Hug A Runner
Run or walk a 5K per day to have a chance at $500
For 10 days, starting November 11th, we give away $500 every day! You are eligible to win $500 when you run or walk 5K that day and enter it into our tracker. Every day we start fresh! Run or walk a 5K and you are entered to win another $500!
Challenge start
Team size
What you get with each challenge
Share with others in your journey and stay motivated in your shared fitness goals!
One convenient place to see your fitness journey, statistics, fellow team members, and so much more.
Each challenge can include a variety of fun merch, from t-shirts, medals, digital badges to stickers.
How does it work?
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1Set your personal goals
Use our tracker app to help you stay motivated to complete a 5k per day.
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2Earn a chance at $500 for 10 days
Every day we start fresh! Run or walk a 5K and you are entered to win another $500!
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3Proceeds will support charity
40% of all registration proceeds from Hug A Runner will go to charity.
What our participants are saying
We are loving this challenge. It is helping each one of us push ourselves to wonderful limits physically & mentally and we appreciate it each day. Where can I send the cookies for you all. :-) Smiles for miles!
Catherine, first year participant
This is my 5th challenge, I’ve had several friends join this time, and everyone is so excited. I just wanted to say how absolutely awesome you all are!!
Kyle Bice, 4-year participant
The encouragement, motivation and constant positivity is why Run the Edge is my #1 running/walking/movement inspiring company that I follow, participate with and wrap myself up, proudly, in your swag. To the entire RTE team, thank you.
Deena Cota, 3-year participant
Active Minds, our 2021 charity partner
Every year we support a timely charity with funds raised through this challenge. In 2021 we supported Active Minds.
40% of all Hug A Runner 5k for $5k registration proceeds (or a minimum of $5,000) were donated to Active Minds.
We think they do amazing work! Here's a little bit more about them:
Active Minds is a national leader for young adult mental health advocacy and suicide prevention. Headquartered in Washington, DC, Active Minds brings to mental health what no other organization can — the voice of young people who are disproportionately affected by mental illnesses and the way mental health is addressed on campuses and in society at large.
Now in its eighteenth year, Active Minds is present in more than 800 schools, communities and workplaces nationwide, including 550 student-led chapters. Our programs and services empower young adults to reduce the stigma surrounding mental health, create communities of support, and ultimately save lives.
History of Hug A Runner
Tim and Adam came across a Facebook page titled “Hug A Cross Country Runner Day” way back in 2010. It was organized by a high school cross country runner to be on November 20th and the page was just overflowing with positivity.
“Hug A Cross Country Runner Day” was not happening again in 2011, so Tim and Adam decided to keep the date but change the idea to include ALL runners. They created G.O.H.A.R.D which stood for “Globally Organized Hug A Runner Day” and launched their very first virtual event on November 20th 2011 with the mission to raise 1,000,000 hugs. They then produced t-shirts and created several Facebook groups to promote the event. These groups prompted people to wear their running shoes to work or even don old bib numbers if they still had them. Tim and Adam encouraged people participating in G.O.H.A.R.D. to (with permission) hug the runners in their lives and perform random acts of kindness. To their surprise the event was picked up by blogs around the world and November 20th was recognized as “Hug A Runner Day” on many annual holiday lists.
Over the years Hug A Runner Day has evolved, but the sentiment has stayed the same. The mission is to spread unity and levity throughout the running/walking community. We now raise and donate thousands of dollars to different charities each year with our “Hug A Runner 5K for $5K Challenge” where participants run or walk at least a 5k for 10 days in a row. Each day that they complete 5 kilometers, they are entered in a drawing for $500, so it’s a win-win for communities and individuals!
Hug A Runner 5k
See The Hug A Runner 5K for $5K Challenge In Action!