SAK Strong 5K Run/Walk

Join us on Sunday, September 20th in West Peabody at Lt. Ross Park (CyTenny) for the Inaugural SAK Strong 5K run/walk, 1 mile walk and youth FUN run in memory of Chris Sakelakos.  Chris passed away on September 16, 2025 after a long and valiantly fought battle against Osteosarcoma.  We invite you, your family, and friends to participate in the race or walk followed by an after party with live music by Beach Nights, food trucks, raffles, lawn games, beer provided by East Regiment Beer Company, and more. 100% of proceeds will be allocated to the SAK Strong Foundation. 

Sunday, September 20, 2026 (No Rain Date)

9:45AM - Youth Fun Run (Not timed)
10:00AM - 5K Run and 1 Mile Walk 

All courses will utilize portions of the Peabody Independence Greenway with a shared start and finish line at Lt. Ross Park. 

5K Course - Click here to view the map

1M Course - Out and back on the rail trail.

Youth Fun Run - 1/4 mile out and back on the rail trail. 

The 5K course will offer 1 opportunity for water. 

8:30AM Pre-Reg Check In & Race Day Reg Opens
9:50AM Youth Fun Run 
10AM Start of the 5K run/walk and 1 mile walk
10:15AM Post race party starts
10:30AM Beach Nights Live Band Starts
11:00AM Award Ceremony for top finishers & AG award pickup opens
11:45AM Raffle Ceremony
1PM Event Conclusion

Pre-race packet pickup will be offered on 9/19 at race site (Ross Memorial Park/Cy Tenney) from 3PM-6PM. GPS: 36 Johnson St, Peabody MA 01960
(We encourage you to pick up for your friends - No ID's necessary)

Race day pickup and registration will be open at 8:30AM at race site. 

Custom, short sleeve, unisex performance shirts will be guaranteed to participants pre-registered by September 6th. There will be no size switches until post race. No shirts will be mailed out. 

Your run/walk entry also includes 1 complimentary beverage ticket. (21+) 

There will be a DJ keeping us entertained and energized all morning!! At 10:30AM, Beach Nights, a live band Chris loved will start and play till 1 o'clock! Run/walk participants get a complimentary access to this post race party.
Not interested in the run or walk, party passes are also available for purchase through online registration for $15. (Includes 1 complimentary beer) 

An assortment of snacks & goodies will be complimentary for participants post race. There will be a variety of food trucks/vendors on site that all accept cash, Venmo, Apple Pay or Venmo. 
You can expect to see, Champions serving up some pizza slices, Angel Ann's Coffee, Bono Appetite, Cuckies Ice cream, and Tiffany's Sweet Treats. 

In the beer garden, participants 21+ can claim their complimentary beer from our exclusive beer provider, East Regiment Brewing.
Additional beers can be purchased for an additional $7. (Venmo, Card, Cash, Apple Pay)
If you pre-purchased additional beer tickets through your online registration, you will pick those up on your way into the beer garden. 

5K Awards
Top 3 Overall M/F 
Top 3 M/F in each age group: Under 19, 20-29, 30-39, 40-49, 50-59, 60-69, 70-79, 80-89, 90+
Top Non-Binary
**No double dipping

Team Incentive
Top 3 largest teams to pre-register by 9/18 will receive the opportunity to setup a team tent on event day.

At approx 11AM the top 3 Overall M/F winners will be recognized on stage. At that point all other awards can be picked up at the High5EM tent where you checked in.

Bib chip timing provided by our race series partner Bay State Race Services. 
Questions about timing? Email timers@verizon.net 

There is minimal parking available at race site. First come, first serve. Plan accordingly. 
There is additional parking a short walk down the street at 21 Johnson Street (Kiley Brothers Memorial School)
A Peabody police officer will be at the top of the street to help cross at the cross walk. 

There will be a public school bus shuttling back and forth from Peabody High School from 9AM-1:30PM. Please park in the lot on the field side. You'll see a sandwich board sign with balloons, signaling the location of pickup. 
It's a 5 min drive...so buses will be circling every 15-20 minutes from the High School to the race venue. The last bus to leave Cy Tenney is 1:15PM.

Serves as a central hub for the Peabody Independence Greenway. The park features a large fenced-in playground, baseball and soccer fields, and picnic tables. 

Races are held in rain or shine unless we determine that race conditions are dangerous. This will be based on a prudent decision made on race weekend. If the race needs to be cancelled there will be no refunds, but we will do our best to establish a postponement date. That being said, if a postponement date cannot be reached with all involved parties, each athlete must accept any such risk of their entry fee paid including other amenities paid for such as t-shirts, insurance, and online administrative fees. All fees collected are used to develop and produce the event, including all race supplies, staffing, and administration.