Arkema 5K Race & One Mile Fun Run

The Arkema 5K Race & One Mile Fun Run is an annual fundraising run supporting the Chatham Volunteer Fire Department, the Chatham Rescue Squad, and various qualified local charities, schools, and school organizations serving Chatham and Pittsylvania County, Virginia.

While both runs support fundraising, they are competitive. The primary 5K course features challenging elevation changes with no switchbacks. The One Mile Fun run is a great introductory, child friendly course featuring moderate elevations and no switchbacks. One escort can accompany any One Mile Fun child for free!

Break a Record. The 5K course maintains a $250 cash bounty for breaking a course record. The cash bounty is available for both the male and female course records. Dale Ball holds the men's course record with a 15:55 set on October 13, 2001. Allison Peters holds the women's course record with a 18:52 established on October 12, 2013. Both records are over a decade old. They need to be shattered.

Do you like hardware? This race has the bling. The 5K course has awards for walkers, runners, and teams (men's, women's, mixed). The Arkema 5K run includes top three awards for male and female runners in the following age groups: 0-14; 15-19; 20-24; 25-29; 30-34; 35-39; 40-44; 45-49; 50-54; 55-59; 60-64; 65-69, 70-74; 75-79; and 80 & Over. The 5K walk includes top three awards for the male and female walkers in the following age groups: 0-29; 30-39; 40-49; 50-59; 60-69; 70-79; and 80 & Over. First place team awards are provided for men, women, and mixed teams. The one mile fun run has awards for the top three boys and girls aged 12 & Under. Finally, there is an overall male and female award for the fastest finisher.

Take it easy. The One Mile Fun Run is open to anyone, but it is a separate course for kids and families. A single parent is welcomed to escort a young runner for free. Or, they can push a stroller. Or walk. Ribbons are provided for all finishers for girls and boys 12 & Under. Medals are provided for the top three boys and girls aged 12 & Under.

Nominate Your Local Charity. The official registration form features a selection, "Please nominate one local community organization, non-profit, or school to fund." As a charity race, all runners and race volunteers get a nomination. They may direct funds to a favorite local organization serving Chatham or Pittsylvania County. (Internal school organizations are also acceptable.) The Race Committee will tabulate the nominations according to set guidelines and, if there are enough nominations, provide your organization with a percentage of the race funding.