Ever wonder what it’d feel like to run or walk alongside your heroes? Now’s your chance!
As part of the 2025 Georgia Police and Fire Games, hosted by the City of Gainesville June 16-21, the public is encouraged to sign up for the Red & Blue 5K and run or walk alongside Georgia’s community heroes: participating firefighters, EMTs, paramedics and law enforcement officers. The 5K is slated for 8 a.m. Saturday, June 21, at Riverside Preparatory Academy in Gainesville.
“While we’re thrilled to welcome public safety personnel from all over Georgia to participate in the games, we’re equally excited to open the Red & Blue 5K to the public,” said Gainesville Tourism Director Robyn Lynch. “Several of the games will be open to spectators wishing to cheer on their favorite athlete(s) and department(s), but this unique opportunity will enable the community to get involved and experience part of the games for themselves.”
The single-loop course starts and finishes at the same location. The first half takes you uphill on Riverside Drive, down Blue Ridge Drive, left onto Virginia Avenue, around Paul E. Bolding American Legion Post 7 and uphill back to Riverside Prep. First- through third-place medals will be presented to the first three finishers at a 9 a.m. awards ceremony.
Registration for the games, slated at various venues across Gainesville-Hall County, remains underway through Monday, June 9. Members of the public interested in the 5K may sign up via the following link – just click on the “COMMUNITY REGISTRATION 5K” portal:
https://runsignup.com/Race/Events/GA/Gainesville/RedandBlue5K2#event-971551.
“As the host, the City of Gainesville looks forward to the Red & Blue 5K as it’s an unmatched opportunity to involve the community – individuals, couples and families – in a series of events otherwise geared toward men and women in public safety,” said Greater Gainesville Sports Alliance Manager McKenna Kauffmann, lead organizer.
“Though the City welcomes spectators at most events, the 5K provides a more relaxed space for members of the public to introduce themselves to competitors, shake their hands and personally welcome them to Gainesville-Hall County,” Kauffmann said. “It’s a chance for participants to build on existing connections and forge new ones, which is especially meaningful as public safety – at its core – is built upon relationships, both internally and within the community. We want these men and women to feel welcome and have folks they look forward to reconnecting with when they return for the games in 2026.”
Individual registration costs $30, which confirms the participant’s entry into the 5K and secures them a limited-edition Red & Blue 5K T-shirt. A $3.50 sign-up fee will apply.
Riverside Prep is located at 2001 Riverside Drive. Participants must arrive on site by 7 a.m. to check in prior to the race’s start. Bibs and timing chips will be provided for this chip-timed race.
Please direct questions and/or comments to Kauffmann at
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The City of Gainesville announced in fall 2024 it was selected to host the 2025-26 Georgia Police and Fire Games, which draws competitors from every corner of the state whose careers have been devoted to public safety. The Georgia Police and Fire Games are open to all firefighters, EMTs, paramedics and law enforcement officers – active or retired – from all over Georgia.
In addition to the 5K race, the 2025 event schedule features challenges, including but not limited to archery, a bass-fishing tournament, beach volleyball, CrossFit and pickleball. Athletes can sign up for more traditional competitions such as basketball, bowling, golf or softball, or try their hand at more daring activities, like dodgeball, motorcycle rodeo, pistol match and sniper competition/long-range rifle categories. By the end of it, the City will have also named winners in the Toughest Cop, Toughest Firefighter and Toughest Competitor challenges.
Residents and visitors should plan to support the men and women who serve their city, county and state daily as they go head-to-head in friendly competition during the games, details for which can be found at
https://www.exploregainesville.org/ga-police-fire-games/. To register for the 2025 Georgia Police and Fire Games, and to confirm your eligibility, visit
https://georgia-police-and-fire-games-1unh8.tripleseattickets.com/registration/select.
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