SMHS Makin' Hay 10K & 5K

Welcome back to the Makin' Hay 10K & 5K!  We can't wait to have you claim bragging rights after conquering one of these challenging but scenic courses on Saturday, April 18, 2026.

The scenic and rolling 10K and 5k courses will take you on a journey through some of the prettiest farmland in Frederick County.  Spring will be ushering forth as you run past numerous farms; along beautiful Catoctin Creek on a gravel road, and across two, historic one-lane wooden deck bridges spanning Catoctin Creek. 5-year age group awards!!!

Early packet pickup will be held at Charm City Run, Frederick, on the Wednesday prior to the race, April 15th, 2026, from 3:30 to 6:30 p.m.

Race Day Schedule: 0700 - 0820 Bib Pickup; 0830-10K Start; 0835-5K Start; 1030-course closes for both events. Race day on-site registration must be accomplished via personal smartphone - no cash/check transactions accepted.

Race day bib pickup closes at 8:20 sharp for both events, with vehicular access to the park closing at that time. No late starts - plan your arrival time accordingly. Running strollers are allowed, but the wearing of headphones/earbuds is strongly discouraged as both courses are held on open roads where vehicular traffic can be expected to be encountered. 

Our 5K option offers half the distance and half of the elevation change of our 10K, is all on paved surfaces, crosses one wooden deck bridge twice, and also provides some amazingly sweeping vistas!

Race shirt is included with registration for those registering before March 22, 2026. Those registering on or after after that date are not guaranteed to receive a shirt.

Awards: Overall top 3 male and female finishers in each race will receive a custom award (no double-dipping). In our 5-year age-groups, the top 3 in each will take home a custom glass acknowledging their achievement. The John Godinet Memorial Mid-Pack Maven Award will be presented to the 10K participant that finishes smack-dab in the middle of the pack! 

Refund Policy: You will be given the opportunity to purchase event insurance during registration from a third-party provider. Makin' Hay registrants will be able to initiate a partial refund via their RunSignup profile up until 30 days prior to the event. After that, no individual refunds or transfers.