Get ready to lace up your sneakers for a cause, as the Parks, Recreation & Cultural Resources (PRCR) Advisory Board is gearing up for the National Trails Day 5K/3K event at E. Carroll Joyner Park, located at 701 Harris Road. This family-friendly gathering, set for Saturday, June 7, offers a chance to walk or run for the enhancement of local greenways, with check-in starting bright and early at 7 a.m. and the race kicking off an hour later, as reported by the Town of Wake Forest's official announcement.
If you're keen to join the action, take note of the sliding scale for entry: snag a spot in the 5K for $30 before March 31, after which the cost steps up to $35 until May 14, then to $40 leading up until June 5, and finally, if you're a spur-of-the-moment type, it's $45 on the day before and the race day itself; the 3K has a similar fee structure, beginning at $25 and capping at $40 on race day, as Wake Forest's news release detailed. To sweeten the deal, register by May 1 and you'll secure an exclusive race T-shirt to flaunt on the trail.
It's not just a run through the park though, the day's festivities also include a timed race for those with a competitive edge, with children and adults alike invited to participate and a special place in the pack for stroller-pushing attendees ensuring a clear route for runners at the start. And to make every step count, the fees collected will fuel the upkeep and growth of Wake Forest's greenway network, making it a win not only for race day ribbons but also for long-term local leisure and fitness opportunities.
Racers can also vie for accolades, with awards set to honor the top overall male and female 5K/3K participants; moreover, they're offering up prizes for leading runners across a range of age categories to encourage a spirit of athletic achievement across generations, making it both a competitive endeavor and a communal celebration of the town's trails, the announcement stated. On-the-day registrants are welcome too, just in case the thrill of the chase catches you last minute.
