Brian Kraft Memorial 5K Run

Benefiting the University of Minnesota Foundation Masonic Cancer Center 

A flat and fast USATF certified 5 km course around beautiful Lake Nokomis in South Minneapolis.

Location: Near the Lake Nokomis Community Center, 2401 East Minnehaha Parkway, Minneapolis, North end of Lake Nokomis.

Register online for $40 through 11.59 p.m. Thursday, 5/21/26. USATF-Minnesota members get a $5 discount (get the code from your USATF club coordinator).

Late registration online for $50 Friday, 5/22/26 through 11.59 p.m. Sunday, 5/24/26. No discounts for late registration.

No Race Day Registration.

Race Day Bib Number & Shirt Pick Up:
Monday May 25, 2026, at Lake Nokomis Community Center from 7:00 to 8:15 AM

Due to unanticipated growth of the event, we've run out of most shirt sizes. We know that many of you had to select a shirt size that doesn't work for you. We ask that you take the size that you selected at registration, then come back to the shirt table after the race and we may be able to swap for a better size. Shirts from previous years may be available as well.

About Brian Kraft 
Brian Kraft was an enthusiastic and talented runner from Bemidji, Minnesota. His running career was cut short at the age of 19 with the discovery of Ewing's sarcoma, a rare form of bone cancer, in his back. Brian lived with cancer for 15 years, undergoing chemotherapy, a bone marrow transplant, and countless surgical procedures.

Throughout the years, Brian continued to run. He ran the lakes and parkways and raced with the local running crowd. In spite of all that life threw his way, he kept a positive attitude. Brian attributed his strength in his fight against cancer to his love of running and to the work of his long-time friend, Dr. Arny Leonard.

Dr. Arnold S. Leonard and his colleagues at the University of Minnesota and the National Cancer Institute have made significant advances in cancer research in the last five years. They are working on a series of projects that reduces cancers of all kinds by boosting the central immune system by genetic engineering. This exciting new field of cancer therapy has great promise. 

All donations submitted with race entries and a portion of the race proceeds will go to the University of Minnesota Foundation Masonic Cancer Center.