Boomer’s Bangin’ Soup Trail Run Comes to Kittatinny Valley State Park in Newton on November 8, 2026

Boomer’s Bangin’ Soup Trail Run, a 5K and 10K trail race that raises money for free mammograms, comes to the Twin Lakes area of Kittatinny Valley State Park in Newton on Sunday, November 8, 2026. The race is hosted by the Sussex County Women’s Forum and its Friend 2 Friend Free Digital Mammography Program, and the early entry fee of $40 runs only through Saturday, October 24.

Friend 2 Friend calls this its very popular November Soup Run, and the post-race spread lives up to the name. Our team likes this one because it pairs a fall morning on the trails with a cause that stays right here in our community.

Race Day Schedule

According to the official race page, check-in opens at 8:30 a.m. The 10K trail run starts at 10 a.m., and the 5K trail run starts at 10:15 a.m. Race day registration, check-in and bib and packet pick-up all happen during that 8:30 a.m. window, so plan to arrive early if you still need your bib.

The race page lists a new location: Kittatinny Valley State Park, Twin Lakes, 313 Goodale Road, Newton, NJ 07860. Friend 2 Friend’s race page and entry form both say all runners must be 15 or older for this trail event.

Entry Fees and How to Register

Both the 5K and the 10K cost $40 through October 24 and $50 starting October 25. The RunSignup registration page says the price goes up after 11:59 p.m. on October 24. There are three ways to sign up:

• Online: Register on RunSignup by noon on Saturday, November 7.
• By mail: Fill out the printable entry form and mail it with a check payable to “F2F” to 37 Cambridge Road, Lafayette, NJ 07848.
• On race day: Same day, on site registration is available at check-in.

One thing to know before you sign up: Friend 2 Friend has a strict no refund policy, and it has been in effect since 2000.

Soup, Medals and Swag

The finish line is where this race earns its name. The entry form lists homemade soup, grilled hot dogs, fresh fruit, snacks, bottled water and Gatorade for runners. Timing and race results are handled by Compuscore.

Every participant gets a T-shirt, a hobo bag and a finisher medal. The top three male and female adult finishers receive awards and F2F swag, and both races award medals in 10-year age groups: 15 to 19, 20 to 29, 30 to 39, 40 to 49, 50 to 59, 60 to 69, 70 to 79, and 80 and over.

Where the Money Goes

The entry form says 100% of race fees provide free digital mammograms. The Sussex County Women’s Forum is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, and its mission statement says it covers critical women’s healthcare services, including 3D mammography, breast ultrasounds, breast MRIs and follow-up visits if needed, for women in Sussex County and surrounding New Jersey counties. Director and founder Mare Galeos writes that, as a Sussex County resident, she has watched the toll breast cancer takes on family and friends, and she hopes the group keeps growing to help every local woman whose life is touched by a cancer diagnosis.

The Soup Run is the second of two trail races on the group’s 2026 events calendar, following the Hot Chili Challenge on October 18. You can also follow the group on Instagram at @friend2friend_scwf.

If you want to scout the park before race day, Kittatinny Valley is one of the spots in our guide to fall foliage hikes in Sussex County. Looking for a way to keep training in Newton afterward? SCCC recently opened a free outdoor Fitness Court in Newton.

Boomer’s Bangin’ Soup Trail Run at a Glance

• What: Boomer’s Bangin’ Soup Trail Run, 5K and 10K
• When: Sunday, November 8, 2026. Check-in 8:30 a.m., 10K at 10 a.m., 5K at 10:15 a.m.
• Where: Kittatinny Valley State Park, Twin Lakes, 313 Goodale Road, Newton
• Cost: $40 through October 24, $50 from October 25
• Ages: 15 and older
• Benefits: Friend 2 Friend Free Digital Mammography Program

Featured image: Boomer’s Bangin’ Soup Run graphic. Image: Sussex County Women’s Forum/Friend 2 Friend.