Run With The Bears 5K

"RUN WITH THE BEARS" 5K RUNNERS. THIS IS THE 12TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE BEAR FESTIVAL AND OUR 5K RACE! IT WILL BE A CELEBRATION OF THE 250TH ANNIVERSARY OF OUR NATION'S INDEPENDENCE !!! See below for directions The "Run With The Bears 5K" will be a tour of the historical, river, and downtown districts of the Washington County seat of Plymouth, NC. Runners can expect a relatively flat, road race with a short section along a nature trail with some uneven terrain and gravel. This race is a fund-raiser for the Washington County Historical Society and we will start the race with a full sized replica of a Civil War cannon!!! BOOM!! There will be 1 water station near the 2 mile mark at the First Baptist Church. The race will begin at 7:30 AM on Washington Street near the Bear Towne Market. Runners will enjoy many sites along the way that they will certainly want to re-visit after the race. Grace Episcopal Church c. 1861 and numerous restaurants and shops in the downtown area will be along the first part of the journey as runners start south on Washington Street. A right turn will take you onto 3rd Street at First Baptist Church. You continue on 3rd Street to the next right onto Wilson Street. You will then take a left onto Main Street and then a quick right onto Water Street. The runners will continue on Water Street until a gentile rise in elevation takes you to a left on Jefferson Street. Here you will run along the Roanoke River, hitting MILE #1 at the Plymouth Town Boat Ramp. You will continue onto the boardwalk and along the river front and run by the CSS Albemarle, Civil War Ironclad replica. The runners will then hit the nature trail. The nature trail will allow runners the opportunity to see anything from wood ducks in the pond areas to Canada Geese wading in the shallows. You will follow the nature trail onto Main Street where runners will take a sharp right and run through Fort Compher where a battle took place during the Civil War. (If you look

Awards & Prizes

Awards

We will give out our 10th Anniverary Finisher Medals leftover from last year to our first 218 finishers. 1st, 2nd, 3rd overall male. 1st, 2nd, 3rd overall female. 1st, 2nd, 3rd (male and female) in the following age groups- 14 and under, 15-19, 20-29, 30-39, 40-49, 50-59, 60-69, 70+

Medals for 2026

Participant Giveaway

5K: T-Shirt