Two more Saturday 5Ks to consider

Couple races that got overlooked when I posted the weekend schedule Monday.

First one is the inaugural Mill Grove United Methodist Church Cancer Awareness 3K & 5K in Matthews at 8 a.m. Saturday. (Plug 6803 Stevens Mill Road into your GPS device to find it; or click here for a map.) Race organizer Maria Doby says more than 200 runners are registered, which is a surprisingly strong turnout for a new event.

According to the site, the race starts at the Divide Golf Course and runs through "soft hills and flat areas" in the Shannamara neighborhood. Cost is $15 for the 3K or $20 for the 5K, and the beneficiary is CureSearch and the Elam N8 Cancer Foundation. Online registration is closed, but runners can sign up from 6 to 8 p.m. Friday at Mill Grove UMC (7311 Mill Grove Road) or from 7:15 to 7:40 a.m. Saturday at Lifeline Community Church (6800 Stevens Mill Road). Race T-shirts are no longer guaranteed; they'll be given out till they're gone.

The other race I missed is the third annual Freedom Run 5K in downtown Oakboro at 8 a.m. Saturday. According to the registration page, the course is "pretty flat" and takes runners through Oakboro District Park.

Online registration (here) is $15 and closes at 11:59 tonight, but you can also sign up on race day behind the Post Office on Main Street, beginning at 7 a.m. Runners who donate a canned food or non-perishable food item (to benefit the West Stanly Christian Ministries) will be entered to win a free pair of shoes from Vac & Dash of Albemarle.