16th Annual Leader of the Pack 5K
About this race
New route for 2026!!!!
https://www.strava.com/routes/3474337912105886828
Join us for the 16th Annual Leader of the Pack 5K run/walk - Saturday May 2, 2026 at the McNair Field in Forest City, NC.
Not able to join the fun on race day? Sign up for the DIY (Virtual) 5K. You may choose to run/walk any course at your convenience.
Registration Rate & Dates
Now until April 17, 2026: Adults: $25, Students [Age 18 & under]: $10
April 18, 2026 until Race Day (May 3, 2025): Adults $30, Students [Age 18 & under]: $15
DIY 5K: Adults $25, Students [Age 18 & under]: $10
Race shirt guaranteed if registered by April 18, 2025. After this date, shirts will be available while supplies last on race day.
PACKET PICK UP:
Friday, May 1, 2026: 3:00-6:00 p.m., McNair Field, 214 McNair Dr. Forest City
Race Day: 6:30 a.m. - 8:00 a.m., McNair Field, 214 McNair Dr. Forest City
RACE START: 8:00 a.m.
Award Ceremony: Approximately 9:30 a.m.
5K Awards:
Top Overall Male/Female (1st, 2nd, & 3rd)
Top Masters [40+] Male/Female (1st, 2nd, & 3rd))
Age Group Awards (1st, 2nd,& 3rd) Male/Female in the following age groups:
0-4, 5-6, 7-8, 9-10, 11-12, 13-14, 15-19, 20-24, 25-29, 30-34, 35-39, 40-44, 45-49, 50-54, 55-59, 60-64, 65-69, 70-74, 75-79, 80+
School Participation Awards
Trophies will be awarded to the top three schools based on participation. School participation is determined by all participants present and checked in on the day of the race. Family members, staff, community members, etc. (not only students) count toward school participation if registered and checked in with their school affiliation. No school level awards will be determined by race times. Be sure to join your School's roster during the registration process.
Join fellow runners on May 16, 2020 for the 16th Annual Leader of the Pack 5K. It's a fantastic 5K featuring a flat and fast course in Forest City.
Pick your distance
Running
Leader of the Pack 5K
Join us for the Leader of the Pack 5K - Saturday May 16th at the McNair Stadium in Forest City, NC. Hosted by the Rutherford County Schools Education Foundation the 11th Annual 5K run/walk benefits the RCSEF programs. **If you sign up after 5/01/20 you will not be guaranteed a shirt on Race Day. You can still log in your shirt size, however, as we may have some left over after the race.** Registration info: Feb 1st - May 15th: $20. Race Day May 16th: $25 Student Rate [Age 18 & under]: $15 Awards: Top Overall Male/Female (1st, 2nd, & 3rd) Top Master Male/Female (1st, 2nd, & 3rd) Age Group Awards (1st, 2nd, & 3rd) Male/Female in the following age groups: 0-4, 5-6, 7-8, 9-10, 11-12, 13-14, 15-19, 20-24, 25-29, 30-34, 35-39, 40-44, 45-49, 50-54, 55-59, 60-64, 65-69, 70-74, 75-79, 80+
Phantom Runner
Unable to join the fun or simply don't want to run? You may still support the Rutherford County Schools Education Foundation by registering as a Phantom Runner with a minimum donation of $20. You will receive an awesome race day shirt! Payment must be received by 5/01/2020. Please do consider making an additional contribution via the "DONATE" button.
GORUCK Rucking Division
The Rutherford Outdoor Coalition has agreed to add a Rucking Division to their 2019 Running Race Series. Ruck participants will receive all the benefits of a the events - t-shirts, orange slices, etc - but will not be included in the Overall or Age Group scoring or awards. Alpha 828 Ruck Club will keep score for the Rucking Division independently and award a sponsored prize at the end of the season to the person with the most points. Contact Josh S Dill through Facebook messenger or email Joshua.seth.dill@gmail.com for the Rucking Series rules or with any questions.
Weather Overview
These values reflect historical conditions on the race dates in Forest City in 2020, from Open-Meteo archive data.
About Forest City
16th Annual Leader of the Pack 5K takes place in Forest City, North Carolina, United States. The local timezone is America/New_York.
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Race information has been sourced from the event's official website and other publicly available resources. For the most up-to-date details, please refer to the official website directly. If you notice any incorrect or missing information, don't hesitate to reach out to us by email.
