The 2026 Sunbelt Bakery® 7 Family Fun Run

Register now for the 2026 Sunbelt Bakery® 7 Family Fun Run!

Sunday, March 8, 2026

Start the New Year at full speed! Stick to your resolution of a healthier you in 2026 and register today for the Sunbelt Bakery® 7 Family Fun Run, Sunday, March 8. Whether your goal is a 5K with your friends, or you want to step it up and do your first 7-mile race, this is your chance to stay on track and crush your goals.

Sponsored by Sunbelt Bakery®, the run will include a 7-mile and 5K run (virtual options too.) We’ll also have a separate 5K walk (untimed) and a Kids’ Dash event. Don’t forgot to have your photo made with a Sunbelt Bakery costume character! The event will be capped at 450 participants, so don’t delay — register today.

Registration for each event will be capped as follows:
 7-mile run – capped at 100 participants
 5K run – capped at 250 participants
 5K walk – capped at 75 participants
 Kids’ dash – capped at 50 participants

Assisting with the event will be veterans from the Collegedale American Legion, the Collegedale VFW and the National Guard. The Ooltewah High School ROTC will also be on hand.

Where: The Commons in Collegedale, 4950 Swinyar Drive, Collegedale, Tenn., 37363 
Date: Sunday, March 8, 2026
Start times for runs and walks
 7-mile run: 7:30 a.m.
 5K walk: 7:40 a.m.
 5K run: 7:45 a.m.
 Kids’ dash, .5K (2-10 years old): 7:47 a.m.
 Kids’ dash, .5K (2-10 years old): 10:15 a.m.

All participants receive a race shirt and swag bag with Sunbelt Bakery® snacks and a Sunbelt Bakery swag item. All finishers receive a finisher medal. Best overall male and female finishers from each run receive an additional distinct ribbon.
Note: Virtual participants will receive their packet with race shirt and medal by March 31, 2026.

Packet Pick Up:
 Thursday, March 5, from 3-6 p.m. at the Little Debbie Bakery Store, located at 9515 Apison Pike, Collegedale, Tenn., 37315
 Sunday, March 8, race day at the Commons in Collegedale, beginning at 6 a.m.

Age groups for runs: 7-mile and 5K: 11-19; 20-29; 30-39; 40-49; 50-59; 60-69; 70+
We have male and female, 1st, 2nd, 3rd place medals for all run categories, so please get your results at the registration table.

Charitable beneficiary: Proceeds will benefit the Collegedale Veterans Memorial Park.

Parking: Plenty of free parking spaces near Little Debbie Park, Imagination Station, Commons in Collegedale and the public parking lot on Ooltewah-Ringgold Road.

Public restrooms:
 Little Debbie Park pavilion
 Outside Commons
 Imagination Station pavilion
 Parks & Recreation Office Building, across the creek from the fish pond
 Thatcher Switch Recreation and Playground
 Economic Development building, next to Nature Nook parking area

Event specific information
 Start/finish at the 10+ acre Little Debbie Park and the Commons in Collegedale. This family-friendly beautiful park has pavilions, a playground and restrooms. Pavilions and the Founder’s Hall building offer great cover during inclement weather
 Kids’ dash on wide, continuous, visible sidewalk loop in Little Debbie Park
 The 5K walk is not on the greenway — instead, walkers will make six loops on the sidewalk adjacent to the Little Debbie Park.
 7-mile and 5K runs mostly on Collegedale’s scenic greenway, including going next to Collegedale’s beautiful Veterans Park, around a pond, through a tunnel, beside a creek, under bridges, etc.
 Sunbelt Bakery costumed character on-hand to meet and greet friends and family
 No busy road crossings

Run and walk routes: 
7-mile: https://ridewithgps.com/routes/53290922

5K (Timed): https://ridewithgps.com/routes/53290928

5K Walk (Untimed): https://ridewithgps.com/routes/53290927 (Multi-loop)

Kids’ Dash: https://ridewithgps.com/routes/53290906

For the comfort and safety of all participants, please refrain from bringing pets. Service animals welcome.

This event will take place rain/shine. No refunds allowed. Due to the upfront nature of event costs, we have a uniform policy of no refunds, transfers to another runner or to a different distance, or deferrals to a future year. We know that plans change and unexpected things come up, but we feel it is most fair to apply a uniform policy to all, instead of an arbitrary line of who merits a refund and who doesn't. Thank you for understanding.