
From the Organizer
One in every 110 babies is diagnosed with a congenital heart defect (CHD)—that’s 40,000 each year! Today, there are 2-4 million Americans living with CHD.
Mended Little Hearts of Coastal Virginia is a chapter of the national non-profit program that empowers families affected by congenital heart defects (CHDs) through peer-to-peer support, education, awareness, hospital programs, advocacy and connecting families with needed resources to improve quality of life in our community. Mended Little Hearts inspires hope in families of children born with CHDs and lets them know they are not alone.
Join us for food, fun, and fast race times together at the 8th Annual ROCK THE BEAT 5K and Kids’ 1 mile! We'll see you Saturday, September 19th at the Dismal Swamp Canal Trail.
Run, walk, volunteer, celebrate, donate, share, and raise CHD awareness and funds for Mended Little Hearts of Coastal Virginia!
Thank you for supporting “the littlest heart patients of all.”
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Packet Pickup will be Thursday, September 17th from 4-7pm at the Kings Grant Farmer's Market.
Race Day - Saturday, September 19th:
8:30am - Kick Off Ceremony
8:45am - Kids 1 Mile
9:30am - 5k
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
79°
Typical Low
64°
Chance of Rain
30%
Based on US Climate Normals data from Norfolk S, 9 mi from the venue.
Host City
Nearest Airport
ORF
Norfolk International Airport · 11 mi
Time Zone
Eastern Time
From Endurance Grid
Line up lodging and travel early to lock in your race weekend.
Race Location
Approximate location — pin shows the host city, not the exact venue.
Your Next Start Line
Every finish line starts with a single decision. Claim your spot at Rock the Beat 5k, put it on the calendar, and turn “someday” into a start date.
88
Days to train
Coming Up
2026 | New Energy Summer Camp
3 miles away
Strider Mile
3 miles away
Tidewater Striders Annual Picnic
7 miles away
Bra-ha-ha 5K
2 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)
Rock the Beat 5k
Sep 19, 2026