RunTough
About this race
ChadTough Defeat DIPG Foundation is excited to announce our 13th Annual RunTough event, which will be held both virtually and in person at Saline High School's Hornet Stadium in the afternoon on SUNDAY, September 27, 2026. RunTough is the foundation’s longest-running event, and due to popular demand we are bringing back our traditional 5K & 1M races in Saline!
The 13th Annual RunTough will have all of the following ways to participate:
- RETURNING RACE FORMATS FOR THE SALINE LOCAL EVENT! — We are back to our traditional 5K road race through the Saline High School Campus and Chad's neighborhood next door, along with our 1M Fun Run that is an out and back along Campus Drive.
- FAMILY FUN ZONE (LOCAL ONLY) — Come for the races, stay for the Family Fun Zone featuring kids games and activities in the main Hornet Stadium this year!
- TOT SPRINT (LOCAL ONLY) — We will once again host the adorable Tot Sprint on the main Hornet Stadium football field at 3:15pm for our toddler crowd!
- VIRTUAL 5K WITH OR WITHOUT A SHIRT — You can register for our virtual race with or without a shirt. You choose the date, the time, and the location to run, walk, or do the activity of your choice (or not — we won't tell!). If you register for a shirt, we'll mail you a race packet. VIRTUAL REGISTRATIONS AFTER 9/2/26 WILL NOT RECEIVE THEIR PACKETS IN THE MAIL UNTIL OCTOBER!
- ADDITIONAL EFFORTS — For more information about efforts being led by our Family Partners as well as other families affected by pediatric brain cancer, please go to www.chadtough.org/runtough. Information for these efforts will be updated as it becomes available.
Packet pickup for the local Saline event will be Friday, Sept 25, from 12-6pm at the ChadTough Defeat DIPG Foundation office in Saline (201 W. Michigan Ave) or starting at 1pm on event day at Hornet Stadium.
***Please note that NO DOGS are permitted at this event!***
RunTough originated in 2014 when a group of neighbors in the Saline area came together in support of Chad Carr, a 3-year-old boy who had been diagnosed with terminal brain cancer called DIPG. Since then, RunTough alone has raised over $3 million for pediatric brain cancer research and inspired more than 19,000 registrations.
Brain cancer kills more kids than any other type, and DIPG is responsible for almost half of all pediatric brain cancer deaths. With a nearly 0% survival rate and less than 1% of federal cancer research funding earmarked for ALL types of pediatric brain cancer, it’s no surprise that the standard of care has not changed in the six decades since Neil Armstrong’s daughter died of DIPG. But thanks primarily to DIPG families like the Carrs, who have channeled their grief into an effort to fund game-changing research on DIPG, doctors have begun to discover breakthrough treatments that are showing great promise, so much so that they now believe a cure will be found in our lifetime.
All proceeds will go to the ChadTough Defeat DIPG Foundation, whose mission is to inspire and fund game-changing research to discover effective treatments for pediatric brain cancer, with an emphasis on diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma (DIPG). Brain cancer kills more kids than any other type of cancer, and DIPG is responsible for almost half of all pediatric brain cancer deaths. Finding effective treatment options for this complex disease is one of the best ways to save kids from cancer!
To learn more about the ChadTough Defeat DIPG Foundation, go to www.chadtough.org.
Join fellow runners on September 29, 2024 for the RunTough. It's a fantastic 5K, 1.6K featuring a flat and fast course in Saline.
Pick your distance
Running
VIRTUAL With Shirt (Mailed To You)
Join us in spirit by taking a 5K or 1 Mile run or walk (or any other activity of your choice!) at any time that works for you. This can be done anywhere and includes shipment of a race shirt and bib. Early Bird pricing ends July 31! VIRTUAL REGISTRATIONS AFTER 9/4/24 WILL NOT RECEIVE THEIR PACKETS IN THE MAIL UNTIL AFTER RACE DAY ON SEPT 29! Thank you for your support of our mission to cure pediatric brain cancer. Tag us on social media, we would love to see your photos!
VIRTUAL Without Shirt
We are once again offering a virtual option without a shirt for just $20! You can still join us in spirit by taking a 5K or 1 Mile run or walk (or any other activity of your choice!) at any time that works for you. Wear whatever you want, though we'd love it to be orange! Thank you for your support of our mission to cure pediatric brain cancer. Tag us on social media, we would love to see your photos! ***NOTE that this option does not include a shirt or race packet.***
SALINE 5K
We are excited to be in person in Saline again this year — this time on a SUNDAY afternoon! We encourage you to challenge yourself in some way to celebrate your own inner strength and courage. Run further, run faster, refer more friends, or raise more money for DIPG than you have before. If this is your first year joining us, set a goal — pace, fundraising amount, # of people recruited to join you, etc... Early Bird pricing ends July 31! All participants registered by September 4 are guaranteed to receive a race shirt. Shirts may be available after September 4 but cannot be guaranteed. ***Packet pickup will be from 3-5pm Saturday Sept 28th at Saline High School's Hornet Stadium or starting at 1pm on race day. Opening ceremony is at 2:15pm, race starts at 2:30pm.*** Please note that NO DOGS are allowed on the SHS track or turf field where the race finishes!
SALINE 1 Mile
We are excited to be in person in Saline again this year — this time on a SUNDAY afternoon!! We encourage you to challenge yourself in some way to celebrate your own inner strength and courage. Run further, run faster, refer more friends, or raise more money for DIPG than you have before. If this is your first year joining us, set a goal — pace, fundraising amount, # of people recruited to join you, etc... Early Bird pricing ends July 31! All participants registered by September 4 are guaranteed to receive a race shirt. Shirts may be available after September 4 but cannot be guaranteed. We are pleased to once again offer FREE registration for our 5 & under crowd, which includes a unique, toddler-only shirt. Please sign up for the Toddler 1M Fun Run for that option, which is only available for the local Saline event (not virtual). ***Packet pickup will be from 3-5pm Saturday Sept 28th at Saline High School's Hornet Stadium or starting at 1pm on race day. Opening ceremony is at 2:15pm, race starts at 2:30pm.*** Please note that NO DOGS are allowed on the SHS track or turf field where the race finishes!
SALINE Toddler Option
We are pleased to once again offer FREE registration for our 5 & under crowd for the LOCAL EVENT IN SALINE ONLY — not valid for the Virtual Race. This registration includes a unique, toddler-only shirt. (NOTE: This is not the same shirt as the race shirt!) We have a limited number of toddler shirts in each size (2T, 3T, 4T, 5T, or Y-XS) that are available while supplies last on a first come, first served basis. If we are sold out of your child's size or you do not want a toddler shirt, you can still register them to participate and select None for your t-shirt option. * Pricing valid for ages 5 and under only. BACK BY POPULAR DEMAND! At 3:15pm after the race, there will be a FREE Tot Sprint in the Family Fun Zone for our younger crowd! Please note that NO DOGS are allowed on the SHS track or turf field where the race finishes!
About Saline
RunTough takes place in Saline, Michigan, United States. The local timezone is America/Detroit.
Reviews
Done this event?
If you've participated in this event, share your experience with other runners
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.