The Unified 5K Series · Twin Cities, MN

Thank You, Twin Cities!

The 2nd Annual Unified 5K at Harriet Island in St. Paul was a wonderful celebration of inclusion and community. Whether you ran, walked, rolled, volunteered, sponsored, or cheered, you helped make this day truly special. We want to extend a heartfelt thank you to all of our sponsors and vendors. Without you, our race in St. Paul would not have happened.

We can’t wait to see you at the starting line in 2027!

2026

A Race for Every Body

Two duo teams pushing racing chairs along the riverside path

The field setting off from the start at Harriet Island

A volunteer giving a racing chair a push at the start

Handcyclists rounding a cone on the course

A duo team pushing a red racing chair, the rider smiling

Two participants walking the course together by the river

Walkers coming up the grass towards the finish

Runners pushing a yellow-wheeled racing chair on the course

A volunteer pushing a participant in a wheelchair past the crowd

Thank you to our 2026 Twin Cities Sponsors!

On the day

Thank You to Our Volunteers!

Thank you to our dozens of volunteers who made this event run smoothly and successfully!

Two volunteers holding up a Unified 5K shirt beside the river

Scenes from the 2026 Twin Cities Expo

Our expo was intended to educate and introduce participants to adaptive/para sport and showcase the incredible services of our vendors. Thank you to everyone who participated!

The Minnesota Special Hockey stand at the expo

A visitor spinning a prize wheel at an exhibitor's table

The Highland Friendship Club stand at the expo

Community Impact

Hudson’s Story

Hudson Smidt lives in Lake Elmo, MN. He was born with proximal femoral focal deficiency (PFFD), a condition that affects his left leg. After being adopted from China at two years old, he has already been through 12 surgeries, with more surgery ahead. High-impact sports are not safe for Hudson, so for a long time that meant he could not join in with his friends and family.

That all changed the first time Hudson tried adaptive skiing.

Sitting in a mono-ski for the first time, Hudson found independence, an ability to keep up with his siblings, and the chance to feel just like every other kid on the mountain. The challenge? Adaptive equipment and lessons are expensive, which limited Hudson to only a couple of ski days each winter.

Donor support in 2025 changed that. AdaptX granted Hudson his own mono-ski, giving him the chance to ski regularly with his family, build confidence, and work toward his goal of joining an adaptive ski team.

Thank you to our Twin Cities Race Directors!

Brendan Aylward
Race Director
Brendan Aylward’s career has revolved around making fitness and physical activity accessible for people with disabilities. He is the owner of Unified Health and Performance, Executive Director of AdaptX, and a member of Team Hoyt New England, completing more than 100 races together with his friend, Jacob. He hosted the first Unified 5k in 2019 and is now working on scaling the event to communities around the country to make endurance sports accessible.
Robert Carter
Race Director
Originally from Lancaster, MA, Robert Carter has long been passionate about running and inclusion. He spent a significant amount of time through high school at Unified Health and Performance, supporting athletes with disabilities in the gym. Robbie graduated from Arcadia University in May 2023, where he competed in sprints and jumps. After graduating, Robbie moved to the Twin Cities for work, where he now serves as a Territory Manager for Mizuno Running, covering six states and spending most of his time talking about two things he loves, shoes and running. His most impressive accomplishment? Running (and medaling) in the first-ever Unified 5K. Now, he’s excited to bring that same inclusive and empowering experience to Saint Paul, ensuring that runners of all abilities can share in the joy of movement and competition.