We can't wait to see you on Saturday, September 19th, 2026!
Thank you to our Title Sponsor, First Bank Elk River, for supporting our
13th Annual Event!
Thursday, September 17th, 2026
- 4:00 - 7:00 PM: Early Packet Pickup
- Location: Ripple Effect Brewing Company - 14086 Northdale Blvd, Rogers, MN 55374
- Pick up your race materials, purchase Thumbs Up merch, & enjoy great company with food and beverage at Ripple Effect!
Friday, September 18th, 2026
- 4:00 - 7:00 PM: Early Packet Pickup
- Location: Lake Orono Park - 18599 Gary Street, Elk River, MN 55330
- Chalk Party! Help us Chalk the Walk with positive messages & remembrance of our loved ones (chalk provided), plus enjoy dinner with a food truck yet to be announced!
- REGISTRATION CLOSES AT 9:00 PM!
Saturday, September 19th, 2026
- 7:00 - 8:30 AM: Same-Day Packet Pickup
- 9:00 AM: Opening & Remembrance Ceremony
- 9:25 AM: Keynote Speaker - Lindsey Young
- 9:45 AM: Pre-Race Stretch
- 10:00 AM: Races Begin
- 10:00 AM - 5K & 10K Bike
- 10:03 AM - 5K & 10K Run
- 10:20 AM - 5K Walk
- 11:00 AM: Festivities & Food Trucks
- 11:15 AM: Top Finishers Award Ceremony
- 11:45 AM: Youth Color Run, sponsored by Elk Dental Center
- Ages 3-5: 1/2K
- Ages 6-8 :1K
- Ages 9-12: 1 mile
- 1:00 PM: Event Ends
Directions & Parking Information
- Event Location: Lake Orono Park – 18599 Gary Street, Elk River, MN 55330
- Free Parking is available at the Sherburne County Fairground Parking Lot: 18335 Joplin St NW, Elk River, MN 55330
- Please try to carpool if you are able!
Youth Activities
- Youth Color Run (1/2K, 1K, & 1 Mile)
- Crazy Hair
- Face Painting
- Kindness Rocks by Plaisted Companies
- Mindfulness by Ms. Liz
- Playground area
- Splash Pad (weather dependent)
Food Trucks & Beverages
- Food Trucks Available On-Site - To be announced soon!
- Water Stations along the route
Activities & More Info
- Register by August 23rd, 2026 to be guaranteed a participant t-shirt with your registration fee
- Memory Tree - Bring a photo of your loved one to be displayed
- Grief Support & Bereavement Memorial Area
- Mental Health & Wellness Vendors On-Site
- Veteran Memorial Area sponsored by Hannay Electric 🇺🇸
- Caricatures by Creating Colucci
- Miniature Horses by InterMission Horses
- Friendly dogs are welcome at the event and must be on a leash at all times. Please clean up after your pets.
THE THUMBS UP MOVEMENT
Thumbs Up was founded in 2014 by several community members in honor of two great men, Bob Schmit and Chuck Dahlheimer, who, like many others, took their lives after living in silence from a mental illness. Thumbs Up is all about EMBRACING those struggling and breaking the stigma around mental health, connecting, supporting, and encouraging one another to talk about their feelings and challenges and to "KEEP MOVING FORWARD."
We are dedicated to educating and teaching about mental illness, the warning signs of suicide, what you can do to help others who struggle, and community awareness initiatives.
So, let's UNITE to help others to KEEP MOVING FORWARD.
MISSION STATEMENT
Bringing awareness to mental health and providing support and resources to all.
#KEEPMOVINGFORWARD
WHAT'S INCLUDED IN MY REGISTRATION?
The registration fee for all participants includes entry into your chosen walk, run, or bike distance, access to all pre- and post- event activities, a participant shirt, race bib, and a finisher medal!
REGISTER BY AUGUST 23 TO BE GUARANTEED A RACE PARTICIPANT T-SHIRT!
You MUST register by August 23rd, 2026 to be guaranteed a free race participant t-shirt! We will do our best to have enough t-shirts, but with longer lead times on ordering and printing, we cannot guarantee it.
REGISTER YOUR TEAM SEPTEMBER 4 TO BE GUARANTEED A TEAM SIGN!
Please register your team by September 4th, 2026 in order to be guaranteed a team sign along the 5K route. A team must consist of 4 members or more to receive a sign.
STANDARD RATE REGISTRATION ENDS FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 4!
Standard rate registration ends September 4th, 2026. Late registration will go into effect on September 5th, 2026!
RACE REGISTRATION CLOSES AT 9:00 PM ON FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 18!
Please make sure to register prior to 9:00 PM on Friday, September 18th. Same-day registration will NOT be available for this year's event.
Registration fees
Prices are inclusive of mandatory charges, items, and fees
5K Walk
Price changes in 4 months 30 days-
-
Register for 5K Walk$50.14
Standard Rate
Now registering Apr 1 – Sep 4 -
$55.49
Late Registration
Sep 5 – Sep 18
-
5K Run
Price changes in 4 months 30 days-
-
Register for 5K Run$50.14
Standard Rate
Now registering Apr 1 – Sep 4 -
$55.49
Late Registration
Sep 5 – Sep 18
-
10K Run
Price changes in 4 months 30 days-
-
Register for 10K Run$50.14
Standard Rate
Now registering Apr 1 – Sep 4 -
$55.49
Late Registration
Sep 5 – Sep 18
-
5K Bike
Price changes in 4 months 30 days-
-
Register for 5K Bike$50.14
Standard Rate
Now registering Apr 1 – Sep 4 -
$55.49
Late Registration
Sep 5 – Sep 18
-
10K Bike
Price changes in 4 months 30 days-
-
Register for 10K Bike$50.14
Standard Rate
Now registering Apr 1 – Sep 4 -
$55.49
Late Registration
Sep 5 – Sep 18
-
Youth Color Run! (Ages 3-12)
Price changes in 4 months 30 days-
Thank you to Elk Dental Center for sponsoring the Youth Color Run! This event will be divided into three distances by age and take place following the main walk/run/bike event: Ages 3-5: 1/2K; Ages 6-8: 1K; Ages 9-12: 1 mile; There is no fee for children age 2 and under. Registered youth will receive a rubber finisher's medal as well as a participant t-shirt. Please note: the color run is NOT chip timed. Youth should register for the standard 5K or 10K event in order to receive a chip time.
-
Register for Youth Color Run! (Ages 3-12)$28.74
Standard Rate
Now registering Apr 1 – Sep 4 -
$34.09
Late Registration
Sep 5 – Sep 18
-
Virtual Walk Participant
Price changes in 4 months 30 days-
Must register by August 23rd, 2026, in order to receive race materials BEFORE event on September 19th! All participants registered after August 23rd, 2026, will receive race materials AFTER the event.
-
Register for Virtual Walk Participant$58.69
Standard Rate
Now registering Apr 1 – Sep 4 -
$64.04
Late Registration
Sep 5 – Sep 18
-
Virtual Run Participant
Price changes in 4 months 30 days-
Must register by August 23rd, 2026, in order to receive race materials BEFORE event on September 19th! All participants registered after August 23rd, 2026, will receive race materials AFTER the event.
-
Register for Virtual Run Participant$58.69
Standard Rate
Now registering Apr 1 – Sep 4 -
$64.04
Late Registration
Sep 5 – Sep 18
-
Top donors
| No. | Name | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Aryonna Bollin | $54.10 |
| 2 | Bob Kelley | $27.48 |
Top teams
| 1 |
|
Pause;$27.48 Raised$1,200.00 Goal |
Event Sponsors
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Title Event Sponsor
-
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Youth Color Run Sponsor
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