LEXINGTON — From elite 10K competitors chasing personal bests to families enjoying a leisurely walk for a good cause, more than 1,200 runners and walkers signed up to hit the streets of Lexington and put their best feet forward for a great cause on Sunday, Nov. 1, at the 31st annual GenesisHR Battlegreen Run.
And while there were plenty of impressive finishes, the biggest winners of the day were the 25 nonprofit organizations supported by the Battlegreen Run Foundation over the past three decades.
With an estimated $125,000 and counting raised — with late donations still coming in — 2026 became a particularly special year for the dedicated volunteers of the Battlegreen Run Foundation, as total charitable giving has now eclipsed $1.5 million since the foundation began operations in 1996!
And it’s not too late to make a difference. Visit battlegreenrunfoundation.org/donate/ today to have your donation count for 2026! Donations are still coming in daily, and the count continues to rise!
Hundreds of adults and children assembled at the starting line at Lexington High School to participate the diverse offerings including 5k walk, 2k walk, 5k run and 10k run. The annual Lexington tradition brought together an enthusiastic mix of elite runners, weekend warriors, young children, middle and high school athletes, corporate teams, families, friends and supporters of the Foundation’s nonprofit partners.
Several local running clubs participated including Shamrock Running Club of Woburn and Greater Lowell Road Runners of Dracut and as always here in Lexington, even a few members of the famous Lexington Minute Men ran and walked in their full kits.
As participants crossed the finish line, they were greeted with cheers, congratulations and medals commemorating their achievements. For some, the finish line meant celebrating a personal best or award-winning time. For some, it meant completing their first-ever 5K, and for others it was about keeping pace with a friend or simply enjoying a memorable morning with their community.
“Every registration, every sponsorship and every donation makes a difference, but seeing the community come together is what really brings our mission to life,” said President Steve Sartori.
Winners in each category include:
- Jovan Sematimba (10k, 33:36)
- Grady Satterfield (5K, 14:50)
- 1st Place 10K Team: Diamond Middle School
- 1st Place 5K Team: Running for Innocence
For a full list of winners and individual times, visit: https://runsignup.com/Race/Results/Overview/93027.
And what community celebration is complete without food? Following the race, runners got to have a full meal, with food donated from several local businesses including more than 30 restaurants in Lexington, Bedford, Burlington, Arlington, and beyond — all assembled and served by Battlegreen Run Foundation race day volunteers.
For Battlegreen Run Foundation President Stephen Sartori, watching the community come together once again on race day was a reward all its own.
“We spend the entire year planning for this one morning, and then suddenly it’s here. You look around and see hundreds of people running, walking, cheering, volunteering and supporting causes they believe in. It’s an incredible feeling,” Sartori said. “Race day always reminds me of why we do this. It’s not just about supporting our nonprofits — though that is our core mission and purpose — but also about giving those organizations an opportunity to connect with the community and enhance their impact. Every registration, every sponsorship and every donation makes a difference, but seeing the community come together is what really brings our mission to life.”
Since its founding in 1996, the Battlegreen Run Foundation has helped support organizations dedicated to education, rare disease, community service, historical preservation, accessibility and improving the lives of people throughout Lexington and beyond
For 31 years, the race has demonstrated that a community can accomplish something remarkable when its members come together, one runner, one walker, one volunteer and one mile at a time.
With another successful race day in the books, the Foundation is already looking forward Nov. 7, 2027 for the 32nd annual run!
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