Beat the Heat 5K

08/04/2026

❤️ THANK YOU, BEAT THE HEAT VOLUNTEERS! ❤️

You were the heart behind the 2026 Cook Medical Beat the Heat 5K.

Thanks to more than 100 incredible volunteers, we welcomed a record number of participants, raised a record amount for our Charity Partners, and created an unforgettable race experience for our community.

We also appreciate everyone who completed our volunteer survey. Here’s what you told us:

⭐ 84% rated their volunteer experience 5 out of 5
🙌 Nearly everyone said they would volunteer again and recommend volunteering to others.
👏 Volunteers gave especially high marks for our Volunteer Captains, organization, communications, and the welcoming atmosphere.

Your feedback reminds us that Beat the Heat is about much more than a race—it’s about building community together.

Thank you for making Beat the Heat such a tremendous success. We couldn’t do it without you!

07/29/2026

♻️ Together, We Made Beat the Heat 5K Greener Than Ever! 🌎💚

One of our goals is to leave a positive impact on our community—not just through running and charity, but through sustainability.

Thanks to our incredible Green Team volunteers and our sustainability partners, we sorted event waste into recycling, compost, and landfill, diverting an amazing 65% of our waste by volume and 91% by weight away from the landfill!

2026 Sustainability Highlights:
🌱 91% landfill diversion rate
🍎 Most leftover perishable food was donated to Samaritan Ministries , helping neighbors in our community.
👟 Dozens of pairs of used running shoes were collected to give them a second life.
🙌 Hundreds of participants helped make better choices by using dedicated waste sorting stations manned by volunteers.

A huge thank you to our dedicated Green Team volunteers, who carefully sorted waste after the race to maximize recycling and composting efforts. Their hard work made these results possible!

And thank you to our outstanding sustainability partners for helping us build a race that’s better for our runners and better for our community.

💚 Every bottle recycled, every compostable item diverted, every donated meal, and every pair of shoes collected helps make a difference.

Together, we’re proving that a community race can also be a community steward.

Twin City Track Club
Piedmont Environmental (PEA)
Cook Medical
Triad Compost Service

07/28/2026

🎉 You Spoke. We Listened. Thank You!

A huge thank you to everyone who completed our 2026 Beat the Heat 5K participant survey! Your feedback helps us continue improving one of the Triad’s favorite summer running events.

Here are a few highlights:
⭐ 4.69/5 Overall Satisfaction
🙌 89% rated our volunteers as Excellent
🏕️ Our new Tent Village was a big hit, with many participants staying long after the race to enjoy the festivities.
🤝 87% felt Beat the Heat was very or extremely successful in building community.
💙 89% said they will definitely or probably return in 2027.
📣 Our Net Promoter Score of +87 reflects an exceptional participant experience.

We’re incredibly grateful to our runners, walkers, volunteers, sponsors, charity partners, and community supporters for making Beat the Heat more than just a race—it’s a celebration of fitness, community, and giving back.

Thank you for helping us make 2026 our best year yet. We can’ wait to see you at the starting line again in 2027!
Twin City Track Club
Cook Medical
Road Runners Club of America

07/23/2026

07/22/2026

This Saturday, we're bringing more than just smiles to the Cooks Medical Beat the Heat 5K...

We're bringing Words That Move Us.

Stop by the Girls on the Run Greater Piedmont tent and help us create a colorful wall of encouragement! Write a positive affirmation, a goal, a cheer for a runner, or a few kind words that might brighten someone's day. Then clip your message to our clothesline and watch our community come together - one encouraging word at a time.

Whether you're running, walking, volunteering, or cheering from the sidelines, we'd love for you to add your voice.

Because sometimes the words that move us are just as powerful as the miles we run.

Let's beat the heat - and make a difference together!

For registration and more information -> https://runsignup.com/Race/NC/WinstonSalem/BeattheHeat5K

07/21/2026

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07/21/2026

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07/21/2026

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07/21/2026

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07/21/2026