
From the Organizer
17th Footprints Forever Race
Welcome to our 17th Annual Footprints Forever 5K & 1-Mile Race!
This race benefits Maddie’s Footprints Acadiana, supporting families who have experienced miscarriage, stillbirth, or the loss of a child under one year of age.
About Maddie’s Footprints
Founded in 2010 in memory of Madeline Noelle McGrew, Maddie’s Footprints provides emotional and financial support to families during unimaginable loss.
Read about Maddie's Story Here
3,500+ families served across 19 parishes
$2M+ in financial assistance provided to families, NO ONE has ever been turned away.
17 years supporting families in Acadiana and 5 years supporting families in Greater Baton Rouge
Event Details
Date: October 3, 2026
Time: 7:30 AM – 11:30 AM
Location: River Ranch Square / Camillia
Race Info
Timing Company: FreshJunkie
Virtual option available if you can’t attend in person
$10 wristband for non-running children (games & activities)
Awards (2026)
Top 3 Male & Female in each age group:
9 & under, 10–14, 15–19, 20–29, 30–39, 40–49, 50–59, 60–69, 70+
Also awarded:
Top Fundraising Team
Most Participants on a Running
Best Costumed Team
How to Create a Running Team
1. Register for the race
2. Select “Create a New Team” during registration
3. Name your team
4. Share your link and invite others to join
How to Turn Your Running Team into a Fundraising Team
1.Go to the race page
2.Click Donate (not Register)
3.Select “Become a Fundraiser”
4. Choose “Create a New Fundraising Team”
5. Enter the same team name as your running team
6. Complete the setup
***This will link your fundraising team to your running team by name so they match***
DO NOT STRESS if your team fundraiser also creates an individual fundraiser. It will all go into the same funding.
Deadline for Top Fundraising Team:
Donations must be received by October 1, 2026
T-Shirts
Register by September 24, 2026 to guarantee a race shirt
(No extra shirts will be ordered) VIRTUAL RUNNERS DOES NOT INCLUDE A RACE T SHIRT
Switching Races
Deadline: September 22, 2026
To Switch Your Race: Use your confirmation email → “Manage Registration” → “Transfer Event”
Packet Pickup
Early Pickup (highly recommended and encouraged)
October 2, 2026
City Club River Ranch
Race Day Pickup:
Begins at 6:30 AM (be prepared for a line if you pick up at this time)
Special Moments
Tribute Signs Deadline: September 14, 2026 (you can find this in the "store" on the home page)
Remembrance Celebration: ~10:00 AM
Join us as we honor the babies we hold in our hearts 💛
Pricing Reminder
Race prices increase on September 24, 2026
At approximately 10:00 am, we will remember our babies in a special way with a Remembrance Celebration. Make plans to stick around to show your support of the 1 in 4 as we pay tribute to our little ones who were gone too soon and enjoy music, food, fun jumps, and more!
One in four pregnancies ends in loss. Together, we can make sure no family walks through that alone.
We’re so grateful for your support and can’t wait to see you on race day!
More about Maddie's in this video:
If you have questions or want to get involved:
korie@maddiesfootprints.org
Events
Weather
It's too far out for a forecast, so here's what weather on this date is normally like in the area. A race day forecast will replace this as race week approaches.
Typical High
84°
Typical Low
63°
Chance of Rain
23%
Based on US Climate Normals data from Lafayette, 2 mi from the venue.
Host City
Population
121,537
as of 2023
Nearest Airport
LFT
Lafayette Regional Airport · 3 mi
Major Hub
MSY
Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport · 107 mi
Time Zone
Central Time
From Endurance Grid
A mid-size host city. Enough lodging and amenities to keep race weekend easy, without big-city sprawl.
Race Location
Your Next Start Line
Every finish line starts with a single decision. Claim your spot at Footprints Forever 5K & 1 Mile Fun Run/Walk - Maddie's Footprints Acadiana, put it on the calendar, and turn “someday” into a start date.
117
Days to train
Coming Up
Cajun Road Runners Triple Crown Challenge
Less than a mile away
Cajun Road Runners Downtown 8K
Less than a mile away
Cajun Cup 10K & 1 Mile
Less than a mile away
Semper Fi Strides 5K/1 Mile Walk
5 miles away
From Endurance Grid
Endurance Grid is here to help you understand the sport, decide if it's the right fit, and learn how to prepare. For course distances, logistics, and race-day specifics, always defer to the race organizer's event page.
With running, there's a distance for every fitness level, a community at every start line, and nothing beats the feeling of crossing a finish line you trained for.
Running is an endurance sport that rewards consistency, and showing up every week compounds in ways that will surprise you.
From 5K to marathon, running races are the most accessible entry point into endurance sport. There's a distance for every fitness level and a community at every start line.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Footprints Forever 5K & 1 Mile Fun Run/Walk - Maddie's Footprints Acadiana
Oct 3, 2026