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.
Pick your distance
Running
Leader of the Pack 5K
Race shirt guaranteed if registered by April 17, 2026. After this date, shirts will be available while supplies last on race day. Registration info: Now - April 17, 2026: $25 April 18, 2026 until Race Day (May 2, 2026): $30 Student Rate [Age 18 & under]: $10/$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+
DIY 5K
This “Do It Yourself” Event will allow participants to run or walk at any time and any location that is convenient for you. Run around the block, on trails, go down to the track (5K is 12.5 laps), or even run on a treadmill. You don't even have to live in NC - so please invite friends and family in other states or countries to join the fun.
Typical race-day weather
Based on 9 years of Open-Meteo archive data for this event's race dates in Forest City, plus the 3 days either side.
The sun rises at 6:34 AM and sets at 8:14 PM local time (EDT) in Forest City on May 2, 2026 — 13h 39m 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.
Reviews
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Results — Leader of the Pack 5K
Other races near Forest City
Different organizers, within 40 miles, in the next three months
Be the Light 5K
Yogi's Hey Hey 5K
Elves & Bells 5K
Ruby C. Hunt YMCA Turkey Trot 5K and Fun Run
🏃 Plan Your Next Race in Forest City
Find upcoming events by distance:
- Forest City 5K Races 3 races
- Forest City Running Calendar 2026 4 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, 4 Forest City events
Spotted something wrong? Tell us and we'll fix it.