Photo by Alyx Chandler.
The Birmingham 2019 Walk to End Lupus will be April 7 at Veterans Park. Last year’s event drew hundreds of people who helped raise funds for lupus research and awareness of the disease.
Winter has come and gone. Spring has arrived.
That means it’s time to get outside and enjoy the outdoors. For Hoover residents, there are numerous runs and walks to choose from in April.
Below is a breakdown.
High Country 5K and Mile Run
Shades Crest Baptist Church’s annual run is scheduled for April 6 at the church, 452 Park Ave.
The High Country 5K starts at 8 a.m. that Saturday, and the mile fun run starts at 9 a.m. The races will be followed by a pancake breakfast and award ceremony.
The course is USATF-certified and will be managed by the Trak Shak.
Packet pickup is available at the church’s fellowship hall on Friday from 4 to 8 p.m., with a free pasta dinner for entrants and families at 6 p.m. Late registration and pickup continues Saturday morning before the races start.
Registration is $35 until April 5 and $40 on race day, or $50 for families.
Visit shadescrest.org/high-country-5k-milefun-run for registration and more information.
Walk to End Lupus
The Birmingham Walk to End Lupus will be Sunday, April 7, at Veterans Park. The 1-mile walk, which begins at 3 p.m., will help raise money for lupus research and increase awareness about the disease.
According to the event website, about 27,000 Alabamians suffer from lupus. Registration is free, but individuals have the option to donate $25 to offset event expenses or set a fundraising goal.
Race check-in begins at 1 p.m. and will be followed by a pre-race ceremony at 2:45 p.m. For more information, visit lupus.org or contact Tracy Rode at 615-800-8067.
Kitty Kat Haven 5K Meow-a-thon
Kitty Kat Haven & Rescue, a Hoover-based shelter for cats and kittens, will host its second annual Meow-A-Thon 5K and 1-mile Whisker Walk on Saturday, April 13, at Veterans Park.
The 5K will start at 9 a.m. and will be followed by the 1 mile at 10:30 a.m.
Online registration on runsignup.com is open until April 12. The 5K costs $25 or $15 for children 10 and younger. The 1 mile costs $15 or $5 for children 10 and younger. Pre-race packet pickup and registration is April 12-13 at Kitty Hat Haven & Rescue from 1-6 p.m.
Race day registration increases by $5 per race and begins at 8 a.m.
Prizes will be given to the top three overall male and female finishers, along with the top three in each age group.
For more information about the host organization, visit kittykathavenrescue.org.
Hoover Relay For Life
The City of Hoover Relay For Life will be Saturday, April 13, at Hoover High School’s Buccaneer Stadium.
The event, which benefits the American Cancer Society, begins at 6 p.m. with an opening ceremony. It will be followed by a cancer survivor/caregiver walk, luminaria ceremony and closing ceremony.
For more information, visit relayforlife.com or contact event coordinator Lauryn Patton at 918-3228.
Diabetes Walk for Camp Seale Harris
The Birmingham Diabetes WALK for Camp Seale Harris will be Sunday, April 14, at Veterans Park. Camp Seale Harris is Alabama’s only camp for children with diabetes.
The free, family friendly event raises diabetes awareness, along with funds to help send kids to camp. It features a 5K and 1-mile walk or run, along with music, healthy snacks, a bounce house, diabetes information and team awards.
Participants can choose to make an individual donation or form a fundraising page. Check-in and registration begin at 1 p.m., while the walk/run starts at 2:30 p.m.
For more information or to register, visit campsealeharris.org.
Oak Mountain races
While not in Hoover, there will be several races at nearby Oak Mountain State Park to tempt area runners.
The 20th annual Oak Mountain 5OK trail race will be Saturday, April 13. The event, which begins at 7:30 a.m., covers nearly 33 miles and features almost 4,000 feet of elevation gain, starting and ending at Dogwood Pavilion.
All finishers will receive a commemorative race pub glass, while overall awards will be given to the top three male and female finishers. Registration is limited to 150 runners and can be completed on ultrasignup.com through April 7. The cost is $80 and includes access to a post-race cookout.
The Tranquility Lake Trail Race is also on April 13. It will feature 3-mile and 6-mile race options that start and end at the Redbug Pavilion on Tranquility Road, next to Oak Mountain’s BMX track.
The race, which starts at 8 a.m., is the first in the 2019 Southeastern Trail Series. Registration is $35 for the 3-mile race and $40 for the 6-mile race on ultrasignup.com. Those who register by April 1 will receive a commemorative T-shirt.
There will be a post-race celebration with food and drinks.
The Race to the Lake will be Saturday, April 20. It features a 10-mile trail course that will allow runners to experience almost 2,000 feet of elevation gain.
The race, hosted by the Birmingham Ultra Trail Society, starts and finishes at the Lakeside Pavilion near the South Trailhead. Start time is 8 a.m. Registration costs $10 and can be completed on ultrasignup.com.
