Guardian Revival 5K Race in Carmel: Community Coming Together
Join us for the Guardian Revival 5K Race in Carmel on Sunday, May 17, along the scenic Putnam Trailway at Lake Gleneida.
Wherever you are, however you want to join, there’s a reason for you to get involved:
Chase a personal best: the in-person event will be timed and top finishers will receive medals
Enjoy a beautiful course along the water, whether you run, jog, or walk
Virtual participation available for people outside the Hudson Valley
Families can join in together — we’ve got a Kids ½ Mile Fun Run before the main event!
Team competition & awards so you can show up and show off with your department, gym, business, or social groups
Whether you’re local to Carmel, the Hudson Valley, or searching for a meaningful NYC 5K alternative just outside the city, this event offers something different: a race grounded in connection and support.
Course, Swag, and 5K Race Details
Guardian Revival 5K
📅 Sunday, May 17 (rain or shine!)
CHECK-IN: 8:30 AM – 10:00 AM at the Paladin Center
FREE KIDS 1/2-MILE RUN: 9:30 AM
5K START TIME: 10:30 AM
📍 Carmel, NY (Lake Gleneida / Putnam Trailway)
For participants joining us in Carmel, you’ll enjoy a scenic out-and-back course along Lake Gleneida on the Putnam Trailway, capped off with a challenging uphill finish.
🌎 Virtual option available
All participants receive Guardian Revival race swag, and early registrants receive a free event T-shirt in your kit!
In-person participants: pick yours up at the event on May 17th!
Virtual participants: we will ship your kit to you. (Shipping is included in your registration fee.)
Kids participating in the free 1/2 mile fun run will also get a kid-friendly mini swag bag
More details available on the registration page:
a Little Friendly Rivalry: Teams & Competition
Our 5K race is rooted in purpose, but there’s still room for friendly competition. Why? Because doing something challenging alongside other people doesn’t just make it more fun — it actually changes how we experience the effort.
Friendly competition makes fitness challenges more fun — and more effective
Research shows that exercising with others can increase motivation, improve performance, and strengthen social bonds. People who exercise with a group typically report higher enjoyment and reduced stress levels compared to those working out alone.
People also tend to push themselves further and achieve more in team settings — a phenomenon known as the “Köhler effect,” where individuals perform better when acting as part of a group (vs on their own).
That’s part of what makes team-based opportunities special: you’re not just taking on a challenge for yourself — you’re showing up for your team.
Teams are a big part of the #GR5K experience — we encourage participants to sign up as part of an existing team or start their own. Trophies will be awarded for:
Fastest Team (determined by the combined finish times of the top five runners from each team)
Largest Department Team (fire, police, EMS, or military organization)
Largest Community Team (business, gym, running club, or community group)
When you sign up, you can make a team in one of the following categories:
Fire
Law Enforcement
Military
Emergency Services
Social / Community
Business / Organization
Individual Awards
Special recognition will go to these individual top finishers:
Fastest Veteran
Fastest First Responder
Medals will also be awarded to the top male and female finishers in each age group:
19 and Under
20–29
30–39
40–49
50–59
60+
Ready to take on a chance to bring your crew together for a good cause — and try to earn some bragging rights along the way?
Run. Reflect. Revive.
Guardian Revival works with military members, veterans, and first responders — who we call “guardians” — and their families. These are people who spend their lives showing up for others, but too often, they carry the weight of that service alone.
Our programs — from outdoor adventures and peer support to music, fitness, and companion dogs — are designed to create space for connection, resilience, and recovery.
The types of events and support that we offer through our programs — physical activity, social connection, mindfulness, outdoor exposure, interactions with animals, and playing music — are proven to be beneficial, not only to the general population but especially for guardians. Peer support is a particularly effective approach for improving mental health, as noted by the CDC’s National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), which is why we incorporate peer-to-peer interactions across our programs.
The Guardian Revival 5K is an extension of our mission.
Our 5K is a way for the broader community to step in, show up, and support our work — not just by donating, but by participating. Because movement, shared experience, and community are part of the solution.
“The hardest part isn’t always the job — it’s feeling like you’re carrying it alone. Events like this remind you that you’re not.”
That’s what this race is about. Not just miles, times, or medals, but creating moments where people feel seen, supported, and connected.
Run, Walk, or Simply Show Up — It All Counts
One of the most important things to know about our GR 5K race is that it’s not just for seasoned runners. You can:
Run the full 5K
Walk the course at your own pace (or do a run/walk combo)
Bring the whole family!
Join with a team
Participate virtually from anywhere
There’s also a Kids ½ Mile Fun Run, making this an event for all ages and experience levels.
If you’ve been browsing 5K races and wondering whether you’re “ready,” this is your sign: you don’t need to be more ready than you already are. You just need to show up.
Sign up, start a team, or invite someone to join you. Because when we show up together, it matters.
Who We Are
Guardian Revival is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization that improves the mental health & well-being of military, veterans, and first responders — our guardians — and their families, at no cost to them.
Peer Services | Individual & group peer support for guardians by guardians
Dwyer of Putnam County | Events, information, and resources for Putnam County veterans
Another Summit | Outdoor adventures — walking, hiking, backpacking, paddling, and fly fishing
Boots & Paws | Providing dogs for the therapeutic benefits of animal companionship
Encore | Opportunities to learn, write, play, record, and share music
Homefront | Events, support & resources for guardian families
Peer Services | Individual & group peer support for guardians by guardians
RISE | Strength & resilience through fitness & wellness
