10 Years of -> 10 Days - 10 5K's
10 Chances To Win $500
SIMPLE!
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!
YES, this means you have 10 chances to win $500!
40% of all registration proceeds from Hug A Runner will go to our charity partner, Active Minds.
Did You Know??
The concept for Hug A Runner started as a high school runner's Facebook page. Scroll down to learn more about how it became the virtual challenge you know and love!
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.
Learn more at: ActiveMinds.org
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!
