The 2021 Run for Kids Challenge - May 1st
All distances start at 7:00 AM
Run for Kids Challenge - 10K & 12 Hour Race
100% Charity Race for Smile-A-Mile, Alabama's camp to help kids and teens deal with life after cancer.
In 2020, we moved the Run for Kids Challenge to Shoal Creek Park in Montevallo. The 2021 race will again be held at Shoal Creek Park. The park is located at 2781 Hwy 119, Montevallo, AL 35115. It is Twenty miles south of the I-65/I-459 interchange, five miles down the road from Veteran's Park in Alabaster. (Home of the Endless Mile)
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The Run for Kids Challenge will be held at Shoal Creek Park in Montevallo.
The park is located at 2781 Hwy 119, Montevallo, AL 35115. The race will start adjacent to the parking lot in the grassy field on the north side of Hwy 119. (Montevallo Highway.) Runners will circle a 4.12 mile loop with 3.0 miles north of Hwy 119 and 1.1 mile south of the Highway. 12 Hour and 10K runners will start on the 3 mile north section, including about 1.4 miles on single track bike trails in the woods. This is the only hilly section of the course. After leaving the woods, runners will circle a large field staying mostly in the tree line for the next mile. After another 1/2 mile in the woods, they will turn right and head to the south loop . Runners will the duck under, quite literally, the Hwy 119 Bridge over Shoal Creek. Be cautious here. The bridge is very low, with less than 6 ft. of clearance. They will follow Shoal Creek for about 1/3 mile before turning north along the fence line of a large field. About 3/4 way across the field, they will turn left heading back to the bridge. Go under the bridge heading north for a short distance and turn right back to the start/finish and aid station. |
The 4.1 mile loop is run in a counterclockwise direction for all races.
10K Race: The 10K course will be one full lap of the full 4.1 Mile loop + the additional 2.1 mile loop shown on the second course map, below. After crossing under the Start/Finish at the Arch at the end of the 4.1 mile north loop, continue straight ahead and turn left onto the paved sidewalk leading by the pavilion and bathrooms. At the parking lot, turn right and Follow signs directing you to the "10K Finish Loop."
12 Hour Race: Runners will complete as many laps of the 4.1 mile loop as possible for 10.5 to 11 hours. We will close the 4.15 mile north loop at 11 hours and runners will shift over to the 1.12 south lap. At about 11 hours and 45 minutes we will close the 1.12 mile loop and move runners to a 500 yard loop. See the map below, "Last Hour of the RFK."
There will not be 50K in 2021. If you would like to run a 50K and no more, just stop at the end of 8 laps.
10K Race: The 10K course will be one full lap of the full 4.1 Mile loop + the additional 2.1 mile loop shown on the second course map, below. After crossing under the Start/Finish at the Arch at the end of the 4.1 mile north loop, continue straight ahead and turn left onto the paved sidewalk leading by the pavilion and bathrooms. At the parking lot, turn right and Follow signs directing you to the "10K Finish Loop."
12 Hour Race: Runners will complete as many laps of the 4.1 mile loop as possible for 10.5 to 11 hours. We will close the 4.15 mile north loop at 11 hours and runners will shift over to the 1.12 south lap. At about 11 hours and 45 minutes we will close the 1.12 mile loop and move runners to a 500 yard loop. See the map below, "Last Hour of the RFK."
There will not be 50K in 2021. If you would like to run a 50K and no more, just stop at the end of 8 laps.
The Smile-A-Mile Mission
Smile-A-Mile’s mission is to provide hope, healing of the spirit and love for the whole family during the childhood cancer journey. Through year-round meaningful and educational programming, Smile-A-Mile helps those in Alabama who are affected by childhood cancer thrive during treatment and the years beyond. Learn what Smile-A-Mile is all about.
Smile-A-Mile’s mission is to provide hope, healing of the spirit and love for the whole family during the childhood cancer journey. Through year-round meaningful and educational programming, Smile-A-Mile helps those in Alabama who are affected by childhood cancer thrive during treatment and the years beyond. Learn what Smile-A-Mile is all about.
4.12 Mile Run for Kids 12 Hour Lap & 10K First loop
Last Hour of the 12 Hour Run for Kids
RFK 10K Course Map
MarathonRuns - Suman Silwall combined forces with Lori Lyons to take 468 awesome photos from the 2020 Run for Kids Challenge on June 13th Click on the image below. Enjoy
Click on the image below to see Steven Bagley's photos from the 2019 Run for Kids
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Run for Kids Challenge Video
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Click on the image below to view over 300 photos by "Marathon Runs" (MRuns.com) from the 2019 RFK.
Weekend Schedule
Friday April 30th, 4:30 to 6:00 PM - Packet Pickup and Late Registration is at the Mountain High Outfitters Summit Store. The store is located at 310 Summit Blvd #110, Birmingham, AL 35243, next door to Urban Outfitters on the north side of Summit Blvd.
Friday April 30th, 4:30 to 6:00 PM - Packet Pickup and Late Registration is at the Mountain High Outfitters Summit Store. The store is located at 310 Summit Blvd #110, Birmingham, AL 35243, next door to Urban Outfitters on the north side of Summit Blvd.
Saturday May 1st, 6:00 to 6:45 AM Race Packet pickup and Late Registration at Shoal Creek Park. Parking will be across Hwy 119 from the race start. Registration and packet pickup will be in the tents at right the end of the parking lot. Look for the large inflated arch.
Please Read the COVID-19 Guidelines Page for Packet Pickup and Registration at the race.
Saturday May 1st - 7:00 AM Start of the 10K and 12 Hour Trail Races (Starts will be mass start with Social Distancing.)
Awards for RFK: We give 1, 2 & 3 Overall, Male and Female for all three distances. The 10K and 12 hour also has Masters 45-54, Grand Master 55+ Male and Female. The 10K also has 14 and under awards. There will be finisher awards for all 12 Hour finishers.
Please Read the COVID-19 Guidelines Page for Packet Pickup and Registration at the race.
Saturday May 1st - 7:00 AM Start of the 10K and 12 Hour Trail Races (Starts will be mass start with Social Distancing.)
Awards for RFK: We give 1, 2 & 3 Overall, Male and Female for all three distances. The 10K and 12 hour also has Masters 45-54, Grand Master 55+ Male and Female. The 10K also has 14 and under awards. There will be finisher awards for all 12 Hour finishers.

Lodging outside the park:
Our partner hotel is the Holiday Inn Express just off Hwy 119, Cahaba Valley Rd just 3 miles from the park entrance. Address: 260 Cahaba Valley Rd, Pelham, AL 35124. Our discount is listed under Southeastern Trail Runs.
Link to Google Maps from the Holiday Inn to Redbud. The hotel has a complimentary full or breakfast buffet or continental breakfast.
If you stay at other hotels, it will be best to stay near the South (southwest) entrance to the park close to I-65. The north entrance does not open until 7:00AM.
Other Hotels in the area: Google Maps link to other area hotels.
Lodging in the Park: Oak Mountain State Park Cabins. The Cabins are 4.6 miles from the RFK start.
Camping in the park: Oak Mountain State Park Camping The camp ground is 5.3 miles from the RFK start.
Our partner hotel is the Holiday Inn Express just off Hwy 119, Cahaba Valley Rd just 3 miles from the park entrance. Address: 260 Cahaba Valley Rd, Pelham, AL 35124. Our discount is listed under Southeastern Trail Runs.
Link to Google Maps from the Holiday Inn to Redbud. The hotel has a complimentary full or breakfast buffet or continental breakfast.
If you stay at other hotels, it will be best to stay near the South (southwest) entrance to the park close to I-65. The north entrance does not open until 7:00AM.
Other Hotels in the area: Google Maps link to other area hotels.
Lodging in the Park: Oak Mountain State Park Cabins. The Cabins are 4.6 miles from the RFK start.
Camping in the park: Oak Mountain State Park Camping The camp ground is 5.3 miles from the RFK start.