In 2009, the Panera Bread Bucks 5K Series concluded its most successful year ever. The Series hosted a record number of athletes and raised a record amount of money.

The Series is a non-profit organization that facilitates and coordinates seven 5 kilometer (3.1 mile) road races. These races all benefit worthy causes, provide wholesome family activities, and improve the physical fitness of our communities. There are seven races, all in the spring, and all in central Bucks County. The Board of Directors is comprised of volunteers, with no paid staff.

In 2009 the Series earned $119,000 for our non-profits. All funds raised stay locally.

Nearly 5300 runners registered for the 5K and 1-mile runs. There were 22% more 5K runners than in 2008. The runners ranged in age from 6 years old to over 70. The runners recognize the unique quality of a seven-race series, the only one of its kind in the region. They enjoy the high quality of the finish line and scoring, the safety of the courses, the post race festivities, and the camaraderie of the running community

Bucks County has always had many spring races to choose from. Many of these races competed for runners on the same day.
In the spring of 1995 Susan Pajer of Training Zone Sports had a vision of local races working together as a series. From her vision came the 1996 Bucks County Spring Challenge Series (now the Bucks 5k Series).

Today Susan is working to get our kids fit by launching the "Let's Run" kids running program in elementary schools throughout the Central Bucks School District. Many of these new runners are now entering Bucks 5k Series races.

In the fall of 1995 a group of race directors meet for the first time to discuss the possibility of forming a series. The meeting was organized by Training Zone Sports. In attendance were representatives of the YMCA 5k, Doylestown 5k, Special Equestrians 10k, Chalfont Challenge and The Runners Advocate.
Karen Rife and Beth Birch (first Presidents), with the guidance of this group, turned Susan's vision into the Bucks County Spring Challenge Series. (Seen receiving the 1999 TZAA Award)