About the Rays of Hope Walk and Run
The course runs through Forest Park and the neighborhoods around it, so there is real scenery for most of the route. The terrain is not technical, and the park sections feel removed from city traffic. Both a shorter and a longer distance option are on offer, and walkers and runners share the same general route.
The event steps off from Temple Beth El. Runners go first, then walkers follow later in the morning, so the start area stays active for a couple of hours. There is a survivor photo gathering between the two waves, which gives the morning a specific shape beyond just crossing a finish line.
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Rays of Hope Walk and Run 2026 Results
Going by the 2026 results, this is a small, friendly field, and the field is fairly quick, so expect a competitive front.
8K Results · 2026
112finishers
37:45winner
54:06median
1:28:42cutoff
Top 3: Jennifer Alli (37:45) · Kevin Pfefferle (39:06) · David Michaud (39:49)
How we calculate these stats: RunSesh calculates these figures from the most recent published results of past editions, sourced from RunSignup. We show aggregates only: field size, winning and median times, and the cutoff. We never publish individual finisher tables. Last updated Oct 22, 2026.