May The Course Be With You

Join Us for A Star Wars-Themed Charity Run!

Celebrate May the Fourth a little early—on Saturday, May 2, 2026—with our exciting charity race, part of the 2026 Fleet Feet Race Series! The event kicks off and wraps up at Lawndale Baptist Church, where you’ll find:

• Delicious beverages from Wired Cafe Coffee Bus
• Tasty snacks
• Tons of awards and prizes!

Whether you're a seasoned runner or just starting out, remember:
The Force will be with you. Always.

Costumes Encouraged!

Come dressed as your favorite character—there will be Best Costume prizes, selected by our event staff judges. And of course, top finishers will receive awesome race prizes too!

Run for a Cause

As you Storm the Course, you’ll also Be the Force for Mental Health Awareness!

All proceeds from the May the Course Race benefit Restoration Place Counseling (RPC)—a local nonprofit offering affordable, professional Christian counseling to girls and women in the Triad and beyond.

Why it matters:
High cost is both a nationally and locally documented reason why people do not seek mental health care. RPC exists to remove this obstacle for those in need.

In a time when professional mental health care is needed more than ever, your participation helps make a real difference. Thank you for your support!

Disclaimers: All trademarks, trade names, or logos mentioned or depicted are the property of their respective owners. Their use in no way indicates any relationship, business or otherwise, between us and the owners of said trademarks, trade names, and logos. Every effort has been made to identify and attribute trademarks and trade names to their respective owners.

ALL participants are welcomed (and encouraged) to dress in costume. Best Costume prizes will be awarded and winners will be chosen by a panel of judges. 

Contest Rules*

1. All costumes must be in the form of a Star Wars® character. (No provocative versions please! This is a family-friendly event.) 
2. You must be a registered race participant to be eligible for the costume contest.
3. You must have a race number visible to be eligible for the Costume Contest, and please keep your race bib number on for winner announcements.
4. You must be present at the awards ceremony to win a prize.
5. You must have fun! 

*Scorecard shown below.

Prizes will be awarded to:

Adult Best Costume: 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Prize 
Child Best Costume: 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Prize

Race Schedule

7:00 - 7:40 AM - Check-In & Late Packet Pickup (NO RACE DAY REGISTRATION)
7:00 - 7:45 AM - Costume Contest Judging by Volunteer Panel (See Scorecard below.)
7:45 AM - 10K Start
8:05 AM - 5K Start
8:15 AM - "Mental Health Mile" start
9:15 AM - COSTUME CONTEST WINNERS ANNOUNCED
9:30 AM - AWARDS:10K Awards followed by 5K Awards

*Times are approximate for award ceremonies due to unexpected or unforeseen circumstances. 
**Please note that our judges are not Official Star Wars or Disney employees. While we try to judge objectively, it is impossible to not have some subjectivity or inconsistent scoring enter into the process. The goal of the contest is to have FUN.

The Force is with you. Always.

Our MAY THE FORCE course is great for both new and experienced runners alike! After a short climb up Kery Drive and through one small loop of the Lawndale neighborhood (10K only), the course flattens out at about 1.25 mi. Then runners find their rhythm along the Atlantic & Yadkin Greenway, with both races ending on a downhill sprint to the finish!

10K Route

Turn by turn directions for the 10K:
Right on Kery Dr
Right on Overton
Right on Hathaway
Right on Running Brook
Left on Fox Pl
Left on Hathaway
Left on Overton
Right on Kery Dr
Right on Lane Rd, Cross over Martinsville to Isaacs Pl
Cross over Pisgah Church onto Greenway
Left on Forest Lawn
Left onto Atlantic and Yadkin Greenway
Continue over Pedestrian Bridge to Intersection of Lake Brandt Rd and Cotswold Ave
Left on Cotswold Ave - STAY ON SIDEWALK
Left on Cotswold Terrace
Connect back to A & Y Greenway and return to start. **THE 10K COURSE DOES NOT RETURN THROUGH LAWNDALE NEIGHBORHOOD.**
Finish on a downhill sprint on Kery Dr. to the finish line

5K Route

Turn by turn directions for the 5K:
Right on Kery Dr
Right on Lane Rd, Cross over Martinsville to Isaacs Pl
Cross over Pisgah Church onto Greenway
Left on Forest Lawn
Left onto Atlantic and Yadkin Greenway
Enjoy a fresh drink of water at the Water Stop near the Westridge Rd/Old Battleground pedestrian crossing.
Continue straight on the Greenway until you see the Course Monitors and Turn-Around Sign.
Turn and head back the exact way you came.
After making your last left from Lane onto Kery Dr, finish on a DOWNHILL sprint to the end!

Mental Health Mile Route

Turn by turn directions for the Mental Health Mile:
Right on Kery Dr
Right on Overton
Right on Hathaway
Right on Running Brook
Left on Fox Pl
Left on Hathaway
Left on Overton
Right on Fern 
Left on Kery

YOU CAN BE THE FORCE!

Signing up to become a fundraiser is super easy! Click here! Create a personal URL to share with family and friends through email or social media. The best part? We will be giving away incredible prizes for ALL FUNDRAISERS who reach the "next level"! With each level, you will receive a Badge on your Fundraiser Profile, some fabulous gifts and prizes, AND your race registration refunded! 

Note: Fundraisers will not receive prizes for multiple levels; prizes awarded will correspond with the highest level attained by May 2, 2026. Prizes based on availability at time of event. Any necessary substitutions will be of same value and quality.

For Fundraisers not interested in Star Wars-themed gifts, you may select an Amazon Gift Card for the prize value of level attained.

THURSDAY - April 30, 2026

Packet Pick-Up @ Fleet Feet Winston Salem
278 Harvey Street, Winston Salem, NC 27103 (Hanes Towne Village Shopping Center)
4:00 PM - 6:30 PM

FRIDAY - May 1, 2026

Packet Pick-Up @ Fleet Feet Greensboro, 3731 Lawndale Dr, Greensboro, NC 27455
4:00 PM - 6:00 PM

SATURDAY - May 2, 2026
7th Annual May the Course Race! 

7:00 - 7:40 - Check-In & Late Packet Pickup (ONLINE REGISTRATION CLOSES AT 7:15 AM.)
7:00 - 7:45 AM - Costume Contest Judging by Volunteer Panel (See Costume Contest Page here for guidelines and more details.)
7:45 AM - 10K Start
8:05 AM - 5K Start
8:15 AM - "Mental Health Mile" start
**Note: Awards Ceremony times are approximate.
9:15 AM - COSTUME CONTEST WINNERS ANNOUNCED
9:30 AM - AWARDS:10K Awards followed by 5K Awards

ALSO!! On Site from 7 AM - 11 AM! WIRED CAFE COFFEE BUS! 

A Word From Our Race Host- Lawndale Baptist Church

I don't know about you, but I am a big fan of the Star Wars franchise! Dating all the way back to 1977, Star Wars has drawn and held the attention of literally hundreds of millions of fans worldwide. Camping out overnight for tickets, fan blogs, and so much more are just a part of the entire experience and culture.

The "force", as Obi-Wan Kenobi so well explained, is: "Well, the Force is what gives a Jedi his power It's an energy field created by all living things. It surrounds us and penetrates us; it binds the galaxy together." For Luke, Leia, and the other heroes of the universe, this was a reassuring idea. But what about us? What is your force?

You see, the reason Lawndale Baptist Church hosts and underwrites May the Course Be With You Race, and why we care so deeply about others, is because of the greater Force who is a Person and not an "it". Our Force is found in our trust in, our belief in, our faith in God, the One who created the universe and all that is in it. (Genesis 1; Hebrews 11:13; Colossians 1:16; 1 Corinthians 8:6; Isaiah 40)

We are grateful that we have the opportunity to share with others that the true Force, found through faith in Jesus Christ, is available to everyone - not just the characters of the Star Wars franchise. If you've found yourself wondering about life and its true meaning, please contact us. We'd be honored to hear from you - to answer questions you may have or to simply listen. We are excited about your participation in the 7th Annual May the Course Be With You, and we appreciate that through this race, you will be supporting one of our ministry partners, Restoration Place Counseling, a local nonprofit ministry that offers the hope of Christ through affordable, professional mental health services in Greensboro. Click here to learn more about our race beneficiary.

May the true Force be with you always,
Rev. Jimmy Jackson
Administrative & Outreach Pastor
Lawndale Baptist Church

STORM YOUR "COURSE" on MAY THE FOURTH!
Costumes, Scavenger Hunt, & Prizes!

In the Spirit of May the Fourth, we want to encourage you to take part in this special day! Although you can run or walk your own course on any day at any time between May 1 and May 30, we encourage you to hit the streets on Monday, MAY THE FOURTH in costume to BE THE FORCE in promoting the benefits of exercise, both physically AND *mentally! 

Gather your besties, and while still social distancing, complete any 3.1 mile course of your choosing. Not sure how to track your mileage? Two free apps you can download on your Android or IOS device: Strava and RunGo.

BUT WAIT! THERE'S MORE! While on your run or walk, take part in an out-of-this-world Star Wars Scavenger Hunt with a chance to win some great prizes! (You must be registered for the race to win prizes!) Make sure you read the rules of participation! 

We hope you'll join in on the fun! May the Fourth and the Course both be with you. Always.

*REMEMBER: MAY is Mental Health Month and MAY THE COURSE is raising money to benefit a very special mental health resource in our community, Restoration Place Counseling (RPC). RPC is a non-profit organization that exists to facilitate emotional and spiritual healing in girls and women, while restoring dignity, virtue and honor to them, and empowering each to embrace her God-given identity.

RPC achieves their mission by providing significantly-discounted, professional Christian counseling services, thus eliminating the barrier of high cost–a nationally and locally documented reason why many women do not seek the services they need. RPC serves approximately 600 women and completes almost 9,000 counseling sessions each year.

As you run May the Course, you will Be A Force in the lives of many girls and women in our community! Thank you for your support!

We will have TWO Packet Pickups... one in Winston Salem and one in Greensboro! Participants can pick up at EITHER location. 

DATE: Thursday, April 30th
TIME: 4:00 PM - 6:30 PM
LOCATION: Fleet Feet, 278 Harvey Street, Winston Salem, NC 27103 (Hanes Towne Village Shopping Center)

DATE: Friday, May 1st
TIME: 4:00 PM - 6:00 PM
LOCATION: Fleet Feet, 3731 Lawndale Drive, Greensboro, NC 27455

We will have Race Day Packet Pickup from 7:00 AM - 7:40 AM. For LOCAL RUNNERS, please try to pick up your packet on Thursday (Winston Salem) or Friday (Greensboro). You are allowed to pickup someone else's packet. 

We look forward to seeing you! 

Something for everyone, there is.

Prizes will be awarded to the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place overall Male and Female 

10K and 5K Winner Categories

OVERALL MALE & FEMALE
1st Place: $35 Gift Card to FLEET FEET, 18 oz. YETI Rambler Bottle, Feetures socks, Balega socks, GU
2nd Place: $25 Gift Card to FLEET FEET, goodr OG polarized sunglasses, Feetures socks, GU
3rd Place: $15 Gift Card to FLEET FEET, 16 oz. Hydro Flask (wide mouth), GU

AGE GROUPS MALE AND FEMALE: 
1ST, 2ND, 3RD
14 years old and younger
15-19 years old
20-29 years old
30-39 years old
40-49 years old
50-59 years old
60-69 years old
70+

Every participant at May the Course is important and a winner, from the first to the final finisher. Therefore, we encourage all athletes to stay and enjoy the post-race refreshments and to cheer in the final finishers.

WAIT!! MORE PRIZES??

YES! We encourage you to dress as your favorite Star Wars Character and be eligible to win a Best Costume Prize. Costumes will be judged by a secret panel who will wander all 5K waves + the 1-Mile Fun Run looking for the most outstanding costumes! We will select three winners! 

You are invited to join a 10-Week Bible Study and 5K Beginner's Training Program to train your PHYSICAL and SPIRITUAL muscles at the same time. Both programs are offered as complimentary add-ons with your race registration. Join our Race Charity's Founder/CEO, Cindy Mondello, as she leads the group beginning Monday, February 27th.

10-Week Bible Study

Description: The writer of Hebrews tells us to “run with perseverance the race marked out for us” (12:1). God has a race for you to run, a purpose for you to fulfill. And while it doesn’t matter how fast you run, it does matter how you run. This 10-week study will equip you to run well the race that God has designed for you. Together, we will explore God’s Word and allow it to empower us to embrace the race, to keep pressing on, and to be assured that He is perfecting our character, faith, and strength each step of the way – even when the course is difficult.

Starts: Monday, 2/27
Ends: Monday, 5/1
Time: 6 PM - 7:30 PM
Location: Lawndale Baptist Church, 3505 Lawndale Drive, GSO, 27408

10-Week Beginner 5K Training

It's been proven that physical activity greatly improves our mental, emotional, and spiritual health. We also know the effect is greater when done in community. Turn that into spiritual community and you’ve got a guaranteed recipe for success! Join Cindy along with Greensboro's own RunnerDude (Thad McLaurin) for a 10-week Beginner's 5K Training group. Thad has provided a Beginner's Plan here that you will follow to prepare for the race, which is on Saturday, May 6th. 

There will be THREE weekly MEETUPS to walk/run the plan together. These are not mandatory but highly encouraged, as the research shows that physical activity done in groups is much more effective. Meetups will be held on:

MONDAYS, either before or after the Bible Study (group will decide)
WEDNESDAYS, at 5:30 PM (Start Locations here.)
SATURDAYS, at 8:30 AM (Start Locations here.)

Questions? Email Cindy at cindy@rpcounseling.org

CLUES: 

1. “Luke, I am your father.” Take a photo of a father and son (or daughter, we’re not picky) outside together, preferably exercising or playing.
2. Endor was the lush, forest home of the Ewok species and is the gravesite of Darth Vader and Empire itself. Take a photo of a thick covering of trees.
3. Home to Yoda during his final years, Dagobah was a swamp-covered planet strong with the Force -- a forgotten world where the wizened Jedi Master could escape the notice of Imperial forces. Find a lake, pond, drainage ditch, or any other body of water, and take a photo.
4. A capital ship was a large military starship designed for deep-space warfare. You likely won’t see one flying through the skies while out on your run, but you may see an airplane. Snap a pic for us!
5. A Jedi is a guardian of peace and justice in the galaxy. Take a photo of a U.S. version of a guardian of peace and justice: either a policeman, lawyer’s office sign, or the security guard at the Verizon store. (Or any other great example you can think of!)
6. Darth Vader's mask was one of the most important pieces of his armor, and it was vital to his survival. Take a photo of someone along your route wearing a mask… it shouldn’t be difficult to find in this day and time!
7. Around 4000 BBY, lightsaber crystals were used to indicate a Jedi's chosen class. Decide which Jedi you most identify with and find a light of that color to photograph.
   • Blue indicated a Jedi Guardian, a Jedi who used the Force on a more physical level.
   • Green indicated a Jedi Consular, a Jedi who preferred to reflect on the mysteries of the Force and fight the dark side at its heart.
   • Yellow indicated a Jedi Sentinel, a Jedi who honed his or her skills in a balance of combat and scholarly pursuits.
8. Obi-Wan Kenobi was offered a cup of Jawa juice by WA-7 while at Dex's Diner. Jawa juice was made by the Ardees Beverage Company. End your run with a cool beverage, and take a photo of yourself enjoying it. 

May the Course Be With You Scavenger Hunt!

In the spirit of the fun scavenger runs* recently launched by our timing provider and the Omega Sports Race Series manager, Junction 311 Endurance Sports, here's a great way to have some fun during our virtual event!

Suit up in your favorite Star Wars attire and complete both your virtual race distance AND this scavenger hunt (on the same day or separate days)! The Star Wars-themed Scavenger Hunt offers an adventurous way to get outdoors and gives you a chance to win some great prizes! (You must be registered for the race to win prizes!) Make sure you read the rules of participation below! 

Scavenger Clues: Click here.

RULES TO BE ELIGIBLE FOR PRIZES:

1. Anyone can participate in the Scavenger Run, but you must be registered for May the Course Virtual 5K or 1-Mile Fun Run to be eligible for prizes!
2. You must be in some type of Star Wars costume/attire (it does NOT have to be elaborate, just creative!).
3. With list in hand, set out on your virtual run or walk and when you find an item on the list, take a picture (with you in the picture if possible)!
4. Then post your photos on our Facebook Event page or tag us on Instagram (@maythecourse).
5. You must find and share 5 of the 8 photos to be eligible for prizes!
6. Throughout the month of May, we will draw for some really great prizes out of those who are registered, have uploaded their results, and have posted photos of their run and scavenger finds! We will announce winners on social media, but we will also reach out individually. (Note: You can only win once, but your name will be placed in each drawing from the time you complete your hunt till the end of the event. So, the sooner, the better as it gives you greater odds!)
7. Finally....while outside enjoying yourself, don't forget to "Social Distance"!

A FEW OF THE PRIZES: 

• Star Wars Photo Booth Props (8 pc. pkg)
• JOYIN Light Up Saber 2 in 1 (Dual Laser Swords Set with Sound)
• Star Wars Trivia Game
• LEGO Star Wars: A New Hope Death Star Cannon
• Chewbacca Wookie Sounds Mask
• Hasbro Star Wars Yoda Electronic Mask
• Shaklee Sports Basket
• Yoga Starter Kit (including yoga mat, strap and two blocks)
• Gift Certificate for an Oil Change @ Grease Monkey
• NAPA Clean Car Bucket
• Concealed Carry Class at Caliber's
• Private Wine Class at Total Wine (for up to 20 people), expires August 29, 2020
• 30-Minute Massage with Beth Almon
• 60-Minute Massage from Kneaded Energy
• 60-minute massage from Artists in Motion 
• Pig Pounder Brewery t-shirts, koozie, bottle opener and key chain
• Vegan Certified products by Arbonne
• and much more!!

*Be sure to follow Junction 311 Endurance Sports on Facebook and to join their group #ScavengerRun311 to take part in their weekly scavenger hunts!

   May the Course Be With You 10K/5K
 is a proud participant of

The Race Series, powered by Junction 311 Endurance Sports, is THE race series in the Triad! All the best races are included in the 2026 lineup, and when you run just one of these races, you're automatically entered into the series and on your way to winning some great prizes!

In addition to individual scoring, the Race Series now has a TEAM COMPONENT...all the more reason to rally friends and family to join you on your quest to conquer the course! To find out more about all series races and individual plus team scoring, visit the website here.

Series Highlights

• Participate in 5 races in the series calendar year to be eligible for awards (in person)
• Run as many races as you can. We will score all of your races.
• Awards presented to the top 3 male and female overall and age group
• Special invitations to ongoing series socials, gatherings and special events through the year
• End of season celebration for all series qualifiers
• Over $5000 worth of awards and prizes

May is Mental Health Awareness Month, and we're hitting the ground running—literally! Join us for the May the Course Be With You 5K / 10K, a community race dedicated to raising funds for a truly transformative local resource: Restoration Place Counseling (RPC).

RPC has been a beacon of hope since its founding in 2005, serving over 7,000 girls and women in our community. Through deeply discounted Christian counseling services, RPC breaks down the financial barriers that often prevent individuals from accessing the care they need.

At RPC, healing begins in a warm, welcoming, and restorative environment. The heart of RPC’s mission is to walk alongside women and girls on their journeys toward emotional and spiritual restoration—helping each embrace her God-given identity.

Whether you're running, walking, or cheering from the sidelines, your participation helps ensure that more women can access the life-changing support they deserve.

Watch the video below to hear a powerful story from a former client whose life was changed through RPC’s care.