Run Salina Series expands to seventh local race

The Run Salina Series kicks off with the Love, Chloe Family Fun Run on April 25 and announced a seventh local race for the series.

The Run Salina Series kicks off later this month and has announced it is expanding to seven races in 2026.

Five of the six races in the 2025 series broke registration records, with the sixth race coming in as the second highest ever, according to the announcement. The Salina Crossroads Marathon had 5,416 registered participants, while the Fe for a Cure had 1,214.

The Salina Family YMCA Turkey Trot is being added to the series this year. Participants can register for the series online. Everyone will register via a Google Docs form to make it easier to track participants who complete the series.

To complete the Run Salina Series, participants must take part in four of the seven races. Volunteering at a race can count toward one of the four events.

In 2025, 177 individuals completed the series by participating in four of the six races. Participants came from as far west as Dodge City and as far east as Kansas City.

“It was incredible to have individuals from the across the state coming to Salina for at least four of the six Run Salina Series races” said Salina Crossroads Marathon co-race director Daniel Craig. “Salina has developed a well-deserved reputation as one of the premier running communities in Kansas. Salina races are well organized, have passionate and dedicated race directors and volunteers and are very well supported by the community.

"We are blessed to have city leadership that understands the value that local races bring to a community both in terms of bringing in participants and spectators, creating a sense of community pride, charitable fundraising and awareness and health and wellness promotion. Regardless of whether you walk or run, volunteer or cheer the participants on I encourage everyone to come out and support of the amazing organizations putting on these Run Salina Series events.”

Love, Chloe Fun Run kicks off 2026 series

The first race in the series is the Love, Chloe Family Fun Run, which will be held April 25. Last year, a record 745 participants registered, and this year's race could be even larger. There are 1-mile, 5K and 10K race options.

All funds from registration fees go to help families, including financial assistance grants, Warrior Wagons, Monkey in My Chair kids, holiday packages and gas and food expenses. The run honors all the kids who have been or are in the midst of their childhood cancer journey.

Other races in the series include the Smoky Hill River Run, Run for the Hills, Fe for a Cure, Salina Crossroads Marathon, Frosty Fun Run and the new Salina Family YMCA Turkey Trot.

Check the races' websites for updates, including when registration opens. For more information on the Run Salina Series, email Craig at runsalinacrossroads@gmail.com.

This story was created by reporter Charles Rankin, crankin@salina.com, with the assistance of Artificial Intelligence (AI). Journalists were involved in every step of the information gathering, review, editing and publishing process. Learn more at cm.usatoday.com/ethical-conduct.

This article originally appeared on Salina Journal: Run Salina Series adds YMCA Turkey Trot as seventh race