Nanaimo · Canada

5K races near Nanaimo

6 races in 2026 next one is today

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Race calendar

Upcoming 5K races near Nanaimo

This week 1

Run · road · 5K

Surrey · 79 km away

JUL 2

Run · road · 5K

Across the Lake Swim Westwood Lake

Run · road · 5K

Vancouver Pride Run & Walk 2026

Vancouver · 61 km away

SEP 3

Run · road · 5K

2026 RunSurreyRun

Surrey · 79 km away

Run · road · 5K

2026 Forever Young Run

Richmond · 58 km away

+1 more 5K racesShow fewer ↓

Run · road · 5K

The Big Pirate Run

Richmond · 58 km away

Nanaimo · 80 km

6 races mapped View on map →

Recurring 5K races near Nanaimo

Races that repeat — weekly, monthly or yearly

West Van Run offers a flat 5K and 10K run/walk in West Vancouver, British Columbia, with a 1K Kids Run accompanying the main events. It takes place twice annually, once in March and again in September or October. The event is designed for a broad range of participants, including walkers, first-time runners, club members, families, and experienced athletes, rather than catering to a single runner profile. The 5K route begins near the West Vancouver Community Centre on Bellevue Avenue. It proceeds along Bellevue Avenue, Marine Drive, through Park Royal, Ambleside Park, and Argyle Avenue, before concluding on the West Van Seawall. The autumn event spans two days, featuring a Kids Run on each day. The race also benefits Special Olympics BC - North Shore, providing a local charity connection beyond the immediate race area.

Kicking PancreAS™ 5K - Vancouver

Kicking PancreAS 5K - Vancouver is an evening 5K run/walk held at the Second Beach Swimming Pool on Stanley Park Drive in Vancouver. It is designed for walkers and runners of all abilities, with check-in before the start and a relaxed atmosphere, not a competition solely for fast athletes. The event generates funds for pancreatic cancer awareness, patient support, healthcare education, and research within Canada. The route begins and ends in Stanley Park, focusing the day around a well-known Vancouver waterfront meeting place. Participants are encouraged to wear purple, add glow-in-the-dark items, and wear costumes, contributing to the 5K's community fundraiser character over a standard road race. Finisher medals, bibs, and event merchandise are provided. Race kits can be collected beforehand at the Robson Street Running Room or at Stanley Park prior to the race; onsite registration is not available. A recent running of the event attracted 400 participants and raised over $96,000, with all proceeds remaining in Canada.

CHSFW Rubber Ducky

The CHSFW Rubber Ducky is an October race held at Burnaby Lake Regional Park in Burnaby, offering 5K, 7 Mile, and Half Marathon distances. The 7 Mile and Half Marathon routes complete a full circuit of Burnaby Lake. Participants must use a tag for timing; those without a tag will not receive a recorded result. The race course shares Burnaby Lake with the Shamrock’n Race in March, but the direction of the loop is reversed. Shamrock’n runs the 7 Mile and Half Marathon clockwise, whereas Rubber Ducky runs them counterclockwise. Burnaby Lake, situated centrally within the city, is a wildlife sanctuary featuring birds and animals along its trails. The lake was formed by a glacier approximately 12,000 years ago, and its shores were later sites for sawmills in the late 1800s, giving the course a historical context beyond a standard park loop.

Monster Dash 5K

The Monster Dash 5K is a Halloween-themed 5K run/walk in Longwood, Florida, featuring a free Kid’s Dash just before the main event. The race begins and ends at the Historic Civic Center in downtown Longwood’s historic district. Participants are encouraged to wear costumes. The course winds through Longwood’s historic district, with all race proceeds benefiting the nonprofit Longwood Historic Society. This society preserves three district buildings dating from the 1870s and 1880s, meaning the event directly supports local preservation efforts. Costume awards, music suitable for families, and Halloween-themed elements contribute to the morning having more of a community festival atmosphere than a standard road race.

2026 Vancouver First Responders Half Marathon- Trail Edition

The Vancouver First Responders Half Marathon - Trail Edition is an autumn trail race in Vancouver, British Columbia, serving as the off-road version of the First Responders running series. Participants can select from a 21.1 km half marathon, a 10K, or a 5K. The half marathon course consists of two identical laps. The race includes a team option for the 21K and 10K distances, where four runners compete as a unit, with the team's overall time determined by the average of their individual finish times. The event's history dates back to the mid-2010s. Package pickup occurs the day before the race at The Right Shoe. Race morning features a mandatory briefing prior to the staggered start of the three distances, beginning with the longest and concluding with the shortest.

Run the Night is a 5K night race starting at Second Beach in Stanley Park, Vancouver. It begins at 7:00 PM PST on a Friday evening, offering a short, measured run under the dark sky with ocean air and distant city lights. The course is certified, chip-timed, and described as fast and flat, suitable for first-timers and those aiming for a quick 5K. The race concludes the series, serving as a final opportunity to push before the season ends. Participants receive a finisher medal, post-race snacks, warm drinks, event photos, sponsor perks, and leaderboard recognition, with prizes for the top three men and women. The event benefits Childhood Cancer Canada and attracts Vancouver runners of all levels, from casual participants to those seeking one more challenging effort before the year concludes.

Disco Dash is a 5K and fun run/walk at Holly Pavilion in Tribble Mill Park in Lawrenceville. Packet pickup begins at 8:00 AM for the 9:00 AM start. The main 5K is timed, while the Fun Run/Walk is not, allowing participants to race for a time or proceed at a relaxed pace. The event includes a shorter Boogie Loop for those not wanting the full 5K. Organized by The Next Stop, participation funds its programs for adults with special needs. The race embraces a disco theme, welcoming participants of all ages and abilities. Every entrant receives a shirt, a finisher medal, and a ticket for coffee or hot cocoa from Brightside Cafe's On the Go trailer. Age-group medals in standard five-year categories are available for competitive runners, who also have a chance to win $150 in Big Peach Running Co. gear.

SCPC Vancouver Historic 5K, 10K & Half Marathon

The SCPC Vancouver Historic 5K, 10K & Half Marathon takes place on Stanley Park’s paved Seawall, a well-known Vancouver route encircling the park's perimeter. Participants can select a 5K, 10K, or half marathon, accommodating walkers, casual runners, and those seeking a longer timed competition. The event utilizes shoe-tag timing, a finish-line clock, and in-person results, with tags gathered post-finish. The course traces the Seawall along Stanley Park’s northern, western, and southern shores, offering clear vistas of downtown Vancouver, the North Shore mountains, and the Lions Gate Bridge. Stanley Park, Vancouver’s original park, spans 400 hectares, placing the race alongside forests of cedar, hemlock, and fir, as well as the coastline. The event maintains a practical local-race atmosphere, featuring a group warm-up led by The Morgan Method, no race-day registration, and a Yellow Bib option for participants entering after standard merchandise and medals are gone.

The Big Elf Run

The Big Elf Run is a holiday fun run in Vancouver's Stanley Park, starting at Lumberman's Arch in December. It includes a 1k Wee Elf Run for children, and 5k, 10k, and 15k distances, accommodating families, walkers, beginners, and experienced runners. Participants receive a personalized bib with a custom Elf Name, an Elf Toque costume piece, and a wooden ornament medal crafted in British Columbia. The route follows Stanley Park trails, primarily paved paths and seawall segments, with minimal hills and loops for the longer races. Runners depart from Lumberman's Arch, accessing the seawall near Coal Harbour and Burrard Inlet. The event welcomes strollers and pets, provides a water station, and features a DJ, entertainment, vendors, prize draws, and a photo station before the race. It also benefits a charity, aligning with the holiday spirit.

View all recurring races near Nanaimo →

Looking for something else near Nanaimo?

10K running Nanaimo → 14 Half Marathon running Nanaimo → 6 Marathon running Nanaimo → 1

Other races in the next 90 days

All sports & distances →

JUL 861 km away cycling

Global Relay Gastown Grand Prix

Nanaimo BMX Canada Cup

2026 BC Provincial BMX Championships

JUL 1861 km away cycling

5 Peaks Trail Running Series Cypress Mountain

JUL 2658 km away cycling

The Beedie Living Cypress Challenge Presented by Glotman Simpson Cycling

AUG 9 triathlon

Nanaimo Open Water Swim and SwimRun Challenge

AUG 1561 km away triathlon

Vancouver T100

SEP 561 km away triathlon

2026 Vancouver Aquathlon

About 5K races in Nanaimo

Nanaimo Training Notes

Nanaimo hosts 15 5K races in 2026 within 80 km of the city centre — upcoming dates, recurring series, and other races nearby, all in one place.

Locals run Bowen, Buttertubs, the E&N, Parkway Trail, and the Waterfront Loop when they want steady base miles without overthinking it. Frontrunners Nanaimo sits at 1825 Bowen Road, so a lot of routes feel like they naturally start from there. Westwood Lake works for easy Z2 laps on paved and hard-packed trail. The 61 km Rural Forest route gains +512m, so locals use it when they want a proper long grind. Run for Recovery 2026 around Westwood Lake is the clean anchor event for runners, and the Nanaimo Open Water Swim and SwimRun Challenge gives the multisport crowd a target.

Locals ride the Parkway Trail, Trans Canada Trail, and E&N Rail Trail when they want paved, separated miles. Coal City Cycles keeps the mountain bike side moving with Tuesday night rides at 6:30pm, and Mid Island Velo Association covers road and gravel with Sunday Road Rides, Wednesday Night Int/Adv Road Ride, and Saturday MIVA gravel. Nanaimo Mountain Bike Club keeps the trail culture rooted. Blackjack and Okay Lap, MIVA Unpaved A Course, River Road Run, and Shelton/Healey Lake keep gravel interesting. Mount Benson and the hills west of town hold the climbs, the singletrack, and Murderhorn Maiden.

Warm, dry summers give Nanaimo its best training block, with long rides, waterfront spins, lake loops, and weekday intervals all feeling easy to schedule. Locals use summer for gran fondo prep, gravel days, and faster trail sessions because the dirt and pavement both cooperate. Mild, rainy winters change the mood more than the plan. Runners keep working Bowen, E Wellington, Parkway North Diver Lake, and Westwood Lake, while riders lean harder on separated trails, gravel routes, and mountain bike laps when the roads feel less inviting.