31 For Jake will be ran each year on the Sunday before Jake's birthday, which was July 13th.
31 for Jake is a virtual endurance event created to honor Jake's life, raise awareness about addiction, and support those seeking freedom from it. Whether you choose the Competitive Race or the Open Challenge, you or your team will complete ten 5K loops (approximately 31 miles), representing the 31 years Jake lived.
Our hope is that 31 For Jake becomes an annual tradition that honors Jake's life while helping others find hope, healing, and lasting freedom through Jesus Christ.
Participants may choose between the Competitive Race or the Open Challenge.
The Competitive Race is a relay-style event. Solo runners are welcome and simply complete all 10 consecutive 5K loops themselves.
Teams must complete ten 5K loops (approximately 31 miles), representing the 31 years Jake lived.
Runners may only switch at the end of a 5K loop.
A runner may complete multiple consecutive loops before handing off to the next runner.
There may be no gaps between loops. As soon as one runner finishes, the next runner must begin.
This rule also applies to virtual teams. Teams in different locations must coordinate their start times so the relay continues without interruption.
The Open Challenge is all about participation.
Complete 31 miles however you'd like, representing the 31 years Jake lived.
Split the mileage among your team however you choose, or run together.
Miles do not need to be completed consecutively.
Simply complete all 31 miles by 11:59 p.m. on race day.
There are no restrictions on your route or elevation. Each loop must be approximately 3.1 miles (5K). Competitors should be prepared to submit their GPS activity after the race for verification.
All proceeds and donations will benefit The Refuge, a Christ-centered recovery ministry whose mission is "Taking the light of the gospel into the darkness of addiction."
Solo (1 participant)
Duo (2 participants)
Small Team (3–4 participants)
Large Team (5–10 participants)
Each division will recognize an overall winner in the Competitive Race.
If your team is participating virtually in the Competitive Race, all runners must complete the relay continuously with no gaps between 5K loops.
Each team member may run one or more consecutive 5K loops before handing off to the next runner. Hand-offs may only occur at the completion of a 5K loop.
For example, if a team of five chooses an 11:00 a.m. start time, Runner 1 begins at 11:00 a.m. When Runner 1 finishes, Runner 2 starts immediately (a phone call or text works well for coordinating the hand-off), followed by Runner 3, and so on until all 10 loops are complete.
Division winners will receive a broken chain award—a reminder that addiction does not have the final word and that true freedom is found in Jesus Christ.
Anyone who knew Jake knows he loved to compete. It just wouldn't feel right to have a race without champions.
To be eligible for a division championship, competitors must email their completed Strava activity (or GPS tracking activity) to 31forjake@gmail.com for verification.
Whether you're running in memory of Jake, in honor of someone you love, or to stand with those battling addiction, every mile helps bring hope to others.
When you or your team finishes, share who you're running for, why you're running, and a word of encouragement on social media using #31ForJake. Together, we run to remember, to restore, and to make a difference.
Our prayer is that this event would do more than raise awareness—it would point people to the hope of the gospel. We pray for those struggling with addiction, for their families, and for every life impacted through The Refuge, that many would find true freedom in Jesus Christ.
If you would like to donate to The Refuge without participating in the run, please donate directly on their website: https://refugewinterset.com/