9th Annual Brave Like Gabe 5K
Join us for Gabe’s birthday, June 25th 2026
Flagship Event in St. Paul | Pop-Up 5K events | Virtual
Gabriele “Gabe” Grunewald was more than an elite middle-distance runner—she was a symbol of courage, resilience, and joy in the face of the unimaginable. A lifelong Minnesotan from Perham, Gabe’s journey began as a walk-on at the University of Minnesota, where she rose to become an NCAA All-American and one of the nation’s top 1500-meter runners. She went on to compete professionally for Brooks, inspiring fans on and off the track.
But Gabe’s greatest legacy extends far beyond racing.
Gabriele faced multiple bouts with cancer—initially diagnosed with a rare salivary gland cancer, adenoid cystic carcinoma, in 2009, and thyroid cancer in 2010. She continued to train, compete, and live fully, rallying a community around her with the phrase “Brave Like Gabe.” What started as a hashtag became a movement of hope. After 10 years with ACC, Gabriele passed away on June 11, 2019.
Gabe lived by a powerful mantra: “Until further notice, celebrate everything.” She embraced each day as a gift, finding meaning in milestones big and small, especially birthdays.
In that spirit, the annual Brave Like Gabe 5K is more than a race—it’s a celebration. A celebration of life, of community, and of the strength it takes to keep going. Held in honor of Gabe’s birthday, this event brings people together to run, walk, and remember while raising critical funds for rare cancer research.
Early bird pricing is available now for flagship, pop-up, and virtual registration. When registering 3 or more people, you can use the discount code GROUP for 10% off.
Race Evening in St. Paul
For this 9th Annual 5K Event, we’re planning a joyful summer evening for everyone. This is a celebration with a 5K on the side, so even if you don’t consider yourself a ‘runner’, know that this event is for all! All ages and paces are welcome, and you can run or walk the 5K course. This event is family-friendly, which means kids and strollers are welcome, dogs on leashes are encouraged, and there will be plenty of joy to go around on a beautiful summer evening.
Evening events will include:
Abby’s Run, where kids run free!
High fives and head spins from our favorite Golden Gopher, Goldy!
Food Trucks with kid-friendly options
Crafts, coloring, sidewalk chalk
BIRTHDAY TREATS for all!!
Location:
1199 Midway Pkwy
St Paul, MN 55103
Pop-Up 5K Events
Since so many of our 5K registrants are from outside Minnesota, we are partnering with running groups + stores in several cities to gather together in honor of Gabe.
As of April 8th, these are our confirmed cities!
Brainerd, Minnesota on Saturday, June 13th, 8AM
Cambridge, Massachusetts on Thursday, June 25th, 6PM at Heartbreak Hill Running Cambridge
Chicago, Illinois on Thursday, June 25th (packet pick-up at 5:30PM, run at 6:30PM) at Fleet Feet Lakeview
Denver / Boulder, Colorado on Thursday, June 4th, 6PM at Berkeley Park Running Company
Duluth, Minnesota on Thursday, June 4th, 6PM at Blacklist Brewing with Hoops Run Club
Fort Collins, Colorado Wednesday, June 10th, 6PM in partnership with the Physical Activity for Treatment and Prevention Lab
New York, New York on Sunday, June 7th, 9AM at Physical Equilibrium in Midtown Manhattan (This Pop-Up event will be a lifting session for runners, not a 5K run)
Pasadena, California on Tuesday, June 30th, 6PM at Dog Haus Biergarten in partnership with Dog Haus Running Club
Perham, Minnesota on Monday, June 8th, 5:30PM at the Arvig Park Brave Like Gabe trail in partnership with KLN Family Brands
