have picked up your packet, there is no need to “check-in” at the registration table on the day of the race. This will alleviate the congestion and lines at the registration and packet pick-up tables. If

you pick up your packet on Friday, please just meet us at the starting line 10-15 minutes before your starting wave time. If you are unable to pick up your packet on Friday, we will have pickup starting at 6:30 am on Saturday, August 15th.

All Corporate teams should plan to send ONE representative from each team to pick up their entire team's packet on Friday, August 16th during the times listed. We will “pre-pull” all corporate team packets to make a quick and easy pick-up.

Join our 10th annual Camp Bethel PEP! 5K Run and Walk fundraiser! This 5K race covers some of the many trails, fields, and forests on the 470 acres of Camp Bethel, making it ideal for runners who wear spikes. ​Your fee (and sponsors) will benefit Camp Bethel. $40.00 Participant Fee includes fully stocked water/aid stations, a race t-shirt and swag, pre-and-post-race snacks and drinks, BRUNCH, good ole fashioned PEP!, and fun for everyone. Register by August 21, 2026 to guarantee your race t-shirt! Sponsor the run to make it more fun! Join us: for health, for fellowship, and for Camp Bethel!

The Joe LaRocco 5k and Elementary School 1k Run are a part of the Knights Crossing Cross Country Invitational hosted by Cave Spring High School. These courses are flat, fast, and 100% grass/gravel. If you want to get an early Fall PR, this is your course. Come be a part of a meet with the thousands of runners from multiple states racing in 11 different races.

Questions regarding the Joe LaRocco 5k or Elementary School Championship 1k races can be directed to the Assistant Meet Director John Wiggins at [email protected]. Any questions regarding the high school or middle school races should be directed to Head Meet Director Tommy Maguire at [email protected].

Joe LaRocco 5k: @ 8:00AM

This race is open to coaches, parents, alumni and the general public. Athletes who attend public or private middle/high schools and are attending the Knights Crossing Invitational with their team should run in the appropriate division later in the day. Per VHSL/NFHS policies, athletes who are home schooled cannot race against public or private Virginia schools or other sanctioned out-of-state schools and must therefore participate in this separate "open" race.

Awards: Awards will be given to the Top 3 Male/Female Overall and as well as the Top Male/Female Masters (40+) runners. Additionally, coaches with individuals or teams racing at Knights Crossing are eligible for the "fastest coach" award (Male/Female).

Purpose: This race is named after the late Joe LaRocco who was a long-time Cross Country and Track & Field Coach at Cave Spring High School. During his tenure at Cave Spring, he taught History and Government classes from 1980 until his retirement in 2013. Additionally, Mr. LaRocco was a long-time USATF official and starter, starting races at the high school and collegiate level for over 20 years.

Records/Results:

5000m Open Race Overall Records (New Course - 2019):

Men: Luke Mussard 15:18.44 (2022)

Women: Annie LeHardy 18:21.00 (2024)

5000m Open Race Master's (40+) Records (New Course - 2019):

Men: Matthew Wisnioski 17:18.27 (2022)

Women: Ashley Palmer 18:46.9 (2025)

5000m Open Race Coach's Records (New Course - 2019):

Men: John Wiggins 16:20.00 (2019)

Women: Kate Vanderstelt 21:18.6 (2025)

Historical 5k Team Results:

2024: 1st RVE (15 points), 2nd ABCA Cross Country (66 points), 3rd CSXC Alumni & Friends (71 points)

2023: 1st Blacksburg Striders (18 points), 2nd CSXC Alumni & Friends (59 points), 3rd C&C Runners (76 points)

T-Shirts: The paid registrants will receive a Joe LaRocco 5k T-Shirt until supplies run out!

Teams: Racers can also compete as part of a co-ed racing team using Cross Country scoring to dictate winner. A team is NOT required to participate in this event but encouraged. Please note that teams require 5 or more runners to be scored and be in consideration for the awards (Top 3 teams).

Elementary School 1k: @ 9:00AM

This race is open to all Elementary-age students (1st-5th grade). All participants will be given a 2024 Knights Crossing T-shirt at packet pick-up and a medal at the finish line commemorating their race.

1000m Elementary Records:

Boys: Connor King 3:48.32 (2022)

Girls: Aryana Sarmadi 4:00.2 (2025)

Additional Information:

Concessions: Basic concessions will be available for purchase behind the start line along with other food vendors.

Medical: Emergency medical needs will be supported by the Cave Spring HS Athletic Trainer and the Cave Spring Rescue Squad.

Packet Pick-up: Packets may be picked up the morning of the race at Green Hill Park starting at 7:00AM. When entering the park, packet pick-up is to the left along the road with the Concessions and is marked with a large blue "swooper" flag.

2025 Schedule of Events:

7:00 AM Course Opens - Packet Pick-up (Near Concessions) & Open Race registration (Online only - At Finish line)

7:45 AM - Open Race (Joe LaRocco 5k and 1k Elementary School Race) closes

8:00 AM - "Joe LaRocco" Open 5K Team Race for men and women

8:30 AM - High School/Middle School Coaches Meeting at the Stage

9:00 AM - Elementary School Championship 1K Race - (Boys/Girls)

9:15 AM - Open Race Awards

9:30 AM - Girls Middle School Championship 4K Race (Medals to Top 25)

10:15 AM - Boys Middle School Championship 4K Race (Medals to Top 25)

10:45 AM - Girls Red Race 5K (VA Public schools & out-of-state teams) (Medals to top 25)

11:30 AM - Boys Red Race 5K (VA Public schools & out-of-state teams) (Medals to top 25)

12:00 PM Girls Black Race 5K (Smaller VA Public schools & all private schools) (Medals to top 25)

12:45 PM Boys Black Race 5K (Smaller VA Public schools & all private schools) (Medals to top 25)

1:15 PM - Girls White Race 5k (VA Public schools & out-of-state teams not in Red) (Unlimited entries)

2:00 PM - Boys White Race 5k (VA Public schools & out-of-state teams not in Red) (Unlimited entries)

2:30 pm - Girls & Boys will race together in Gold Race 5k (VA Public & all private schools not in Black race) (Unlimited entries)