The Chapel Hill Police Department is preparing to host its annual Guardians of the Hill 5K race.

This year, the 5K will be Saturday October 12 at the Southern Community Park in Southern Village. The course consists of running north on the greenway to the intersection of Culbreth Road and US 15-501 before running back to the park.

Chapel Hill Police Chief Chris Blue says he believes the course is a good selection because runners won’t have to worry about traffic or difficult directions.

“The cool thing about this run is that it’s a very unique course,” he says. “There’s hardly any conflict with any roadways because you’re on the greenway, so you can really get out there and move. It’s a great and challenging course.”

Chapel Hill Police Captain Josh Mecimore helps organize the event each year and says he’s proud of the department’s history in partnering with Special Olympics.

“Over the little more than 25 years we’ve been supporting Special Olympics,” Mecimore says, “the Chapel Hill Police Department has raised over $1.5 million to support them. In many of those years, we’ve been the leading agency in the state; most we’ve been in the top ten.”

Mecimore says while the department holds other smaller events to raise money for Special Olympics, the 5K is their marquee fundraiser.

“I think it’s important,” he says, “because it allows the athletes who participate in Special Olympics to be able to participate throughout the state in the Special Olympic Games.”

Blue says while runners start their race at 9 a.m., there will be more activities after the race is finished. He also said people will have the chance to learn about Chapel Hill’s different emergency services.

“In addition to the run itself,” says Blue, “we’ll have some informational booths set up for the police department, fire department and Orange County Emergency Services, so people can get a chance to interact with some of the first responders who are serving our community. [They can] spend some time with them and have a little fellowship both before and after the run.”

Parking for the Guardians of the Hill 5K will be available at the Southern Community park-and-ride lot. Registration for the 5K is $25 per runner and runs through Friday, with signup available here.

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