Relay For Life, dates vary based on location. An event for the American Cancer Society, communities organize overnight fundraising walks. Teams of people camp out at a local track and members of the team take turns walking around the track. Food, games and activities provide entertainment and build camaraderie in a family-friendly environment. Jackson metro dates and locations are: May 18, Rankin-Central Brandon at Shiloh Park (324 Shiloh Road, Brandon); May 31, Madison-Ridgeland at the Renaissance Shopping Center (1000 Highland Colony Parkway, Ridgeland) and; June 7, Hinds-Jackson at Smith-Wills Stadium (1200 Lakeland Drive).

Soak Up the Sun Beginner Triathlon May 25, 7 a.m. at Reunion Subdivision Lake (224 Lake Village Drive, Madison). This beginner-friendly triathlon includes a 200-meter lake swim, 8-mile bike ride and a 2-mile run. Register at imathlete.com. $60. No race day registration. For more information, call Donavon Lewis at 601-201-7032 or email [email protected].

2nd Annual Crayola Classic: Back-to-School Bash Fun Run May 25, 7:30 a.m. at Shiloh Park (Brandon). 10K, 5K and 1-mile fun run to raise money to purchase school clothes and supplies for less fortunate children of Rankin County. Register at active.com. T-shirts for the first 200 registered participants. For more information call Sandy Martin at 601-954-9012 or email [email protected].

Magnolia Meltdown 10K/5K May 24, 
7 a.m.. at The Club at the Township (340 Township Ave., Ridgeland). All proceeds will go to St. Dominic Community Health Clinic. St. Dominic's clinic provides free healthcare services for the homeless and working poor of the Jackson metropolitan area. Dri-fit shirts are guaranteed to the first 850 runners/walkers. Race will cap at 1,000 participants. Register at 
magnoliameltdown.racesonline.com. $15-$40.

The Bishop's Hog Jog May 25, 8 a.m. at the Duncan M. Gray Camp & Conference Center 
(1530 Way Road, Canton). A 5K trail run/walk to benefit the camper scholarship fund for Camp Bratton-Green. Event is held in conjunction with the Annual Bishop's BBQ. After race festivities include: live music, barbecue, church competitions, and kids' activities. Barbecue plates $14/adult and $/child. Register for the race at bbbq.dioms.org or graycenter.org. $25-$30. For more information, call Grae Dickson at 601-
434-0490 or email [email protected].

Fleet Feet Sports Pub Run May 29, 6 p.m. at Soulshine Pizza (1111 Highland Colony Parkway, Ridgeland). Two- or four-mile walk/run that starts at Soulshine. Participants must register at Fleet Feet Sports to be eligible for door prizes. Another Pub Run will be on June 13. Call 601-899-9696. Free.

28th Annual Heatwave Classic Triathlon June 1, 7 a.m. at the Ross Barnett Reservoir (Ridgeland) Will include 1/2 swim, 24.5 mile bike ride along the Natchez Trace Parkway and a 10K run along Ridgeland's heavily shaded multi-use trail. All participants must pre-register. There will be no race day registration. $85-$145. The last day to register is May 30 by 10 p.m. Registration fee will cover T-shirt, swim cap and post-race meal. For more information, contact race coordinator Wendy Bourdin at [email protected], call 601-853-2011 or visit heatwavetri.racesonline.com

4th Annual Magnolia Speech Sprint June 1, 8 a.m. at Jackson Academy (Raider Park on Sheffield Road). A community event to benefit the children enrolled at the Magnolia Speech School. The school is a private non-profit school for children who are deaf, hard of hearing and language disordered. Register at mss5k.com. $10-$25.

3rd Annual Just Have a Ball 5K June 8, 7:30 a.m. at Fleet Feet Sports (500 Highway 51, Ridgeland). Sponsored by the Rotary Club of Madison-Gluckstadt to benefit The Partnership for a Healthy Mississippi, a non-profit organization that raises the awareness of play as a way to combat childhood obesity. Refreshments will be provided and door prizes. Dry fit t-shirts will be given to those who pre-register before June 1. Registration closes June 7. Download registration form at mstrackclub.com/Results/2013/Ball/BALL13bf.pdf. $15-$60. For more information, contact Chris White at 601-454-2420 or [email protected]; or Joe Lee at 601-668-8572 or [email protected].

Fleet Feet Sports Poker Run June 12, 6 p.m. at Fleet Feet Sports (500 Highway 51, Ridgeland). Three mile fun walk/run along the Trace. Participants will pick up five cards throughout the course and the person with the best hand will win a prize at the end. After-run party held at Cazadores (500 Highway 51, Suite R, Ridgeland) with an extended happy hour.

13th Annual Mississippi Kids Triathlon, June 15, 8 a.m. at Reunion Subdivision Lake (224 Lake Village Drive, Madison). The event, sponsored by Stinky Feet Athletics, includes two divisions: junior division, ages 7-10 (75 yard swim, 3.1 mile bike ride and 0.6 mile run) or senior division, ages 11-14 (150 yard swim, 6.2 mile bike ride and 1.2 mile run). A USA Triathlon race license is required for every child participating. Proceeds of the race go to Mission First. Mission and their Field of Dreams Project. Mission First, founded in 1999, is an inner city, a non-profit missions organization designed to serve others the way Christ served during his time here on earth. The have six main programs that meet tangible needs and share Christ: children's educational programming, sports ministries, community development programming, medical & dental services, legal assistance and a comprehensive wellness program. Register at mskidstri.com. $35-$40. For more information email race director, Stan Galicki at [email protected] or 601-974-1340

Father's Day Walk 4 Life June 15. Sponsored by Pro-Life Mississippi. For more information, call 601-956-8636.

Five K for the Fatherless June 22, 8 a.m. The run will start and finish near the First Methodist Church (234 W Jackson St, Ridgeland) on a course through the streets of Olde Towne Ridgeland and the West Jackson Historic Overlay District. All proceeds 

benefit 200 Million Flowers, a non-profit committed to making the connection between children in need of love and people that have love to give by promoting, and facilitating adoption, foster care, social services and mentoring. There will also be a one-mile fun run for children under 12. Register at 200millionflowers.org. For more information, contact Ann Regan Bilbo at 601-248-3338 or [email protected]; or Lyndsey Hester at 601-790-1188 or [email protected].

Watermelon Classic July 4, 7:30 a.m. at the Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame (1152 Lakeland Drive). Come celebrate the 30th anniversary of the classic. Organized by the Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame and sponsored by Farm Bureau Insurance. The 5K run/walk also includes the Blue Cross Blue Shield of Mississippi one-mile run and a tot trot for ages 3 & under. Registration forms available at the Sports Hall of Fame, Baptist Healhplex or Fleet Feet. Register online msfame.com. No race-day registration. For more information, call 601-982-8264.

Battle Tested July 6, 8 a.m. at Liberty Park (Madison). All proceeds of this 5K and 1-mile fun go to help the CJ Stewart Foundation purchase a 193-acre camp formally known as Camp Kickapoo. Centrally located in Clinton, the camp has three lakes, campsites, hiking trails, and multiple locations for an outdoor pavilion, amphitheater, obstacle courses, rope courses, and a rope repel tower. The camp will serve as the home of Down Range, an outdoor adventure camp helping youth develop character traits and life skills by learning to overcome challenges. Mississippi native and combat-wounded veteran CJ Stewart started his foundation to help prepare our next generation overcome life's challenges. Register at cjstewart.org. Registration closes on July 4.

4th Annual Tri4Life August 10, 7 a.m. at the Ross Barnett Reservoir (Fannin Landing Boat Launch, Brandon). A sprint triathlon with a 1/3-mile swim, 16-mile bike and a 5K run. All proceeds from the event go to support the Center for Pregnancy Choices, a non-profit Christian organization in the Jackson metro area. Register at tri4life.net. $55-$140.

Greater Mt. Calvary Nurse's Guild Health and Wellness Day August 24, 7 a.m. A 3.5 walk with the theme of "Walking By Faith." There will be a health education workshop and fair following the race in the John E. Cameron Family Life Center with youth activities and refreshments. Download registration form at mstrackclub.com/Race_info/NursesGuild13f.pdf. $10. For more information call Kerry Loggins, 601-906-4299, or the Nurse's Guild, 601-352-8585.

Chasing Tail 5K October 5, 8 a.m. at Trustmark Park (1 Braves Way, Pearl). 5K and 1-mile fun run. Finish the race with at least one horsetail and be entered into a special raffle. Prize will also to the most creative horsey costume. Race benefits Brandon-based RideABILITY, a therapeutic riding center that helps individuals with special needs build confidence, balance, strength and coordination by learning to ride horses. Register at active.com. $15-$20. For more information, visit rideabilityms.com or call 601-750-6735.

Mississippi 2013 Walk to Cure Diabetes October 19, 10 a.m. at Mayes Lake, LeFleur's Bluff Park (115 Lakewood Terrace). The 3-mile walk raises money for the Mississippi Chapter of the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation. Register online at jdrfmississippi.org. Race day registration begins at 9 a.m. For more information call Michelle Colon at 601-981-1184 or email at [email protected].

Strawberry Classic October 27, 8 a.m. at Madison-Ridgeland Academy (7601 Old Canton Road, Madison). Registration begins at 7 a.m. Benefits the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation. Costumes welcome. $15-$30. For more information, email [email protected].

3rd Annual Hot Diggity Dog 5K & Festival November 3, 8 a.m., at Mayes Lake, LeFleur's Bluff Park (115 Lakewood Terrace). The event, sponsored by Gallant Hearts Guide Dog Center, includes a 5K and 1-mile kids and dogs fun run. There will also be local vendors selling goods, a pet costume contest, food and drinks. All proceeds will go directly to training guide dogs for people who are blind. Registration begins at 7 a.m. For more information, visit gallanthearts.org or call 601-853-6996.

12K's for the Holidays Charity Run November 23, 7:30 a.m. Race fundraiser for The Good Samaritan Center will include: chip timing, free kids' one-mile fun run at 9 a.m., holiday costume contest, stroller division, food, after-race party, door prizes and long sleeve shirt for registered participants. Choose either 12K run or 5K run/walk route through the historic Fondren neighborhood. For information and to register, visit christmas12k.com.

4th Annual Jingle Bell Jog December 7, 7:30 a.m. at Trustmark Park (1 Braves Way, Pearl). The City of Pearl has combined the Jingle Bell Jog, their annual Christmas parade and the Jingle Bell Marketplace into on large event. Children's fun run begins at 8:30 a.m. Proceeds of the race go to benefit Batson Children's Hospital. Register at
 jinglebelljog5k.com.

To stay on top of all race events happening in the Jackson Metro area, check these websites often:

mstrackclub.com

msracetiming.com

liverightnowonline.com

fleetfeetjackson.com

stinkyfeetathletics.com

Add more races at jfp.ms/runJXN.