Rochester Residents Can Join 5+ Summer Fun Runs and Charity Walks

Rochester’s summer calendar includes three fun runs and two charity walks scheduled between July 12 and July 28, all starting from city parks and trailheads.

These events arrive after a wet spring that limited outdoor group activity for many residents. City health data shows adult participation in organized fitness programs dropped 18 percent from April through June compared with the same period in 2025. Organizers say the July lineup aims to reverse that trend by offering low-cost entry points and flexible distances.

Routes along the Genesee and Erie Canal

The Rochester Running Club hosts a 5-kilometer fun run on July 12 that starts at Genesee Valley Park near the Elmwood Avenue bridge and follows the Erie Canal towpath for two miles before looping back through the park’s south meadow. Entry costs $20 and includes a timing chip. A separate 2-mile charity walk for the Monroe County Foodlink takes place July 19 on the same towpath, beginning at the Court Street trailhead and ending at the Aqueduct Street parking lot. Both events supply water stations every mile and allow strollers and leashed dogs.

The University of Rochester’s wellness office sponsors a July 25 evening 3-kilometer run that departs from the Medical Center campus on Elmwood Avenue and circles Highland Park before returning along Mount Hope Avenue. Registration opens at 5:30 p.m. and the start gun fires at 6:15 p.m.; the fee is $15 for non-students and free for current university employees.

Numbers and next steps

Last year’s comparable July events drew 420 total participants, according to Monroe County Parks records. This year’s organizers project 550 runners and walkers across the five dates. All proceeds from the Foodlink walk go directly to local meal programs, while the Running Club events fund youth coaching grants.

Residents can register online through the Monroe County Parks website or at the Rochester Running Club storefront on Park Avenue. Walkers and runners should arrive 30 minutes early for check-in and bring a refillable water bottle. Anyone with health questions is advised to consult a local physician before signing up.