18 events in Fairfax County, Virginia

Beaverdam Reservoir Park | March 8 | Starts at 8:00 AM

To celebrate International Women’s Day, I’m hosting an Endurance Celebration—a choose-your-own-challenge day centered on movement, support, and showing up exactly as you are.

Beaverdam Reservoir features a 7.5-mile loop with roughly 300 feet of elevation gain, circling Beaverdam Creek. The course is beautifully varied: a mix of fire road and singletrack, more rugged forest trail on one side, and more developed sections with boardwalks on the other. It’s approachable, interesting, and perfect for settling into a rhythm.

We’ll begin together at 8:00 AM, and for anyone who wants to do multiple loops, there will be support available all the way until sunset. The goal isn’t speed or comparison—it’s choice.

This day is for you if:

🎯 You’ve been nervous to try a bit more distance

🎯 You want to test new gear or nutrition

🎯 You’re returning after injury, rehab, or a long break

🎯 You want a safe, supportive environment to see what your body can do

🎯 You simply want to support other women

You’ll have course support, including:

✅ Snacks & electrolytes

✅ Water

✅ Basic first aid supplies (bandages, moleskin, etc.)

This is a free event.

This event centers women, but men are welcome to volunteer as course support—I’ll need a few helping hands.

If you would like to support or partner with this event, I’d love to hear from you (especially if you’re a women-owned business or a nonprofit that serves women).

Important notes:

Participants are responsible for their own risk.

If winter weather is possible, I’ll scout the course the week prior to confirm conditions and ensure we’re good to go.

ConnerStrong Foundation works to bring awareness to mental health issues and suicide prevention and to change the discussion about mental health, especially in our teens and young adults. The foundation also provides outreach and comfort to the families and communities affected by mental health and suicide.

Come enjoy this gorgeous 5k course along the Mount Vernon Trail!

Walkers and strollers are welcome to attend this event.

In addition to the race, there will be a resource fair in the parking area / surrounding area. Be sure to stop by & check out these local resources and learn more about organizations in the area & their missions to support mental health.

The Bull Run Run is a 50 mile trail run within a linear park that generally parallels the Occoquan River and the famous Bull Run in southern Fairfax County, Virginia. It traverses a forested, rolling terrain during the height of the state's spring beauty. The run’s unique character includes a Civil War theme that honors the battles that occurred here over 150 years ago. A highlight of the race course are the stretches that take the runners through the largest bluebell stands on the East Coast. The 2026 race will be the 32nd running of this classic event.

Register for 2026 Healthy Strides Heroes Vs. Villains 5K/10K!

We are also looking for volunteers:

Support the Healthy Strides 5K/10K by becoming a volunteer! Parking attendants, race-course attendants and race supporters/enthusiasm spreaders wanted:

Healthy Strides Volunteer Sign Up - Individuals

Healthy Strides Volunteer Sign Up - Groups

A Race for Justice...or Domination! Declare your allegiance on the course. Rally the masses for the 5K (3.1 Miles) run, walk, or roll — a popular route for the masses. For those seeking true glory (or villainous renown), charge through the rugged trials of the 10K (6.2 Miles) trail run. Fairfax County Park Authority invites you to join your community and friends for the Healthy Strides 5K/10K on May 2, 2026. Participants in the 10K must be able to maintain faster than a 17-minute mile and finish by 9:30am.

Registration

550 max participants – reserve your spot, today! Register early to reserve your spot and technical tee. Ladies' sizes are fitted and run small. When in doubt, we recommend sizing up. Switching sizes will only be available after packet pick-up closes on race day, and alternative sizes may not be available.

Online registration closes on March 31st. Race registration may close early upon sell out. There will be no late registration during packet pick up or on race day.

The event also features a Tots/Kids Dash (2-5 & 6-10 years old). This is a short dash to the finish line for 5K participants' kids. Tots/Kids Dash participants and their family and friends must wait until the 5K and 10K are over before leaving Burke Lake Park. We welcome you to enjoy the playground or cheer for the 5K/10K runners, as well as partake in the post-5K/10K refreshments and party!

Registration Fees (Registrations fees are non-refundable) 5K/10K

November 1st-December 31st: $35

January 1st-March 31st: $40

Tots/Kids Dash (2-5 & 6-10 years old)

November 1st-December 31st: $15

January 1st-March 31st: $20

*Kids registered in the Tots/Kids Dash will not receive a timing chip on their bib. They must register for the 5K to be officially timed in the 5K. Children registered in the 5K may also participate in the Tots/Kids Dash. Please note the Tots/Kids Dash was created for child participants of the 5K/10K and/or children of the adult participants of those races. Roads will be closed until it is safe for ALL runners. Kids Dash participants and their friends and family cannot leave the park until it is safe to do so. Roads are scheduled to open by 9:30 am.

Courses (The 5K and 10K Courses are USATF certified)

The 5K course follows a tree-lined, paved road through the park and is wheelchair and stroller accessible.

Runners who want to step up their challenge can take on the 6.2-mile wooded trail that circles the lake. Runners in the 10K must be able to maintain faster than a 17-minute mile and finish by 9:30 am.

Event Schedule

Friday, May 1, 2026 - Festivities Begin!

Packet pick-up opens at the Burke Lake Park Ice Cream Parlor from 2-7pm. Registrants will receive a Healthy Strides 5K/10K reusable grocery tote at packet pickup.

Saturday, May 2, 2026-Race Day!

6:20am – Burke Lake Park Opens to Healthy Strides Participants. Do not park in the Shelter A lot*-this is the finish line and event area.

*ADA accessible participant drop off is available. Please notify [email protected] , 10 days prior to event. Accessible participant drop-off will be in the Shelter A parking lot (by restrooms only) between 6:45-7:25am. Roads close to traffic at 7:30am. The 5K and 10K courses finish in the Shelter A parking lot. (5k and 10k come from different directions and will pass by or through each Shelter A parking lot entrance). For the safety of all participants, pick-up will begin at 9:30am, when the roads open to traffic. For runner safety, exiting the park will not be permitted until the runners have cleared the course. If you must leave before 9:30am please let parking staff know when entering the park, and they will try to accommodate you when it is safe to do so.

6:30 -7:15am – Race Day packet pick-up opens.

6:30-7:30am – Complete final bib changes/corrections at Fairfax County Park Authority EZ UP Tent.

7:30am – Park roads closed to all traffic. Packet pick-up closed.

7:35am - All participants and spectators must clear the course/finish line area for the Kids Dash. Please stand in the area in front of the stage.

7:40am – Kids Dash starts!

7:45am – 10K starts!

7:50am – 5K starts!

7:30-9:30am – Participate and cheer, enjoy refreshments, music, and award ceremony.

9:30am – Safely and orderly leave from Burke Lake Park or stay and enjoy beautiful Burke Lake Park!

Awards and SWAG

The awards ceremony will conclude our event. All finishers will earn a commemorative finisher medal.

Awards and bragging rights go to the top 3 overall male and female finishers in each the 5K and the 10K, then the top 3 male and female finishers in both the 5K and the 10K for the following age groups: 19 & under, 20-29, 30-39, 40-49, 50-59, 60-69, and 70 & over.

Weather

This is a rain-or-shine event. This event is non-refundable. No refunds will be given in the event of bad weather

Parking

Park roads close to traffic at 7:30am. Please allow plenty of time on the morning of the race so that you and your spectators are parked before 7:30am Please allow 5-10 minutes to walk from the parking lot to the start line at Shelter A. Race Participant parking in Shelter A lot is prohibited. Healthy Strides parking staff will direct you to open parking lots.

Timing and Results

Healthy Strides 5K/10K is professionally timed by Commonwealth Race Management using the ChronoTrack B disposable tag system. Your tag will be attached to your bib. Results are available immediately after the race and are posted on www.prraces.com

We LOVE Parks… and Giving Back!

A portion of the proceeds go to the Fairfax County Park Foundation to support beautiful Burke Lake Park.

Support our event by volunteering

Race webpage with updates, volunteering opportunities, and sponsorship information on the Race webpage at https://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/healthy-strides/10k5k

The Fountainhead Half Marathon+ and 10K+ courses are absolutely tough and they are absolutely beautiful. Fountainhead Regional Park, in Fairfax County, VA, is only 30 minutes outside of Washington D.C. and has an extremely remote feel for being so close to a major metropolitan area. The half marathon(+) course includes a 6-mile long stretch of the Bull-Run Occoquan Trail (BROT) from Fountainhead to Bull Run Marina as well as three seldom used side trails along the BROT. The 10K(++) course uses a shorter section of the BROT and one of the side trails…yes…it’s the one with the really epic climb!

All race information can be found on the race website: https://ex2adventures.com/trail-running/fountainhead-half-marathon-and-10k-trail-run/

Charity partnership

During registration, you will have an opportunity to support a local non-profit Homestretch. The goal of the charity partnership is to first and foremost to raise awareness of the services Homestretch provides to families in our area. In addition, we hope to raise funds that will directly support their efforts. Please consider making a donation when you register.

Details: Walk Run Ride for Life Event! The event will take place on Saturday, May 9th at 10:00 am at Occoquan Regional Park. Sign up to participate as a walker, runner, or bike rider—and then invite others to sponsor you! Following event completion, stay for food, fun activities, prizes, and ministry stories as we celebrate LIFE together.

Location: Occoquan Regional Park

Address: The Pavilion at Occoquan Regional Park, 9751 Ox Rd, Lorton, VA

• Additional Park Offerings

• Fishing

• Batting Cage

• Boat & Kayak Rental

• Hiking Trails

• Brickmakers Cafe: Brickmaker's menu features a variety of items, including fries, burgers, salads, and more!

Course:

• The 1 Mile Family Stroll will occur on Occoquan Regional Park grounds. This event is perfect for families, strollers, and young children with bikes and all walkers. The course is an out-and-back course that starts and ends at the pavilion where we are gathering.

• The 5k Run will occur on Occoquan Regional Park grounds. The course is an out-and-back course that starts and ends at the pavilion where we are gathering.

• The Distance Cycle is a virtual event. Participants will pick their own course and complete their distance cycle by Saturday, May 9th. All participants are encouraged to join us at Occoquan Regional Park on Saturday, May 9th, to partake in our in-person event full of fun activities. Cyclists can bring their bikes with them to Occoquan for a leisure bike ride, but there is no set long-distance bike course on-site at the walk-run ride event.

Registration: Make sure to register so you will receive your t-shirt and qualify to earn prizes.

Fundraising Goal: Help raise $75,000 to support free medical services, mentoring, and parenting education for families facing an unexpected pregnancy in the DC region. Raise support through sponsors and/or make a donation yourself – BOTH support a great cause!

Teams: Join a team and fundraise with your friends and church. On the first page of your registration, you can opt to join an existing team or create a new team.

T-Shirts: Each registered adult or child participant who raises $50 will receive a t-shirt. Select your size when registering.

Questions: Contact Stephanie Lindsay at [email protected]