From big races to Saturday morning group runs—find kids events and connect with the local endurance sports community.
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.
Makeup Date Information: 5/24/2026
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
3rd ANNUAL
HOPE FEST 5K WALK/RUN
& KID’S FUN RUN
Registration Table Opens 9:00 A.M.
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 12th, 2026 (RAIN OR SHINE)
Beginning on the Grounds of Community of Faith Church, Marion, IL
Registration Begins @9:00 A.M., Pre-Event Gathering & Briefing @ 9:55 A.M., Event Starts @10:00 A.M.
All proceeds benefit the Herrin House of Hope & Hands of Hope Foundation’s Operations in Herrin, including our Meal program, Thrift Store, Food Distribution Ctr., Children’s Summer Feeding Program, AmeriCorps Job Training Program, GED Program in Partnership with J.A. Logan and our future Phase 2 plans to launch the new Hope Food Distribution Ctr, Hope Community Wellness GAP Clinic & Hope Emergency Shelter.
TIME SCHEDULE:
9:00-9:55 A.M. – REGISTRATION OPENS
9:55 A.M. – PRE-WALK/RUN GATHERING & BRIEFING
10:00 A.M. – 5K RUN START
10:01 A.M. – 5K WALK START
10:40 A.M. – ½ Mile KID’S FUN RUN BRIEFING
10:45 A.M. – ½ Mile KID’S FUN RUN START
PACKETS AVAILABLE ON SITE:
9:00 A.M. TILL 9:55 A.M. ON SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 12th, 2026 at Race Site
REGISTRATION: (Fee includes Hope Fest 5K T-Shirt* & Free Hope Fest Race Day Wristband for Admission for you to enjoy Hope Fest after the Race)
$25 – 5K Pre-Paid on Runsignup.com (*Guaranteed 5K T-Shirt) or Can Pay On-site Day of the Race (*As Supplies are Available)
$15 – KID’S FUN RUN – REGISTRATION OPEN TILL 9:55 A.M. DAY OF THE RACE
**Pre-registered Hope Fest 5K by Noon on Wednesday, September 3 on our Runsignup.com or by mail to receive the Guaranteed 5K T-Shirt. On-site Day of the Race Registration will receive the 5K Shirt as supplies are available.
LOCATION:
On the Grounds of COMMUNITY OF FAITH CHURCH, 5208 Meadowland Pkwy, Marion, IL 62959 (Near the Airport 300 Yds on the SE corner off Rt #13 & #148)
RACE STARTS AND FINISHES IN THE SAME GENERAL AREA.
COURSE:
VERY FLAT, FAST, ALL ASPHALT or CONCRETE COURSE.
AWARDS:
9 & UNDER, 10-14, 15-19, 20-29, 30-39, 40-49, 50-59, 60 & OVER
THE TOP 3 WALKERS WILL RECEIVE AWARDS (MALE / FEMALE)
KID’S ½ MILE FUN RUN (AGES 10 & UNDER): SPECIAL AWARDS TO THE TOP THREE KID'S FUN RUN FINISHERS
EACH KID'S FUN RUN FINISHER RECEIVES A FINISHER’S AWARD.