Gulley Park Gets a Little Wild for the Annual Cow Paddy Run This May

There are races built for competition, and then there are races built for your whole family to cross the finish line together. The Cow Paddy Run, produced by The Spark Foundation, falls firmly in the second camp, and Fayetteville has been showing up for it year after year.

THE DEETS

📅 Saturday, May 16, 2026
🕑 1K Fun Run: 9:00 AM | 5K Run: 9:15 AM
📍 Gulley Park, 1850 E. Township St, Fayetteville, AR 72703
💵 1K Fun Run: $15 adults | Pay-your-age for kids ages 5–12 | 5K: $30 adults | Pay-your-age for kids ages 5–12
🔗 More info and Registration

No Cow Paddies, We Promise

The name is tradition. The course is clear. Your 5K route winds through the paved loop around Gulley Park and a grass loop near Apple Seeds. The 1K stays closer to the gazebo. Both mix pavement and grass, so it’s worth prepping your kids for the terrain switch before the starting gun goes off.

Parents are encouraged to run with their children, and the pay-your-age pricing for kids 5–12 keeps it affordable for the whole crew to lace up together.

Running for More Than a Medal

Every registered runner gets a participant shirt, and finishers earn a medal. The Spark Foundation deliberately skips age group and overall awards. The focus here is on building your love of running, not the podium.

Your registration does more than get you to the start line. Fayetteville elementary and middle schools compete for a share of $3,500 in prize money based on how many participants register under their school’s name. First place earns $2,000, second takes $1,000, and third gets $500. Schools with fewer than 350 students are eligible for the separate $500 Mighty Moovers Award. When you register, select your school to put them in the running.

If race fees are a barrier for your family, The Spark Foundation offers scholarships. Email director@mysparkfoundation.org for details.

What’s Waiting at the Finish Line

A DJ from Brock Entertainment keeps the energy up at the finish, along with water, Gatorade, snacks, and a photographer on site. A mid-course aid station with water and first aid covers the 5K route. Strollers are welcome at the back of the pack, and dogs on a 4-foot leash are allowed on the course.

For parking, your best options are the Township Lot, Gulley Park Pets Clinic, or Parkside Playschool. The lot off Old Wire Road is reserved for vendors, volunteers, and handicap parking. Skip it.

This is a rain-or-shine race. No refunds are issued for weather, but organizers will make a safety call if thunderstorms roll in.

Keep the Momentum Going

The Spark Foundation runs programs year-round focused on health and fitness education across Northwest Arkansas. If the Cow Paddy Run gets you hooked, their website at mysparkfoundation.org has details on other races and ways to stay involved with the organization beyond race day.