
From the Organizer
On October 30, 2008, an incredible force entered this world: a boy by the name of Luca Iacono. As a resident of Middletown, NJ, he attended Harmony Elementary School, where he was a bright, loving, witty child with a passion for family, friends, and sports. A multi-sport athlete, he excelled at football, and he dreamed of becoming a running back for his favorite team, the NY Giants. When Luca was in third grade, he was diagnosed with Alveolar Rhabdomyosarcoma, a rare form of cancer that begins in the soft tissue structures of the body. Even during his cancer treatments, he exuded strength and grace, and would continue to find joy and passion in time with his loved ones and on any sports field.
The world heartbreakingly lost this energetic, passionate boy in November of 2019. To honor his memory, please come join us for the fifth and final Love for Luca 5K Run/Walk and Kids Fun Run, which will be held on September 20, 2026 at Middletown North High School to celebrate the life of this remarkable boy with an athletic endeavor that he would have loved and excelled at. All of the proceeds from this race will be given to a local non-profit organization, Infinite Love for Kids Fighting Cancer , whose purpose is to assist with fulfilling pediatric cancer treatment research grants while also providing financial emotional and financial aid to children and families who are undergoing cancer treatment. Infinite Love was a tremendous support to the Iacono family, and we are honored to be able to fundraise for their incredible organization. With less than 4% of the federal budget for cancer research being dedicated to childhood cancer, it is important that we chose an organization that is providing the medical community with the funds to help these children live to see their dreams fulfilled.
From Luca’s obituary: “He was wise beyond his years and taught those around him not to waste a single moment, to always smile, be happy, and that life was a gift not to be wasted.” Come join us on 9/20/2026 to celebrate his remarkable spirit and raise much-needed funds for Infinite Love!
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
75°
Typical Low
58°
Chance of Rain
30%
Based on US Climate Normals data from Long Branch-Oakhurst, 9 mi from the venue.
Host City
Elevation
110 ft
Nearest Airport
EWR
Newark Liberty International Airport · 21 mi
Time Zone
Eastern Time
From Endurance Grid
Line up lodging and travel early to lock in your race weekend.
Race Location
Your Next Start Line
Every finish line starts with a single decision. Claim your spot at Love for Luca 5K Run/Walk, put it on the calendar, and turn “someday” into a start date.
104
Days to train
Coming Up
HFEE 5K + Kids 1Mile Fun Run
3 miles away
Monmouth County's Stars & Strides Flag Day 5K & 1-Mile Freedom Walk
3 miles away
Big Bang Mile and Science Festival
3 miles away
Navesink 4
Less than a mile away
From Endurance Grid
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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)
Love for Luca 5K Run/Walk
Sep 20, 2026