5K races near Picton

The County Marathon starts and finishes at the Prince Edward Community Centre on Picton Main Street in Picton, Ontario. It is an annual October race weekend with a full marathon, half marathon, two-to-five-person marathon relay, and 5K, so runners can come for anything from a short local run to the full 42.2 kilometres. The race bills itself as Canada’s largest small county marathon, and the field is big enough to feel busy without turning into a big-city crush: more than 1,600 runners joined the event in its latest reported running. The marathon and half marathon courses are Athletics Canada certified, which matters for runners chasing accurate times or qualifying standards for races such as Boston. The route gives runners a clear Prince Edward County feel, with lake views and local wineries along the way rather than an anonymous urban loop. The race has been running for more than two decades, is organized by The County Marathon Committee Team, and raises money for the Prince Edward County Memorial Hospital Foundation. It draws serious marathoners, relay teams, half-marathon runners, 5K participants, and people who come as much for “The County” hospitality as for the clock.

Fat Ass Trail Run is a November trail race day held at Batawa Ski Hill in Batawa, Ontario, offering distances from a kids' 1 km to 50 km. The schedule progresses through the day: the 50 km begins first, followed by the Bad Ass 6 Hour, then the 24.5 km, 16.5 km, 10 km, 7.5 km, 5 km, and the Big Bum Kids' race. The 6 Hour event is straightforward and demanding: participants repeatedly run a 7.5 km loop, tallying their completions before the time limit. The 50 km involves five approximately 10 km north-loop laps, featuring a strict late-day cutoff, a headlamp requirement after mid-afternoon, and pacers permitted only on the final loop. The trails comprise rocks, roots, wide paths, singletrack, wooden bridges, creek crossings, hills, and meadows. The day's conditions can vary significantly based on whether Batawa experiences snow, mud, or clear weather. Three aid stations serve the south loop, north loop, and connector area, providing water, Tailwind, and snacks. Runners must supply their own cup or bottle as the event is cupless. The race commenced in 2003 with 23 participants and now attracts competitive runners, walkers, children, older participants, and novices within its unadorned format. In keeping with the fat-ass tradition, adult finishers do not receive medals; awards are presented to the top three male and female finishers in each distance, while children in the 1 km race get ribbons.