The 15th Annual Valley Forge Revolutionary 5-Mile Run Supporting Valley Forge National Historical Park Goes Virtual

The Valley Forge Revolutionary 5-Mile Run registration is now open and runners and walkers everywhere are invited to participate virtually during National Park Week, April 17th – 25th.

Organized by the Valley Forge Tourism & Convention Board (VFTCB), all proceeds from the event benefit Valley Forge National Historical Park. The cost is $40 with an option to make personal donations. Users can register online here: https://www.valleyforge.org/revolutionary-run/.

New this year to enhance the virtual experience, participants will receive a personalized digital racing bib, and for the first time since the race’s inception in 2005, all registrants will earn a finisher medal.

In 14 years, the event has raised nearly $458,000 including a record-breaking $56,500 in 2019. 2020’s event was cancelled due to the Coronavirus pandemic.

Typically, runners trek the five-mile, USATF-certified, closed course that follows the Joseph Plumb Martin Trail, and traverses the scenic and hilly terrain of the park with steady climbs and descents, a mix of roads and trails, and ends with a tough uphill climb over the final quarter-mile to the finish line at the park’s Visitor Center.

For the race’s 15th anniversary, participants have the option to indivually take on a modified version of the Valley Forge course, or choose their own route to complete the five-mile challenge anywhere in the world. Runners are asked to track their route at any point during National Park Week and upload their results to their runsignup.com profile.

The event usually includes a three-mile walk and 1.776 kilometer Young Patriots Run for kids ages 6-13, but due to the race’s virtual status, the five-mile distance is the only option this year.

Runners will receive a 2021 Revolutionary Run commemorative long-sleeve t-shirt in addition to their finisher medal and digital bib. For the first time, the VFTCB is offering shipped packets, a $10 cost, as an alternate option to its usual in-person packet pickup.

Sponsorships are still available starting at $250, with upgraded digital sponsorship opportunites via the tourism board’s social media, website, and public relations efforts.

In partnership with 20/20 Visual Media, the Board introduced a promotional video to celebrate 15 years and encourage race registration. This video is set to premiere on VisitValleyForge’s social media channels:

• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Uv8mR2CUM8
• Downloadable Dropbox file: https://www.dropbox.com/sh/4h8f9a266g2oh5e/AADRrONiBghzKNSEVa-mtsILa?dl=0

Funds raised from the race are part of various infrastructure improvement projects and programming to enhance visitor experience:

• Recently renovated Steuben Plaza area and meadow shelter for the 3.5-mile Grand Parade Trail
• Future maintenance needs of Sullivan’s Bridge, the pedestrian span over the Schuylkill River
• Support trail projects, including linking the Joseph Plumb Martin and Valley Creek Trails at Route 252
• Design and fabrication of new information and orientation kiosk located between visitor parking and the Visitor Center
• Support Once Upon a Nation Storytelling bench programs

The Park also has a significant economic impact on the region, generally contributing $36 million and several hundred jobs to the local economy.

“We’re very excited about the new opportunities this year’s virtual run will bring to our event, said Race Director Kirsten Tallman. “Being able to invite runners from all over the world to join in on our mission of supporting the important American story that is Valley Forge brings our mission to a whole new level. I love that we can connect the historic message of perseverance and determination to a broader audience.”

The Valley Forge Tourism & Convention Board (VFTCB) is a nonprofit, membership-based sales and marketing organization that actively promotes Valley Forge and Montgomery County, PA as a convention site and leisure visitor destination by encouraging patronage of its 600+ member hotels, restaurants, attractions, and services. The award-winning website links visitors, meeting planners, tour operators, and residents to a diverse portfolio of brands focused on reasons to visit the region.