For some, Memorial Day activities will start on a fast pace — literally.

The fifth annual Veterans Memorial 5K road race will begin at 8 a.m. on Monday, May 29. Registration will be 30 minutes prior to the race. It begins and ends at the Liebert Corp. parking lot at 3040 S. Ninth St.

“We’re hoping to have 150 runners,” race committee member Joe Isaac said, noting that the race usually attracts a variety of runners. “We’ve had runners in their 70s and we have had grade school kids running it before.”

The early entry fee is $12. On the day of the race the fee is $15. There will be door prizes for participation. Trophies will be awarded to first, second and third place male and female winners for all age categories.

The race committee offers scholarships each year to a Lawrence County veteran or to dependents of veterans. The committee also raises money for the Ironton-Lawrence County Memorial Day Parade Committee and for activities to aid veterans.

The race is sponsored by St. Mary’s Medical Center, The Ironton Tribune, Bob Linn Sporting Goods, Ironton Physical Therapy, Bartram and Sons grocery and Sunoco.

The 138th annual Memorial Day parade will begin at 10 p.m. It is the nation’s oldest, continuous Memorial Day parade. The procession begins at Center and Sixth streets, follows Center Street to Third Street; turns south on Third and follows Third Street to Quincy Street, turns left on Quincy Street and follows Quincy Street to Sixth Street and returns to the area of the courthouse.

The grand marshal for this year’s procession is Lou Pyles; the parade commander is Bill Ellis. This parade committee this year honored U.S. Army veteran Donald Hacker, a World War II veteran, as its honorary grand marshal.

More than 4,000 people are expected to take part and 20,000 or more will likely watch the procession from the sidelines.