Thumbs Up Run/Walk/Bike Event
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Thumbs Up 5K & 10K - Race Day
The 13th annual Thumbs Up Run/Walk/Bike event takes place Saturday, September 19, 2026, at Lake Orono Park in Elk River, Minnesota. The main event offers paved course options that pass the William H. Houlton Conservation Area, the Lake Orono Dam, and lakeside views.
Course distances:
- 5K (3.1 miles), run, walk, or bike
- 10K (6.2 miles), run, walk, or bike
A non-timed Youth Color Run follows the main event with age-based distances:
- Ages 3–5: 1/2K
- Ages 6–8: 1K
- Ages 9–12: 1 mile
Packet pickup is available on days before the event at local locations and on event day. The registration fee for participants includes entry to the chosen distance, a participant shirt, race bib, and a finisher medal. Registration details note a deadline for guaranteed shirts.
Race-day features include a remembrance and grief support area, a memory tree display, mental health and wellness vendors, a veteran memorial area, water stations on course, and food trucks. Youth activities include face painting, playful stations, mindfulness activities, and a playground or splash pad depending on weather. Friendly dogs on leash are permitted and attendees are asked to clean up after pets.
The event emphasizes mental health awareness, community support, and remembrance of those lost to suicide through movement and on-site programming. Visit the organization's website for the most recent information.
