Strides for Africa
About this race
Strides for Africa Run/Walk – August 15, 2026 | McPike Park, Downtown Madison
Join us for the Strides for Africa Run/Walk, a family-friendly event open to all ages and held in-person at McPike Park as part of the kickoff to Africa Fest 2026. Participants can choose from a 5K run, a 5K walk, a 1.5-mile fun walk, a kids' fun run, or take part in a unique team relay that reflects the challenges of collecting water in rural Africa.
Proceeds support Strides for Africa’s clean water, education, and health projects in rural African communities. These initiatives contribute to improved access to water, support for youth education, and measurable community health outcomes. Locally, the event also offers participants a way to engage as global citizens through purposeful action.
This year, instead of t-shirts, each participant will receive a handmade Kenyan paper bead bracelet, supporting environmental sustainability and women artisans who are working to help build community-led education infrastructure for their children. In addition, participants can show their race bib to redeem a free drink at the Africa Fest "Beer Tent" following the event.
Pick your distance
Running
5K Run
5K Walk
1.5-Mile Fun Walk
1.5 Mile Team Relay
For those in rural Africa, the daily grind for water takes an incredible amount of effort, particularly for the women and children. The relay is not meant to be competitive but rather educational to simulate the challenges of the water gathering process that the women and children complete each day in rural Africa. The team relay will require teams to carry an empty 5-gallon Jerry Can from the start line to the filling station near Tenney Park (approximately 1 mile). Teams will then fill their plastic jerry can to their desired weight (a full can weighs approximately 50 lbs). The Jerry Cans will be equipped with 1-inch to 1.5-inch webbing (like a seatbelt) to serve as a harness. The harness will be adjustable to account for the different sizes of team members. For the relay portion, one member of the team will carry the Jerry Can at a time, while the other team members walk alongside the teammate who is carrying the Jerry Can. You can switch the Jerry Can between team members at any time. For teams deciding to fill their can to the max, it will be challenging, but doable.
0.25 Mile - Kids Fun Run
Typical race-day weather
Based on 11 years of historical conditions on this event's race dates in Madison.
Course
Route map and elevation profile
No course map published yet.
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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, 34 Madison events
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