Event Description

Register for 2025 Healthy Strides Fantasy Forest 5K/10K                             

The Fairfax County Park Authority invites you to join your community and friends for the Healthy Strides 5K/10K on May 3, 2025. Experience the sights and sounds of this Fantasy Forest while you enjoy a scenic run, walk, or roll in the 5K (3.1 Miles), or run through the trails for a more competitive 10K (6.2 Miles).  Runners in the 10K must be able to maintain faster than a 17-minute mile and finish by 9:30am  

Registration
500 max participants – reserve your spot, today! Register early to reserve your spot and technical tee. Ladies' sizes are fitted and run small. When in doubt, we recommend sizing up. Switching sizes will only be available after packet pick-up closes on race day, and alternative sizes may not be available.  

Online registration closes on March 31st. Race registration may close early upon sell out. There will be no late registration during packet pick up or on race day.  

The event also features a Tots/Kids Dash (2-5 & 6-10 years old). This is a short dash to the finish line for 5K participants' kids. Tots/Kids Dash participants and their family and friends must wait until the 5K and 10K are over before leaving Burke Lake Park. We welcome you to enjoy the playground or cheer for the 5K/10K runners, as well as partake in the post-5K/10K refreshments and party! 

Registration Fees (Registrations fees are non-refundable) 5K/10K 
November 1st-December 31st:  $35 
January 1st-March 31st:  $40 

Tots/Kids Dash (2-5 & 6-10 years old) 
November 1st-December 31st: $15
January 1st-March 31st: $20 

*Kids registered in the Tots/Kids Dash will not receive a timing chip on their bib. They must register for the 5K to be officially timed in the 5K. Children registered in the 5K may also participate in the Tots/Kids Dash. Please note the Tots/Kids Dash was created for child participants of the 5K/10K and/or children of the adult participants of those races. Roads will be closed until it is safe for ALL runners. Kids Dash participants and their friends and family cannot leave the park until it is safe to do so. Roads are scheduled to open by 9:30 am.
 

Courses (The 5K and 10K Courses are USATF certified)
The 5K course follows a tree-lined, paved road through the park and is wheelchair and stroller accessible. 

Runners who want to step up their challenge can take on the 6.2-mile wooded trail that circles the lake. Runners in the 10K must be able to maintain faster than a 17-minute mile and finish by 9:30 am. 

Event Schedule

Friday, May 2, 2025 - Festivities Begin! 
Packet pick-up opens at the Burke Lake Park Ice Cream Parlor from 2-7pm. Registrants will receive a Healthy Strides 5K/10K reusable grocery tote at packet pickup. 

Saturday, May 3, 2025-Race Day! 
6:20am – Burke Lake Park Opens to Healthy Strides Participants.  Do not park in the Shelter A lot*-this is the finish line and event area. 

*ADA accessible participant drop off is available. Please notify julie.frederickson@fairfaxcounty.gov , 10 days prior to event. Accessible participant drop-off will be in the Shelter A parking lot (by restrooms only) between 6:45-7:25am. Roads close to traffic at 7:30am. The 5K and 10K courses finish in the Shelter A parking lot. (5k and 10k come from different directions and will pass by or through each Shelter A parking lot entrance).  For the safety of all participants, pick-up will begin at 9:30am, when the roads open to traffic. For runner safety, exiting the park will not be permitted until the runners have cleared the course. If you must leave before 9:30am please let parking staff know when entering the park. 

6:30 -7:15am – Race Day packet pick-up opens.   
6:30-7:30am – Complete final bib changes/corrections at Fairfax County Park Authority EZ UP Tent. 
7:30am – Park roads closed to all traffic. Packet pick-up closed. 
7:35am - All participants and spectators must clear the course/finish line area for the Kids Dash. Please stand in the area in front of the stage or by the playground). 
7:40am – Kids Dash starts! 
7:45am – 10K starts! 
7:50am – 5K starts! 
7:30-9:30am – Participate and cheer, enjoy refreshments, music, and award ceremony. 
9:30am – Safely and orderly leave from Burke Lake Park or stay and enjoy YOUR beautiful park! 

Awards and SWAG 
The awards ceremony will conclude our event. All finishers will earn a commemorative finisher medal. 
Awards and bragging rights go to the top 3 overall male and female finishers in each the 5K and the 10K, then the top 3 male and female finishers in both the 5K and the 10K for the following age groups: 19 & under, 20-29, 30-39, 40-49, 50-59, 60-69, and 70 & over. 
   
Weather 
This is a rain-or-shine event. This event is non-refundable. No refunds will be given in the event of bad weather 
 
Parking 
Park roads close to traffic at 7:30am. Please allow plenty of time on the morning of the race so that you and your spectators are parked before 7:30am Please allow for 5-10 minutes to walk from the parking lot to the start line at Shelter A. Race Participant parking in Shelter A lot is prohibited. Healthy Strides parking staff will direct you to open parking lots.
 
Timing and Results 
Healthy Strides 5K/10K is professionally timed by Commonwealth Race Management using the ChronoTrack B disposable tag system. Your tag will be attached to your bib. Results are available immediately after the race and are posted on www.prraces.com   

We LOVE Parks… and Giving Back!  
A portion of the proceeds go to the Fairfax County Park Foundation to support beautiful Burke Lake Park.
Support our event by volunteering 
Race webpage with updates, volunteering opportunities, and sponsorship information on the Race webpage at https://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/healthy-strides/10k5k