Outrun Hunger 5K race - and 1-mile fun walk

Join Rachel’s Table of Western Massachusetts to outrun hunger! This year’s 5K race and 1-mile fun walk helps us to race to fill the bowls of those in need!  Funds go directly to programs that feed people in Hampden, Hampshire and Franklin Counties. Those programs include 987,000+ pounds of food annually donated and delivered, purchased and gleaned, and our Growing Gardens program, where we mentor and support those most directly impacted by food insecurity to grow their own culturally meaningful and desired food!!! Our goal: Nourish Western MA - one delivery, one glean, one garden at a time. 

Your participation in this race or walk, in person in Forest Park (parking in the park itself is $3, volunteers will be reimbursed) or virtually, makes the difference, truly, whether our neighbors are fed or not. Please run or walk, invite your friends, create a team, enjoy the day.

You can also REALLY help us by peer-to-peer fundraising - asking friends and family, near and far, to support your race or walk. Help us raise funds beyond your registration by donating to RTWM! The link to create your fundraising page is on the top of this page – called “Become a Fundraiser” or you will have an option to become a fundraiser when you register. If you register to run or walk and raise $100 or above as part of your fundraising efforts, you will be refunded $25! See details below.

Fun walk - special props if you come in a costume! 

Please visit our website to see our impact: feedwma.org/our-impact/

Participants are invited to bring non-perishable food. After the event, all food will be donated to one or more of Rachel’s Table's 65+ agencies feeding those who are food-insecure in our Western MA community.

Location:
Virtual Participants May 1 - May 17: Wherever you are in the world!

In-person Participants May 17: 
Forest Park, Springfield MA 

Two race options:

1. In-person in Forest Park on May 17, 9am.
2. A virtual race option that you can join from wherever you are in the world from
May 1-17.

Divisions for In-person Race:

Overall m/f/x
12 and under m/f/x
13-19 m/f/x
20-40 m/f/x
40-60 m/f/x
60+ m/f/x

Winners for both the in-person and virtual will be announced on social media by June 1.
The 1-mile fun walk is not timed.
 
Fun or walk as an individual or a team!
 
For fun walk and more: Costumes are welcomed. Special shout out to teams that are the most
spirited. Even more special: those that show up in food-themed costumes.

Fundraise for yourself: Create a fundraising page and have others donate to Outrun Hunger on your behalf. Raise at least $100 and get refunded $25 of your registration fee. See below for more information.

On Your Mark, Get Set, Go!

You Make a Difference

$1 = 4 meals

What will your $$ go to? Just $20 can allow us to:

Purchase and pack 8 weekend backpacks with nutritious food for 7 meals for children
Purchase and send 10 pounds of fresh produce to our 65+ pantries
Purchase and deliver 30 pounds of shelf-stable milk to our agencies feeding children
Deliver 6 pounds of fresh meat and chicken to our soup kitchens

If your business wants to sponsor this race, we welcome corporate and individual sponsorships, which give benefits year-round – to see those benefits and levels of sponsorship go to: feedwma.org/outrun-hunger-how-to-sponsor

To see our current sponsors, go to: feedwma.org/outrun-hunger-2024-sponsors

Registration and volunteering for Outrun Hunger 2026 includes discounted Zoo tickets for the day of the race!

Additional Zoo at Forest Park benefits are available to our sponsors - find out how to sponsor Outrun Hunger here.

How can you share? That is the fun part. 

1. Take a photo of yourself training for the race, during the race, or just after you registered saying what you did! Post on all of your social media accounts, and use #OutrunHunger, #OutwalkHunger, or #OutstepHunger. Tell folks what you did or plan to do! 

2. Want to fundraise to cover the cost of your registration? During the registration process, or by using the menu above titled "Become a Fundraiser", you can create a custom link. This allows others to donate to your race fund. Share this link with your friends and family, let them know why you are choosing to outrun hunger and ask them to support you. This link can also be shared on your social media! If you raise $100 or more $25 of your registration will be refunded back to you. 

3. Encourage people you know to sign up! Send folks our registration link as well - which has all the details needed! https://runsignup.com/Race/MA/Springfield/OutrunHunger5k

Help us share and we can help more people!

Between May 1 and May 17, you can run/walk your 5K, and upload your time to our Runsignup page. 
You can race/walk a 5K course near you, map out your own, or use a treadmill! 
To keep track of your activity time you may use a stop watch, GPS watch, or smart phone.
To track your distance, you may map out your activity or use a GPS watch.
To race at the exact same time as others, you can run at our original dedicated race time, May 17, 9am EST, and then upload your timing as soon as you’ve finished.
REGISTRATION DEADLINE: May 17 
Early registration is recommended!!!