Face the Forest 5k (Obstacle Course Race)
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Face the Forest 5K (Obstacle Course Race)
The Face the Forest 5K is scheduled for Saturday, August 15, 2026, at Thomas Jefferson’s Poplar Forest in Lynchburg, Virginia. The event is a 3.1-mile obstacle course run across the Poplar Forest grounds and includes obstacles and sections of mud. Entry fees support educational programming at Poplar Forest.
The event program includes multiple entry types: Individual Elite/Competitive, Team Elite/Competitive, Corporate Team, and several non-competitive wave entries. The first four waves are reserved for Elite or competitive runners; Elite participants compete for cash prizes and free entry into the following year’s race and must complete all obstacles to qualify. Corporate and Elite teams consist of five to eight members; teams compete for prizes, are encouraged to work together on the course, and receive a single finishing time corresponding to the last team member across the line. Individual finishing times are not provided for teams.
Non-competitive waves are offered for most participants. Obstacles in those waves are optional and there are no penalties for skipping them. Wave size is limited to twenty participants; participants who wish to race together should register in the same wave.
On race day the Poplar Forest Parkway off Enterprise Drive will be closed; all participants must enter via the Poplar Forest service entrance at 687 Poplar Forest Dr. Packet pickup is available the day before and on race day, with a recommendation to pick up packets the day before to reduce on-site lines. A historic preservation fee of $2.00 applies. Visit the organization's website for the most recent information.
