Run For Kids Challenge
Pelham, United States • 2 May 2026
Run for Kids Challenge at Oak Mountain State Park
The Run for Kids Challenge is an annual trail running event held at the Cedar Pavilion in Oak Mountain State Park. The event includes the following distances:
- 10K
- 12-Hour Challenge
- Kids Half (0.5 mile)
The event is presented by The F.A.R.M. (Functional Athletic Rehabilitation & Movement). Proceeds beyond basic expenses benefit Smile-A-Mile, an Alabama nonprofit that supports families affected by childhood cancer; the event has raised over $100,000 for that charity. The Kids Half is a free, children-only run and donations to Smile-A-Mile are encouraged.
Course, timing and awards
The main loop is described as about 3.26 miles per lap and includes boardwalks, lakeside trails, wooded paths, paved road segments, a grassy area near the canoe rental and marina, Terrace Drive, the Lake Trail, a dam crossing, and a short horse trail of about 200 yards before returning to the pavilion. The 10K is two laps of the main loop. Elevation gain is listed as 119 ft per lap.
For the 12-Hour Challenge, runners complete the main 3.26-mile laps, then move to a 0.84 mile loop, and finish on a 582 ft loop for the final segment. Timing for 12-hour competitors uses HuTag ankle chips; runners receive three HuTags and must exchange them when switching loops. Awards include overall and age-group placements for the 10K and finisher awards for all 12-Hour finishers. A SWAG cutoff date is noted as Monday, April 21. Visit the organization's website for the most recent information.