105 N. Bartow St., Cartersville GA
Saturday, August 29th, 2026
🎉 TEN YEAR ANNIVERSARY!
Please Join us for the 10th Annual Running of the “Downtown Cartersville 5K” to benefit Backpack Buddies! Saturday morning August 29th. 2026!!!
🏃 EVENT DESCRIPTION
Get ready to celebrate a milestone!! As we lace 'em up once again for the 10th Annual Downtown Cartersville 5K to benefit the Backpack Buddies Program!!
- Fun Run: The always-popular 1K Fun Run ('Lap-the-Courthouse') for the little ones, will finish under the banner like the big folks!
- Location: This popular 5K will start & finish in historic Downtown Cartersville.
- Scenic Route: It encircles downtown and its surrounding neighborhoods, promising a good time for all, no matter your age!
- Certification: As a USATF-CERTIFIED 5K COURSE (Certification #GA18034WC), it is a Peachtree Road Race Qualifier!
🎊 EVENT DETAILS & SCHEDULE
- 6:30am: Race Day Registration begins
- 7:30am: Race Day Registration ends
- 7:58am: Wheelchair Race Start
- 8:00am: 5K Run/Walk Start
- 9:00am: 1K Fun Run Start
- 9:20am: Awards Ceremony
💳 REGISTRATION INFO
Pre-Race, online Registration will be open until 11:00pm, Sunday, August 23rd. 2026. (Be sure to pre-register to guarantee your T-shirt size!)
- Pre-Race Fees: $35 for the 5K and $25 for the Fun Run. (Note: We cannot guarantee your T-Shirt Size if you register on Race Day!)
- Race Day Rates: $45 for the 5K and $30 for the Fun Run.
📦 PACKET PICK-UP
Pre-Race Packet Pick-Up for those that are pre-registered will be held Friday, August 28th from 10:00 AM - 6:00 PM at the Big Peach Running Co. - Cartersville Store! Located at 402 E. Church St., Cartersville, GA 30121.
- Tip: Given the size of this race, please make every effort to pick up your packet on Friday to avoid the lines on Saturday morning!
🅿️ PARKING
Parking is available in the large parking lot between The Bartow County Courthouse and Sam Jones Methodist Church, located at 135 West Cherokee Avenue in downtown Cartersville.
- Additional Parking: Available in the Tabernacle Baptist Church Parking lot and limited areas surrounding Downtown Cartersville.
- Note: There is NO PARKING available in and around Friendship Plaza on Race Day Morning!
🏅 5K COURSE
The 5K is a USATF-CERTIFIED COURSE and a Peachtree Road Race Qualifier. (Certification #GA18034WC)
- Start Line: Located just west of the intersection(s) of Church Street and Bartow Street, facing East on Church St. (at the intersection of Church and Jones St.)
- Finish Line: Located inside Friendship Plaza off of Cherokee Ave. Please note the separate locations of the Start line & Finish line.
- Waiver: All 5K runners/5K wheelchair athletes must complete the attached waiver prior to race start.
- 1K Fun Run: Will make one loop, counterclockwise, around the Courthouse Block before finishing at the common finish line inside Friendship Plaza.
🏆 5K AWARDS
- Overall: Top 3 Overall M&F and Top 3 Masters M&F.
- Wheelchair: Overall Wheelchair M&F.
- Age Categories: Top 3 in each of the following Age Categories M&F: 10 & under, 11-14, 15-19, 20-24, 25-29, 30-34, 35-39, 40-44, 45-49, 50-54, 55-59, 60-64, 65-69, 70 & Over.
📋 RACE RESULTS
Post Race, Results can be found on www.wire2wirerunning.com after the race under the tab 'RACE RESULTS.' Also, check out some of our other great races you may wish to enter under the 'CALENDAR' link.
☔ RACE DAY
This is a Rain or Shine Event!
🏅 PAST WINNERS
2025 Winners: Simon Schabort 17:43....Grace McLemore 21:44....Wheelchair, Krige Schabort 17:34
2024 Winners: Mario Singer 18:21.....Kelly Ann Sutterfield 18:48.....Wheelchair, Colby Higgins 16:13
2023 Winners: Zach Czerniak 17:19 (Course Record).....Emma Ruffin 21:26....
2022 Winners: Mario Singer 19:25.....Sherry Spinks 21:47....Wheelchair, Colby Higgins 15:06
2021 Winners: Omar Hernandez 18:22…..Sherry Spinks 21:07….Wheelchair, Krige Schabort 14:37 (Course Record)
2020 Winners: Andy Bishop, 18:09.....Sherry Spinks, 19:42....Wheelchair, Brad Smith 17:26
2019 Winners: Alex Rios, 18:48.....Sherry Spinks, 21:34....Wheelchair, Brad Smith 15:01
2018 Winners: Bill Archer, 18:26.....Jill Braley, 18:45 (Course Record)
2017 Winners: Max Florence, 19:10.....Jodi Blackwell, 21:17
For more information, visit our race page.
Course Map
Suggested Races
Find The Run Newsletter