The Amazing Grace Running Scared 5K Run and Walk

19th Annual Amazing Grace Running Scared 5K Run and Walk.

Saturday, October 17th, 2026, 6:00 pm

Reading Stadium, Reading OH 

Supporting Youth Education!

The Running Scared 5k benefits Youth Education. To date approximately $350,000 has been raised to help children in the Cincinnati Valley area.

The Running Scared 5k was first started in 2008.  It is a flat 3.1 mile course through a “spooky” cemetery, ending at a fabulous Halloween Fest!  Participants are encouraged to run/walk in costumes. After the race, people are admitted to the post race party where they can listen to music or have a cold beer. They can enjoy food and drinks from our generous sponsors and listen music while they stay toasty warm inside or gather around the roaring fire outside.

Choose your event:

We are back "LIVE" this year for our traditional 5K Run Walk

Can't make it to the "Live" event? We have you covered. You can still support the event with our Virtual event. You can run or walk your own 5K (if you want to) and even post your time on our Virtual Results Page.

Schedule of events:

The 19th Annual Running Scared 5k is at 6 pm.
Post Race Party: 6:30 pm - 10 pm inside and outside of Haffey Fieldhouse. 

Location:

Reading Veterans Memorial Stadium, 1600 West St Cincinnati, OH 45215

GPS Coordinates: 39.231282, -84.438853

Course:

The race will start on West Street near the Stadium, wind through the “spooky” Reading Cemetery and head out and back for a flat, fast course ending on the track in the Stadium. There will be water at the start, middle and end of the route. Runners and Walkers are welcomed.

Awards:

Our traditional Famous Mugs will be given to the first 50 men and the first 50 women as they cross the finish line.

Results:

Overall Results will be posted at the post-race party. Complete results will also be posted online (here).

There are no age category awards for this event.

After the race:

Fantastic party inside and outside of Haffey Fieldhouse. We are going to have lots of food from our wonderful sponsors, Costume contest with prizes awarded, Door Prizes, Music by "BAM Entertainment" and our beer garden outside. We also plan to have Split-the-Pot, raffle baskets to help us raise money.
For those who are 21 and over with proper ID, Beer is available.

Door Prizes:

Also, don’t forget, that to be eligible for our many fabulous door prizes, all you have to do is register in advance of race day. 

Raffle:

We will be selling raffle tickets at the after party. If you want to buy tickets, bring some $. 

Virtual 5K:

Can't make it to the "Live" event? We have you covered. You can still support the event with our Virtual event. You can run or walk your own 5K (if you want to) and even post your time on our Virtual Results Page. You can run or walk your 5K anytime or anywhere you like. You can post your results on our Virtual Results page anytime between 10/1/2024 and 10/19/2024.

Registration Cost:

5K Registration - $30 through Thursday. October 15, 2026. $35 on Friday, October 16, 2026. $40 Race Day. Fee includes Professional Chip-timing, Race Medal, , Awards, Food and refreshments and entrance to the Post-race Party.

Party only - $20 - We encourage your friends to come and cheer you on as a race participant and we certainly want them to come and party with you afterwards! Bring yourself and your friends! It includes FUN, tickets for drinks, (Proper ID is required for anyone consuming alcohol) Food from our wonderful sponsors, costume contest and Live Band. Performance Race T-shirts are also available for purchase.

New in 2024: All Kids 13 and under can participate for only $20. 

T-Shirts:

 Shirts are optional and are available for $17 for short-sleeved and $20 for long-sleeved. Larger sizes are $3 additional.  

To be guaranteed to receive your desired size, please order by10/1/2026

Registration Information:

Register online: Online registration will be available through race day.

Register by Mail: Postmark your registration by Monday, October 12, 2026

Early Packet Pick up:

Friday, Oct. 16, 2026 from Noon - 6 pm at Haffey Fieldhouse, 1599 West Street, Reading, Ohio 45215 (across from the Stadium).

Race Day Packet Pick up:

Saturday, Oct. 17, 2026 from 4 pm - 5:45 pm at Veteran’s Memorial Stadium, 1600 West Street, Reading, Ohio 45215.

Free Parking:

You may park your vehicle anywhere near Haffey Fieldhouse and Reading Veteran’s Memorial Stadium at 1600 West Street, Reading, Ohio 45215.

Note: If you park in the lot, you will not be able to leave until the last person finishes the race. Parking available on nearby streets if you must leave early.

No Refunds!

13th Annual Amazing Grace Running Scared Virtual Challenge

October 17 - October 31, 2020

Supporting Youth Education!

The Running Scared 5k was first started in 2008 and benefits Youth Education. To date approximately $320,000 has been raised to help children in the Cincinnati Valley area.

Since we cannot gather together as a group for 2020, we are offering a Virtual Challenge. You can participate on your favorite course route and post your results here. You are not limited to a 5K. Run or Walk any distance you wish. We will combine the distances of all participants. Our goal is to log 1000 total miles. Help us to reach our goal. By participating, you will have some fun and you will also be supporting our cause, which is as important as ever. You will receive a t-shirt, finishers medal and a virtual bib number for your efforts. Post photos of your efforts on our Facebook page.

T-Shirts:

Performance Tech-style short-sleeved shirt is included with your registration.

Medals:

All participants will receive a commemorative finishers medal

Door Prizes;

All participants will have a chance to win door prizes that will be randomly drawn.

Race Photos:

Post your race photos (with your printable bib number) on our Facebook page

1000 Mile Challenge:

Post your distance on our results page. We will combine the total distance of all participants. Our goal is to total at least 1000 miles. Participate as many times as you like. 

Raffle Baskets:

If you purchase tickets along with your registration, we will email you when we have exact details of the baskets.  You will then be able to select which baskets you want your tickets place OR if you do not respond, we will place your tickets in random baskets. 

Registration Cost:

$35 gets you entry for the virtual challenge, commemorative t-shirt, finisher medal, digital bib number and chance to win door prizes

Registration Information:

Register online only for 2020

Packet Pick up:

We will have a Packet Pick up on October 16 for local participants.  Noon to 6pm at Haffey Fieldhouse, 1599 West Street, Reading, Ohio 45215 (across from the Stadium).

We will make arrangements to ship to participants who cannot make it to the packet pickup.

No Refunds!

12th Annual Running Scared 5K Run and Walk.

Sponsored by Ray Rusche/Oxford Physical Therapy Centers

Saturday, October 12, 2019 6:00 pm

Reading Stadium, Reading OH 

Supporting Youth Education!

The Running Scared 5k benefits Youth Education. To date approximately $320,000 has been raised to help children in the Cincinnati Valley area.

The Running Scared 5k was first started in 2008.  It is a flat 3.1 mile course through a “spooky” cemetery, ending at a fabulous Halloween Fest!  Participants are encouraged to run/walk in costumes. After the race, people are admitted to the post race party where they can listen to a hot band or have a cold beer. They can enjoy food and drinks from our generous sponsors and listen to the live jammin’ band while they stay toasty warm inside or gather around the roaring fire outside.

Schedule of events:

Kids Fun Run at 4:30 pm
The 12th Annual Ray Rusche/Oxford Physical Therapy Centers Running Scared 5k is at 6 pm.
Post Race Party: 6:30 pm - 10 pm inside and outside of Haffey Fieldhouse. 

Location:

Reading Veterans Memorial Stadium, 1600 West St Cincinnati, OH 45215

GPS Coordinates: 39.231282, -84.438853

Course:

The race will start on West Street near the Stadium, wind through the “spooky” Reading Cemetery and head out and back for a flat, fast course ending on the track in the Stadium. There will be water at the start, middle and end of the route. Runners and Walkers are welcomed.

Awards:

Awards will be given to the first 50 men and the first 50 women as they cross the finish line.

Results:

Overall Results will be posted at the post-race party. Complete results will also be posted online (here).

There are no age category awards for this event.

After the race:

Fantastic party inside and outside of Haffey Fieldhouse. We are gonna have lots of food from our wonderful sponsors, Costume contest with prizes awarded, Door Prizes,  Live music and our beer garden outside. We also plan to have Split-the-Pot,  raffle baskets to help us raise money.
For those who are 21 and over with proper ID, Beer is available.

Door Prizes:

Also, don’t forget, that to be eligible for our many fabulous door prizes, all you have to do is register in advance of race day. 

Registration Cost:

5K Registration - $30 through Thursday. October 10, 2019. $35 on Friday, October 11, 2019. $40 Race Day. Fee includes Professional Chip-timing, Awards, Food and refreshments and entrance to the Post-race Party.

Party only - $20 - We encourage your friends to come and cheer you on as a race participant and we certainly want them to come and party with you afterwards! Bring yourself and your friends! It includes FUN, tickets for drinks, (Proper ID is required for anyone consuming alcohol) Food from our wonderful sponsors, costume contest and Live Band. Performance Race T-shirts are also available for purchase.

Kids Fun Run - Only $5. Kids Fun Run will be at 4:30 and go through the cemetery. Kids Fun Run T-shirts are also available for purchase.

T-Shirts:

New for 2019: We now offer a Performance Tech-style short-sleeved shirt. Shirts are optional and are available for $12. Larger sizes are slightly higher. 

Kids Fun Run T-shirts are optional and available for only $7.

Registration Information:

Register online: Pre register online through Friday, October 11, , 2019. 

Register by Mail: Postmark your registration by Monday, October 5, 2019

Late Registration and Packet Pick up:

Register in Person: Friday, Oct. 11th, 2019 from Noon - 6 pm at Haffey Fieldhouse, 1599 West Street, Reading, Ohio 45215 (across from the Stadium).

Race Day Registration and Packet Pick up:

Register in Person: Saturday, Oct. 12th, 2019 from 4 pm - 5:45 pm at Veteran’s Memorial Stadium, 1600 West Street, Reading, Ohio 45215.

Free Parking:

You may park your vehicle anywhere near Haffey Fieldhouse and Reading Veteran’s Memorial Stadium at 1600 West Street, Reading, Ohio 45215.

Note: If you park in the lot, you will not be able to leave until the last person finishes the race. Parking available on nearby streets if you must leave early.

No Refunds!

Support the race by becoming a sponsor. We know that you understand the importance of strong schools and educated children to your community. That’s why we are offering you this opportunity to help as a sponsor of the Running Scared 5K. The money raised goes to improved technology, school supplies, and tuition assistance.
There are many sponsorship levels and advertising benefits. See the attached PDF document for complete information on how you can participate.

This year's event will be timing using MyLaps Disposable bib tags. The chip will be on the bib number. No need to turn in pull tags or return the timing chip.