Run & Remember

Run & Remember is more than a 5K. Each year Lost & Found Grief Center hosts our memorial event and 5K to bring our community together to honor the memory of loved ones who have died. This is an opportunity for you to invite others to remember your loved one with you. Being alongside others with shared experience helps create a sense of togetherness, showing that no one is grieving alone.

5K RUN/WALK & 1 MILE MEMORY WALK: Run & Remember is an all ages, all abilities event. You can run or walk the 5K through downtown Springfield or follow the shaded path back to the park on the 1 Mile Memory Walk that ends at the Memory Garden. Runners, walkers, strollers, wagons, and wheelchairs are all welcome.

MEMORY GARDEN: There is a special area at the park we call the Memory Garden. You can purchase a memorial sign, which will include the name and a photo of your loved one. These are displayed in the Memory Garden as a place for reflection and remembrance during the event. You may take your sign with you at the end of the event or pick it up from the Lost & Found office the following week.

REMEMBRANCE PROGRAM & RACE AWARDS: Race awards will begin at roughly 7:30 after most runners finish the race. Immediately following awards, we will have a short memorial program. The Lost & Found Programs team puts together a meaningful presentation that will allow you to reflect on your grief journey and remember the life of your loved one.

• REGISTRATION DEADLINES: Early Bird Registration ends April 30 – this is also the cut-off for a guaranteed shirt. We will have some additional shirts available at the event; registering by April 30 will guarantee you a shirt. You can register until the day of the event, but may not receive a shirt or your desired size. The deadline for purchasing the Memorial Sign is May 5.
  • Additional shirts are $20 each and can be purchased from the race store either during registration or as a separate purchase. The deadline to guarantee your shirt size is April 30.

• FOOD: Snacks and water for race participants. There will also be an ice cream truck with items available for purchase. Kids under 12 will receive a free treat In Loving Memory of Steve Shirley.

• TEAMS: We love seeing groups of friends and family coming together to remember their loved ones. If you have 10 or more people that want to attend Run & Remember, you can get a $5 discount on the registration by creating and signing up as a team. As part of the registration process, you will be asked if you want to join or create a team.
  • The first 9 people that register under your team name will pay full price initially. Once the 10th person registers, the first 9 will automatically get a $5 refund and all future team registrations will pay the discounted price.

• RACE DETAILS: The 5K is 3.1 miles, while the Memory Walk is approximately 1 mile. Both start and finish at Jordan Valley Park. The 5K will be timed using race bibs from ActNow Racing. Participants doing the Memory Walk will not receive a race bib, so as not to interfere with race results.
  • The routes will be marked with BLUE and ORANGE arrows. Follow the BLUE arrows for the 5k and the ORANGE arrows for the 1 mile. There will be cheerleaders and people helping direct to the correct path on both routes. Large groups please keep right, and runners please use announced passing. (Example: “Passing on your left”) Children under 12yrs old must have a running buddy with them for the 5K.
  • We currently do not have a Virtual option within our registration, but are considering this option. If you are interested in doing this event virtually on your own, please email jbrown@lostandfoundozarks.com.

• PACKET PICK UP: Packet Pick Up information can be found here: https://runsignup.com/Race/161172/PacketPickup/ 

• INCLEMENT WEATHER POLICY: The event will be held rain or shine unless the conditions are unsafe (heavy rains, flooding, lightning, high winds, etc.). We will monitor the weather to determine if there are unsafe conditions and make the decision if any action will be taken to modify the race. This could result in a delayed start time or canceling the race entirely. Should any changes occur, we will post the information on our website and our social media pages. There is NO rain date for the event. 

ADDITIONAL INFO: 

• Sun screen and bug spray are recommended.
• ADA accommodations: contact Jamie at jfields@lostandfoundozarks.com
• Dogs are allowed but must be on a leash. Please be prepared to pick up anything your dog leaves behind on or off course.
• Strollers are allowed but we ask that you start towards the back of the corral and be extra aware of your surroundings.
• If you ordered a memorial sign, you may view it in the Memory Garden located in the park. You may take your sign with you at the end of the event or pick it up from Lost & Found.
• Finisher Medals will be available to the first 600 participants.
• We will host an awards ceremony immediately following the race and before the Remembrance Program.
• Prizes will be gift cards for winners in each category of runners: Overall Male & Female + top 3 Males & Females in each age division:
  • 9 & under
  • 10-19
  • 20-29
  • 30-39
  • 40-49
  • 50-59
  • 60 & over.