7th Annual James D. Hill Run to Read
- Date Sat 2nd August 2025
- Time 9:00AM EDT
- Location Scranton, Pennsylvania
- Price $10.00 - $20.00
- Races 4 races
- Distances 5km
Event summary
Join us for the 7th Annual James D. Hill Run to Read on Saturday, August 2, 2025, in Scranton, Lackawanna! This vibrant event kicks off at 8:00 AM with packet pick-up, leading into an exciting 5K race and a 1-Mile Fun Run at 9:00 AM. Runners of all ages are welcome to participate along the scenic Lackawanna River Heritage Trail, starting at the Olive St. Trailhead.
Celebrate the spirit of community and literacy with us as we honor Jim Hill’s legacy. After the race, enjoy awards, raffles, and refreshments, with trophies awarded to the top male and female runners and medals for the top three finishers in various age groups. Special guests include Reading Is Fundamental, offering book giveaways and activities for kids, and the Albright Memorial Library with their popular pop-up library. For those who prefer a virtual experience, participate in the virtual 5K anytime from August 1 to August 3. Proceeds from this heartwarming event will benefit Reading Is Fundamental and the James D. Hill Memorial Fund, promoting children’s literacy and providing new books to the community. Don’t miss out on this uplifting day of
Celebrate the spirit of community and literacy with us as we honor Jim Hill’s legacy. After the race, enjoy awards, raffles, and refreshments, with trophies awarded to the top male and female runners and medals for the top three finishers in various age groups. Special guests include Reading Is Fundamental, offering book giveaways and activities for kids, and the Albright Memorial Library with their popular pop-up library. For those who prefer a virtual experience, participate in the virtual 5K anytime from August 1 to August 3. Proceeds from this heartwarming event will benefit Reading Is Fundamental and the James D. Hill Memorial Fund, promoting children’s literacy and providing new books to the community. Don’t miss out on this uplifting day of
Organiser's Description
LIVE RUN DATE
Saturday, August 2, 2025
8:00 AM Packet Pick-Up
9:00 AM 5K Race and 1-Mile Fun Run, immediately followed by AWARDS, RAFFLES, AND REFRESHMENTS!
LIVE RUN LOCATION
Lackawanna River Heritage Trail, Olive St. Trailhead.
LIVE AWARDS
Trophies will be awarded to the top male and female runners. Medals will be awarded to the top three males and females in the below age groups:
0-29, 30-59, 60+
LIVE RAFFLE
50-50 cash raffle + prizes following awards at the Live Run!
SPECIAL GUESTS
Reading Is Fundamental [https://www.rif.org/] with book giveaways and activities for the kids!
Albright Memorial Library [https://lclshome.org/libraries/albright-memorial-library/] with their world famous pop-up library!
VIRTUAL RUN - HOW IT WORKS
Run your virtual 5K anytime from Friday, August 1st, through Sunday, August 3rd, wherever youd like, and then submit your results to [email protected].
Proof of your results must be a screen shot of your run through a running app such as Garmin, Strava, MapMyRun, etc.
VIRTUAL AWARDS
Medals for top overall male and female, plus medals for Farthest from Scranton, Oldest, Youngest, Best Photo, and Largest Contribution.
RESULTS
Results for the race will be at the following link James D. Hill Run to Read Live Results [https://results.chronotrack.com/event/results/event/event-81568].
Please note virtual results are updated as race submissions come in.
PROCEEDS BENEFITING
Reading Is Fundamental [https://www.rif.org/], the leading voice for childrens literacy in the U.S.
The James D. Hill Memorial Fund, used to purchase new books at Scrantons Albright Memorial Library [https://lclshome.org/libraries/albright-memorial-library/].
OUR STORY
All those that knew Jim Hill well, knew his first and deepest love was for his family. But they also likely got dragged to a race or had to hear about a book or article, since he was eager to share his love for running and reading. His favorite part of road races was the sense of community and camaraderie; he was more than happy to start at the back of the pack and take his time. It was more about connecting and meeting new people than setting or breaking records. He participated in hundreds of races over the years, ranging from 5Ks to full marathons, even finishing the Steamtown Marathon in 2010 at age 67.
He loved libraries so much that we have pictures of him in front of countless libraries visited on trips all over the U.S. and a few in other countries. After he passed, people made donations to the Albright Memorial Library in his memory and in turn, the library set up the James D. Hill Memorial Fund. That generosity planted a seed for us to continue and grow Jim's legacy by organizing this race in his honor.
He would be flashing his bright smile to know that we've been doing this for six years now, especially because we're supporting the library and children's literacy. He always loved and connected with kids and in fact, was a big kid himself - one of the below photos was taken at the Anastasia Island Branch of the St. John's County Public Library. It was his first time volunteering there and when they asked him to dress up for Halloween, he waddled right up!
Jim was the sweetest and most selfless man we'll ever know. We lost him in 2016 after he suffered a heart attack during a 5K race in Scranton, PA. Along the Lackawanna River Heritage Trail, you will find a tree we planted with a plaque in his memory. Please be sure to give him a wave or a positive thought, or take a selfie when you pass by during the race.
Please join us again in celebrating Jim and his love for life, running and reading!
With sincere gratitude and to sign off as he would have...
At Your Service,
The Hill Family
OUR MISSION
Our mission is to grow Jim's legacy of compassion and understanding, connecting people of all colors, shapes and speeds (running and reading), through our shared love for exercise of body and mind.
Saturday, August 2, 2025
8:00 AM Packet Pick-Up
9:00 AM 5K Race and 1-Mile Fun Run, immediately followed by AWARDS, RAFFLES, AND REFRESHMENTS!
LIVE RUN LOCATION
Lackawanna River Heritage Trail, Olive St. Trailhead.
LIVE AWARDS
Trophies will be awarded to the top male and female runners. Medals will be awarded to the top three males and females in the below age groups:
0-29, 30-59, 60+
LIVE RAFFLE
50-50 cash raffle + prizes following awards at the Live Run!
SPECIAL GUESTS
Reading Is Fundamental [https://www.rif.org/] with book giveaways and activities for the kids!
Albright Memorial Library [https://lclshome.org/libraries/albright-memorial-library/] with their world famous pop-up library!
VIRTUAL RUN - HOW IT WORKS
Run your virtual 5K anytime from Friday, August 1st, through Sunday, August 3rd, wherever youd like, and then submit your results to [email protected].
Proof of your results must be a screen shot of your run through a running app such as Garmin, Strava, MapMyRun, etc.
VIRTUAL AWARDS
Medals for top overall male and female, plus medals for Farthest from Scranton, Oldest, Youngest, Best Photo, and Largest Contribution.
RESULTS
Results for the race will be at the following link James D. Hill Run to Read Live Results [https://results.chronotrack.com/event/results/event/event-81568].
Please note virtual results are updated as race submissions come in.
PROCEEDS BENEFITING
Reading Is Fundamental [https://www.rif.org/], the leading voice for childrens literacy in the U.S.
The James D. Hill Memorial Fund, used to purchase new books at Scrantons Albright Memorial Library [https://lclshome.org/libraries/albright-memorial-library/].
OUR STORY
All those that knew Jim Hill well, knew his first and deepest love was for his family. But they also likely got dragged to a race or had to hear about a book or article, since he was eager to share his love for running and reading. His favorite part of road races was the sense of community and camaraderie; he was more than happy to start at the back of the pack and take his time. It was more about connecting and meeting new people than setting or breaking records. He participated in hundreds of races over the years, ranging from 5Ks to full marathons, even finishing the Steamtown Marathon in 2010 at age 67.
He loved libraries so much that we have pictures of him in front of countless libraries visited on trips all over the U.S. and a few in other countries. After he passed, people made donations to the Albright Memorial Library in his memory and in turn, the library set up the James D. Hill Memorial Fund. That generosity planted a seed for us to continue and grow Jim's legacy by organizing this race in his honor.
He would be flashing his bright smile to know that we've been doing this for six years now, especially because we're supporting the library and children's literacy. He always loved and connected with kids and in fact, was a big kid himself - one of the below photos was taken at the Anastasia Island Branch of the St. John's County Public Library. It was his first time volunteering there and when they asked him to dress up for Halloween, he waddled right up!
Jim was the sweetest and most selfless man we'll ever know. We lost him in 2016 after he suffered a heart attack during a 5K race in Scranton, PA. Along the Lackawanna River Heritage Trail, you will find a tree we planted with a plaque in his memory. Please be sure to give him a wave or a positive thought, or take a selfie when you pass by during the race.
Please join us again in celebrating Jim and his love for life, running and reading!
With sincere gratitude and to sign off as he would have...
At Your Service,
The Hill Family
OUR MISSION
Our mission is to grow Jim's legacy of compassion and understanding, connecting people of all colors, shapes and speeds (running and reading), through our shared love for exercise of body and mind.
Races
-
5K Run/Walk
Incl. T-Shirt
Sat 2nd August 2025 (9:00AM EDT)
$20.00
OPENS 01 JUN -
1 Mile Fun Run/Walk (Untimed)
Incl. T-Shirt
Sat 2nd August 2025 (9:00AM EDT)
$20.00
OPENS 01 JUN -
Virtual 5K Run/Walk
$10.00
OPENS 01 JUNWe encourage everyone to engage with their local library! If you can safely include a library on the route when you run or walk, please do so and please send pictures to [email protected]! -
Virtual 1 Mile Fun Run/Walk (Untimed)
$10.00
OPENS 01 JUNWe encourage everyone to engage with their local library! If you can safely include a library on the route when you run or walk, please do so and please send pictures to [email protected]!
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