Connolly's Kick in for Kids 5K Road Race & Health Walk

Lexington Lions Club Patriots Day 5-Mile Road Race – 2026

REGISTRATION IS NOW OPEN! Secure your spot for the 112th Annual Lexington Lions Club Patriots Day 5-Mile Road Race. We have a strict 1,000-runner limit — register early to guarantee your place on the starting line!

🏃‍♂️ The Celebration Continues: Saturday Edition! 🏃‍♀️

Join us for the 112th Annual Patriots Day Road Race on Saturday, April 18, 2026, at 8:00 AM.

Why Saturday? To celebrate America 250, the entire town is celebrating on Saturday again! It isn’t just the race; two expanded reenactments, the parade, and the festivities are ALL taking place on Saturday, April 18th this year. This schedule allows you to run the race and enjoy the full scope of the historic festivities, parades, and reenactments before and after crossing the finish line.

📢 A Look Ahead to 2027: A Return to Tradition. Enjoy this special Saturday edition while you can, because tradition returns next year! In 2027 the race will return to its historic home on Patriots' Day Monday—honoring the tradition of the very first race run in 1914.

Race Details for 2026:

🔥 AMERICA 250 CELEBRATION: Run 5 Miles through the Birthplace of Liberty as we mark the 250th Anniversary of America! 📅 DATE: Saturday, April 18, 2026 ⏰ TIME: 8:00 AM Start 📍 START/FINISH LINE: Crosswalk between Meriam Street and Cary Library 📝 ONLINE REGISTRATION ONLY: No race-day registration. Registration ends on April 11, 2026 (or when the cap is reached). 🏅 SPECIAL AMERICA 250th FINISHER MEDAL: Every runner will receive a custom medal to commemorate this milestone year. 👟 LIMITED FIELD: 1,000-runner cap. 🎟 PACKET PICKUP:

• Eagle Bank: April 16-17

• Race Day: Emery Park (Depot Square in Lexington Center)

Supporting a Great Cause

This race, first run in 1914, is one of the oldest in the country. For over four decades, we have proudly dedicated the proceeds from this event to Journey for Sight - Massachusetts Lions Eye Research Foundation (MLERF) to support vital eye disease research.

Don't wait—this special Saturday edition WILL sell out!

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.

Please join us for this 3.5-mile race, an annual tradition celebrating Mother's Day to benefit Melrose Alliance Against Violence (MAAV), hosted by the Melrose Running Club. Special thanks to our title sponsor Fitzgerald Physical Therapy Associates for supporting the 29th running of the Melrose Run For Women. The festivities kick off with a series of races for kids 10 and under at 8:30am followed by the main event, a 3.5 mile run/walk winding through the scenic Swains Pond section of Melrose, at 9:00am.

All net proceeds will benefit MAAV. MAAV is committed to breaking the cycle of domestic violence through raising awareness in the community, educating young people and linking victims to the resources needed to live free from violence. Your participation help support programs in the Melrose schools and services for victims of domestic violence.

Official race shirts will be available to the first 400 registrants in the 3.5-mile race. Don't delay and register today!

Run for Heritage. Run for Mom. Celebrate Mother’s Day on May 10 at the annual AAPI 5K Run or Walk! This year, CAAL and Hey Runners Club are blending AAPI Heritage Month with a focus on family and love. Join us in historic Lexington for a day of fitness, culture, and community.

Since 2022, this eco-friendly USATF-certified 5K has drawn over 500 participants annually to experience AAPI history, art, and food. Whether you’re sprinting for a personal best or walking hand-in-hand with family, join us in promoting unity, solidarity, and a true sense of belonging.

Here are some exciting highlights for this year:

• Celebrate Mother's Day with a race alongside your mom, family, and friends!

• Taste of AAPI - sample bites of delicious AAPI cuisines after the race.

• The first 300 registrants receive a premium, superlight “quick-dry” race T-shirt.

• USATF-certified 5K course.

RACE DATE/TIME:

10:30am Sunday, May 10, 2026 (Mother's Day)

Children 10 & under must be accompanied by an adult.

RACE LOCATION AND COURSE:

Lexington High School (Start/Finish)

Chip-timed Race

USATF-certified course. See the Course Map

Water station at 1.5 miles

REGISTRATION:

Online Race Registration $40 (Regular)

• Age Under 10: $20

• Age 60 or Older: $20

Race Day Onsite Registration - $45 (cash or check)

Race T-shirt for the first 300 registrants

BIB PICKUP:

May 10 (Race-Day), 8:30am - 10:15am, Field House of Lexington High School

RACE DAY PROGRAMS

08:30 - 10:15 am Bib Pickup and Onsite Registration

10:15 - 10:25 am Opening Speeches

10:26 am National Anthem

10:30 am Race Starts (9 waves based on 5k time)

11:00 am Taste of AAPI Food, Awards

12:30 pm Event Closes

AWARDS (sponsored by Marathon Sport)

• Overall: Male: 1st, 2nd, 3rd; Female: 1st, 2nd, 3rd

• Family Team*: 1st, 2nd, 3rd

• Race Team*: 1st, 2nd, 3rd

• Age Groups: 6 & under, 7-12, 13-19, 20-29, 30-39, 40-49, 50-59, 60-69, 70+, 1st place for each gender

• Biggest Family Team (If ties, then by top 3 runners' time)

• Biggest Race Team (If ties, then by top 3 runners' time)

• Teams must have at least three members; only the top three scores are considered.

After-RACE: A Taste of AAPI will feature a selection of bites of delicious AAPI cuisines.

PARKING:

Lexington High Parking Lot (Enter from 251 Waltham Street). The front parking lot (Near the field house) is open for early comers. Additional parking is available in the back of LHS (Street Parking) at Park Dr and the Track/Town Pool Parking lot (80 Worthen Road)

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About the Run and AEF

The AEF 5K Run celebrates Arlington’s students, teachers, and staff who work tirelessly to create enriching and innovative educational experiences. All ages are welcome to participate. The proceeds from the run will be used to support innovative and creative new projects, as well as system-wide initiatives, that enhance the educational experience in Arlington’s Public Schools.

AEF depends entirely on individual donations and business sponsorships. The race plays a significant role in our community awareness and fundraising initiatives. The race course runs east along the Minuteman Bike Path before returning along Arlington’s historic Massachusetts Avenue. Arlington Education Foundation (AEF), is a 501(c)(3).

Place

Hill's Hill Field behind the Ed Burns Hockey Rink

422 Summer Street

Arlington, MA US 02474

Registration

Registration is open to all ages. Early bird pricing (until Wednesday, 4/1) is $35 per entrant. The race fee will increase to $45 per entrant after that date for all except for the ACE, Gibbs/OMS running group members.

Arlington Community Education ACE and Gibbs/OMS (elementary & middle school programs) participants are eligible for a discount. This information will be sent to students participating in the running groups.

Personalized bibs provided for all racers who register on/before April 15th.

There will be NO RACE DAY REGISTRATION.

Volunteers

Volunteers are needed to ensure that the AEF 5K is a safe and fun race experience for all participants! Please sign up to assist our Race Leadership Team on race day! If interested in volunteering, please sign up here.

Race Swag

• T-Shirts will be provided for all participants 14 years old and younger. Please specify the unisex t-shirt size when registering.

• Opting out of a t-shirt means your contribution to (AEF) will make more of an impact!

The Course

The 5K run will start and end at Hill’s Hill Field, behind the Ed Burns Arena (422 Summer Street, Arlington, MA), with the course route shown below.

• After starting on the Hill’s Hill field, turn left (East) onto the Minuteman Bikeway.

• Continue East to Water Street.

• Turn right on Water Street and then a quick right (West) onto Massachusetts Ave.

• Bear right (West) from Massachusetts Ave. onto Lowell St.

• Turn right onto Mill Lane (which becomes Frazer Lane at the Schwamb Mill) to return to the Minuteman Bikeway.

• Continue East on the Minuteman Bike Path back to Hill’s Hill Field to the race finish.

Bib Pickup

• TBD

• NO Race Day Pickup

Awards & Results

• Awards will be given at 9:00 a.m.

• Chip timing will be coordinated by Second Wind Timing. Results will be posted and emailed to all participants and are viewable at www.secondwindresults.com

Parking

Arlington residents leave their cars at home and warm up as they run/walk to Hill’s Hill field. Please leave plenty of time to park on the neighboring streets. Do not block driveways or impede traffic on Overlook.

Safety

The race will run unless extreme weather prevents safe conditions. There will be no refunds.

The Arlington Education Foundation is grateful for your support!