Kenya Connect 5K: Running/Walking for Education

Join us for the  2026 KC5K: Running/Walking for Education!  Once again the race will be LIVE and Virtual!

The LIVE Race will start from St. John's Episcopal Church and run through the beautiful Dunloggin Neighborhood.  Participants can run or walk and strollers are welcome!  The Top three runners/walkers (male/female) in all age categories (5-12, 13-18, 19-29, 30-39, 40-49, 50-59, 60-69, 70-79, 80+) will win a hand-carved medallion from Wamunyu, Kenya and the top male/female overall will win a hand carved medallion and runner gift cards ($100 for first place and $50 for 2nd and 3rd place).

Virtual Runners will be invited to participate anytime between  9:00 am on Saturday, March 28 and 1:00pm on Sunday, March 29.  Prizes will be awarded for the top three places overall male/female and the top winner male/female in the 5-11, 11-17, 18-30, 31-50, 51-70, 70+

Pets are welcome to participate too. At the LIVE race they must be on a leash and the owners must keep them away from other runners/walkers. We have a special bandana for them.

We also will have prizes for the largest team (perhaps your family, college group, HS group, workplace) and the top overall fundraiser (it could be a team or individual).  Each member of the largest team will have a TREE planted in their honor in Kenya with a grove dedicated to the Team. Fundraising teams are a special way to support the 18,000 students and 500 teachers to an empowered education.

Runners can choose between two premiums:  a Kenya Connect short-sleeved tech shirt or a visor.  Participants must register by March 1 in order to be guaranteed a premium.  

Registration cost is  $40 until March 6 at 11:59 pm.  The price will increase on March 7 to $45.   Participants 18 and under race cost is $25. Pets are $10 which includes a bandana.

In addition, this year features a Pump Challenge! Crossfit PCR in Ellicott City is providing an additional challenge for racers: The Pump-Challenge and Run!  Runners will drop by CrossFit PCR and bench press a percent of their body weight (male 75%, female 50%) for max repetitions prior to the race.  Each repetition will deduct 10 seconds off the runners' 5k time.  Placement and prizes for the Pump-Challenge and Run will be separate from individual race scores, with the opportunity to place in both divisions.  Age categories for the Pump-Challenge Run are Male/Female 16-49, Female/Male  50+" 

PACKET PICK-UP IS ON FRIDAY, MARCH 27 FROM 4:00-7:00 PM AT SPONSOR FEET FIRST COLUMBIA OR ON RACE DAY, MARCH 29 FROM 8:00-8:45 AM AT ST. JOHN'S. THE RACE IS RAIN OR SHINE AND WE DO HAVE THE ST. JOHN'S AUDITORIUM FOR PRE-RACE AND POST RACE ACTIVITIES. THANKS FOR SIGNING UP!

SEE RACE MAP HERE