2011 Family Fun Runs/5Ks in Sacramento

Family fun runs and 5Ks giving the entire family an opportunity to participate in a charity event. You don't have to be a professional athlete or even a casual runner to take part; many people walk the 5K, and some people even push children in strollers. There are lots of family fun runs and 5Ks in Sacramento during the summer and early fall, so get a new pair of tennis shoes and start signing up.

Women's Fitness Festival 5K

Run, jog, or walk the 2011 Women's Fitness Festival 5K. Proceeds benefit WEAVE, a Sacramento organization that provides services to victims of domestic abuse and sexual assault. Every entrant receives a t-shirt, water bottle, and goody bag to commemorate the occasion.

Registration for this 5K is $33 if you sign up before May 23 and $38 after that. Race day is June 5, 2011, and the race starts between 8 and 8:10 a.m. depending on the pace you intend to set. Strollers are welcome and families are encouraged to participate together.

5K Foot Pursuit

Join your fellow Sacramento residents in benefiting the Law Enforcement Chaplaincy of Sacramento. The 5K Foot Pursuit is a family-friendly affair with a picturesque route and plenty of police officers in attendance.

Registration for the 5K Foot Pursuit is $25 prior to May 30 and $30 after. Kids pay only $12 for the half-mile fun run, and all participants will be provided with a cotton t-shirt. Registration starts at 6:45 a.m. on race day, June 18, 2011, and the race starts promptly at 8:00 a.m.

Father's Day 5K

Roseville is hosting the Father's Day 5K on June 19, 2011. Entry fees are $20 prior to June 7 and $25 after, though children 12 and under participate for only $15. This is also one of the few family fun runs in the Sacramento area where dogs are allowed (as long as they are properly leashed).

The beneficiary for the Father's Day 5K is the Sacramento Area Emergency Housing Center, which provides emergency, transitional, and permanent housing for families in need. Participation includes a t-shirt, and the race will begin at 9 a.m. sharp.

Memory 5K

Anyone who has known someone who suffers from Alzheimer's knows what a devastating disease it is. The Memory 5K, held on July 9, 2011, in Sacramento, benefits the Alzheimer's Aid Society. In addition to the 5K race, there are also quarter- and half-mile races for kids under the age of 10, and prizes are awarded according to age group.

Entry fees for the Memory 5K are $25 before July 2 and $30 after for adults, with kids participating for $16. Race day registration opens at 7 a.m., so don't be late.