Big Beautiful Life Run Walk & Roll AND First Responder Touch-A-Truck
About this race
Featuring the Pounds for Purpose Challenge
June 14, 2026 | Essex Middle School, VT
Lifting the Weight, Together.
The "Heavy Lift" of a pediatric medical journey isn’t just physical—it’s the daily emotional and financial weight of navigating a chronic crisis. This June, the Big Beautiful Life Run, Walk & Roll brings our community together to shoulder that weight for 150 local families.
Inspired by the vibrant legacy of Addi Carroll (15A1), we gather to live loudly, find joy, and provide "Practical Comfort" to those who need it most.
Pick your distance
Running
5K (First Responders)
🚨 Optional: The Tactical "Pounds for Purpose" Challenge Conquer "Gorman's Gulch" or take the Gentle Path—either way, your miles provide stability. Honor the "Heavy Lift" our families carry by rucking in your gear! The baseline for the challenge is to wear a Department T-Shirt & Boots, elite teams will sport a 66 lb total load designed to create a level playing field for Fire, Police, and EMS. Any First Responder completing the course in gear receives a special BBL Tactical Goodie Bag. Qualifying Gear Requirements (66 lbs): 🔥 Fire: Turnout Gear (Coat/Pants), Boots, and SCBA (Pack/Cylinder). 👮 Police/Sheriff: Hard Armor Plate Carrier, Duty Belt, Boots, and Helmet/Go-Bag. 🚑 EMS: ALS Jump Bag, Cardiac Monitor/Defibrillator, Vest, and Boots. Lead Your Village: Form a Station Team! The Top Fundraising Team and Largest Team win trophies. Plus, 25% of your team’s fundraising total (less fees) comes back to your own organization or a non-profit of your choice!
5K (General)
⚖️ Go the Distance for Pounds for Purpose! Conquer "Gorman's Gulch" or take the Gentle Path—either way, your miles provide stability. Every participant is encouraged to bring high-density food donations (peanut butter, rice, canned protein) to the Community Scales to help us hit our 2,500 lb goal for Aunt Dot's Place. Team Up for Stability: Social, Corporate, and Fundraising teams encouraged! Fundraisers: Aim for the $5,000 "Family Stability" goal to fund a full year of support for a local family. The Reward: All finishers score awesome SWAG. Overall winners receive custom victory medals. The Perk: Teams donating to the BBL mission chose a second non-profit to receive 25% of their raised funds.
1.2K
🍦 Flat, Fast & Full of Joy! Enjoy a smooth, fully accessible paved course perfect for all ages and abilities. After you finish, head straight to the Village Party for free ice cream, face painting, and the Mascot Dance Party! Pounds for Purpose: Don't forget to drop your food donations at the Participant Services Tent before you roll! Celebrate the Mission: Form a team with friends and family. The Largest Team and Top Fundraising Team win bragging rights and trophies. Impact: Every registration helps us reach our $275,000 goal to support 150 families in medical crisis.
Virtual (First Responder)
🛡️ Represent Your Station from Anywhere! Can’t make it to Essex on June 14? You can still take the "Heavy Lift" challenge in your own community. Your Pace, Your Gear: Run, walk, or ruck 3.1 miles in your tactical gear at your convenience. The Station Challenge: Compete for the Largest Virtual Team and Top Fundraising Team trophies. The Give-Back: Raise funds for BBL and direct 25% of your total to your local station or preferred charity. SWAG: Virtual participants receive a Finisher Ribbon, Electronic Certificate, and an optional event T-shirt (shipped at cost).
Virtual (General)
🌍 Join the Village from Afar! Support Big Beautiful Life families from wherever you are in the world. Your Pace, Your Choice: Run, walk, or roll 3.1 miles on your favorite local trail or treadmill. Share the Story: Use #AddisRace and #BigBeautifulLife to show us how you are finding joy and resilience in your neck of the woods. The 25% Advantage: Create a fundraising team and donate 25% of your proceeds to a non-profit in your own community. SWAG: Includes a Finisher Ribbon, Electronic Certificate, and optional event T-shirt.
Typical race-day weather
Based on 4 years of Open-Meteo archive data for this event's race dates in Essex Junction, plus the 3 days either side.
The sun rises at 5:07 AM and sets at 8:37 PM local time (EDT) in Essex Junction on June 13, 2027 — 15h 30m of daylight.
Course
No course map published yet.
The organizer hasn't released a route for this event, and we don't publish guesses. If you're the organizer, send us a GPX file and we'll draw the profile.
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Results — Big Beautiful Life Run Walk & Roll AND First Responder Touch-A-Truck
Other races near Essex Junction
Different organizers, within 40 miles, in the next three months
Harvest Run 5K & Relay
GMAA Turkey Trot 5K
RunVermont's Youth Running Programs
Sarah Ramsey Strong 5k
🏃 Plan Your Next Race in Essex Junction
Find upcoming events by distance:
- Essex Junction 5K Races 5 races
- Essex Junction Running Calendar 2026 6 races
Where this page comes from. Race details were last updated on . We re-check listings regularly and again in the week before race day.
- Entries, prices, waves and inclusions — the event's official registration page
- Temperature and humidity — Copernicus ERA5 reanalysis via Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0)
- Elevation and terrain relief — Copernicus DEM GLO-90, ESA (CC BY 4.0)
- Comparisons and counts — Race Discovery calendar, 6 Essex Junction events
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