Boots and Blooms 5K

The Boots and Blooms 5K is a race in honor and memory of ALL of the babies gone too soon. The Boots and Blooms Foundation was created in loving memory of our daughter, Lilly, and our son, Andy, to help other bereaved families who experience the devastating loss of a child. 

Our 5K will be held annually on the first Saturday in October to kick off Pregnancy and Infant loss awareness month. This year’s race will be 10/3/2026. We will also have a virtual 5K option open 10/1/26-10/5/26. This is a walk or run event! 

Since our daughter Lilly was stillborn on May 14, 2018 we have made it our mission to help other bereaved families. We lost our son Andy on February 17, 2023 and unfortunately have been through this nightmare twice now and know how important it is to be able to make memories with your baby. With the help of our family and friends, as well as the proceeds from our previous fundraising events, we have been able to help hundreds of bereaved families create memories with their babies during the brief time they physically have to spend with them. 

Proceeds from this 5K will go towards helping other bereaved families that have to endure the unimaginable and to help them make memories with their baby while they can. We would love for you to join us to remember and honor all of the babies that should still physically be here with us. 

Check out our foundation’s website or Facebook page for more info on what we’ve done to help other bereaved families.

www.bootsandbloomsfoundation.org

 
Giveaway
You will receive an awesome t-shirt for participating in our 5K but be sure to register by September 5th to guarantee a t-shirt as T-shirt order will be placed the first week of September. 

Awards
Medals will be awarded to the top 3 male and female overall finishers as well as the top male and female finishers in each age group:
0-19, 20-29, 30-39, 40-49, 50-59, 60 and older

We can’t wait to show off this year’s medals! 

Course Description
The Boots and Blooms 5K will take place at the beautiful Martin Marietta Park in New Bern, NC. The race will utilize the Dragonfly trail and other adjacent trails to have a total distance of 5K. This is an improved gravel trail with minimal elevation changes. Come run, walk, or push a jogging stroller with us! (Umbrella strollers would be ideal on the trail). Enjoy the scenic views while supporting a great cause. There will be one water station along the course and light refreshments following the race.

What is a virtual run?

A virtual race is an event where you sign up and participate on a course of your choosing (or a treadmill). This is a great opportunity to work towards your running goals, stay healthy and support a great cause!

The event will feature a leaderboard so you can still see how you stack up against your fellow competitors!

Where do I run?

You can run at a course of your choosing, including on a treadmill.

When do I run?

You can run (or walk) anytime from October 1st-5th, 2025.

Will this race be timed?

The virtual run will not be officially timed, but by using the RaceJoy app, you can receive a GPS-based time which will automatically submit your time for you. There will be an online leaderboard showing everyone's times.

How do I post my results?

The easiest way is to use RaceJoy during the race! If you choose not to use RaceJoy, then you can visit the results page and click the "Submit Virtual Results" link at the top of the page.

When/how will I get my swag?

Swag will be shipped out directly to your address early in the week of Oct 13th.

This event is timed by Run the East! With professional race timing services and a focus on delivering accurate results, 
we’re here to make your race day seamless and enjoyable. Learn more at runtheeast.com.