5K races near Odenthal

The Korschenbroich Forest Run takes place at Am Sportplatz in Korschenbroich. The event offers 5K and 10K races, providing standard distances for participants. The event includes options for children and students, catering to a range of age groups. Nordic Walking is also available, allowing participants to join the same race setting without competing as runners.

The Styrumer Straßenlauf “Rund um die Neustadtstraße” is a German road race centered on Neustadtstraße in Styrum. The event lists distances from 5 km to 100 km, with additional options of 7.5 km, 10 km, 15 km, 20 km, 25 km, a half marathon, and 50 km. It is listed in the laufen.de Laufkalender, allowing runners to find events by distance and select races on officially measured courses that contribute to German athletics best lists. Races in this calendar partner with laufen.de or are registered via the German Athletics Association system, which has overseen road running since 1963, providing rules, timing, and safety standards.

Winterlaufserie Marienfeld is a winter running series held at the Marienfeld club house in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. It takes place annually from late October to February, with runs on Saturdays or Sundays, functioning more like an organized winter training meet-up than a formal race. Participants can select from 3 km, 5 km, 7.5 km, 10 km, or 15 km distances, and walkers are welcome. Sportverein Schwarz-Weiss Marienfeld Laufbewerbe organizes the series. The start and finish lines are both located at the club house, with routes consisting of street runs through Marienfeld’s winter scenery. There is no timing system, emphasizing consistent training through the cold months over chasing official results. The series aims to provide local runners and walkers with motivation to continue training when the weather discourages outdoor activity. Registration is managed via the organizer’s website.

The Styrumer Straßenlauf begins near Sportpark Styrum in Mülheim, taking place in late October. This event is Mülheim’s oldest running race, put on by Styrumer TV. The primary race is 5 km, with additional races for younger age groups. The name “Rund um die Neustadtstraße” reflects its neighborhood origins. The 5 km course winds through Sportpark Styrum. Children’s races include 1 km for U8 and U10 participants, and 2 km for U12, U14, and U16 participants. Styrumer Turnverein receives support for the event from Mülheimer SportService, reinforcing its connection to the city's local sports scene.

Halloween-Run Köln is a Halloween-night running event in Cologne’s Forstbotanischer Garten, with 5 km and 10 km options plus children’s Candy Runs. It is a normal road or path race with a costume-heavy twist, not an obstacle race and not one where zombies chase runners. The mood is meant to be spooky but friendly, so it suits adults who want a themed run and families looking for something active to do with children. The route uses the familiar Rodenkirchen LÄUFT course through the botanical forest garden, with parts of it lit specially for Halloween. Runners often come in costume and wear headlamps, which makes the field look more like a moving parade of ghosts than a standard evening race. The event has drawn more than 1,400 participants, including over 400 toddlers and school children, and it is billed as the only night run through the Forstbotanischer Garten.

The Fackel-Lauf Wuppertal is a night run on the Nordbahntrasse, a former rail route through Wuppertal now used by runners, walkers, and cyclists. It takes place in November, with darkness integral to the event: participants use their own headlamps, flashlights, string lights, or LED gear, and the route is illuminated by these personal lights and the glow of torches. The format is straightforward and suitable for beginners, featuring one 5 km lap with the option to extend to 10 km by adding a second lap at the event. The focus is on the charitable cause and the enjoyment of running, rather than competitive pressure. The start is on the Nordbahntrasse, and the path remains open to the public, requiring runners to share it and stay to the right. A support cyclist leads and another follows to ensure no one is left behind in the dark, with Johanniter providing medical assistance. Children must be accompanied by a responsible adult. After finishing, the race bib entitles participants to a punch plus a Weckmann or a slice of pizza. The nearby Sportcenter Eskesberg offers changing facilities, restrooms, parking, and a place to rest post-run.

The Refrather Herbstlauf is an autumn running event held in the Königsforst, a large forest area near Bergisch Gladbach-Refrath, close to Cologne. It has been held annually since 1986, featuring standard road-race distances, particularly 5 km and 10 km. The start and finish line are located at the Schutzhütte “Am dicken Stock.” Participants can access the venue by car via Rather Weg or by taking the KVB line 1 to Refrath. The 5 km and 10 km courses are measured out-and-back routes, officially certified by the DLV, allowing for times to be recognized on German ranking lists. The event attracts runners from clubs, local athletes from TV Refrath, participants in championship races, and regular Volkslauf competitors aiming to achieve their season-ending objectives. The 5 km race has also served as a venue for LVN championship competitions. The 10 km record holders include Christa Vahlensiek (34:25) and Wolf-Dieter Poschmann (29:44). Recent results indicate competitive times, with sub-16-minute finishes in the 5 km and a 10 km victory by Felix Weber, Germany’s 24-hour record holder.

The Refrather Herbstlauf is a flat autumn road race held in Bergisch Gladbach-Refrath, Germany, concluding on Rather Weg. Participants can select between 5 km and 10 km distances. The 5 km race is open to participants aged 10 and older, while the 10 km race requires participants to be at least 12 years old. This event has been held annually since 1986 and is organized by TV Refrath Laufbewerbe. Both primary races feature flat out-and-back courses, presenting a direct run rather than a challenging Bergisches Land terrain. The 5 km course includes approximately 10 meters of elevation gain, and the 10 km course has about 20 meters of elevation gain. The event also includes children's and youth races. Results, start lists, photos, and reports are published for participants seeking post-race records.

The Winterlaufserie Bergisch Gladbach is a winter road-running series in Bergisch Gladbach, North Rhine-Westphalia, organized by Sportgemeinschaft Bockenberg. It begins near the Milchborntal stadium on Hardtweg, offering two primary routes: a 5.2 km short course and a 7.8 km long course. The shorter race starts in the afternoon, with the longer race following soon after, maintaining a compact, local feel rather than a full-day event. The series has been held since 1970 and is part of the Winterlaufserie of SG Bockenberg 1965 e.V. Separate races are held for children and school-age runners, while adults and youth can participate in individual runs or the entire series. Registration is handled through the organizer's website, fees are reasonable, and participants receive start lists, rankings, photos, and reports afterward. While reviews are few, they consistently praise the organization.

SG Bockenberg's Winterlaufserie is a winter running series organized by the club, with the first race opening the current edition. Runners can choose between a short course and a long course; the programme also includes a 25 km race. The available source does not give a detailed route. Results, photos, and certificates are published after the races. Previous series winners include Kai Willems and Lea van Elten on the short course and Max Kreitner and Nathalie Hahn on the long course.

The Glühweinlauf Marienhagen takes place in late November in Marienhagen, organized by VfR Marienhagen Breitensport. The field is capped and busy: 1,500 participants are registered, and the event is full, with no on-site entries. The program begins with children’s races, including the 370-meter Glühwürmchenlauf for the youngest runners, followed by 1 km and 1.7 km school races for older boys and girls. The adult sport events are centered on a 7.3 km route for walkers and Nordic walkers. Nordic walkers start with poles, walkers start without them, and each group receives its own award ceremony. The schedule keeps the children’s races early and the walking events around midday, making the day feel more like a local sports gathering than a single-start road race.

The Mondorfer Weihnachtslauf Niederkassel is a Christmas-season running event in Mondorf, held on the first Sunday of Advent alongside the local Christmas market. It offers more than a main road race: runners, walkers, and Nordic walkers all get their own distances, and the program starts with children before moving into the adult events. The opening races follow the motto “Kids run for kids,” with Bambini from age three running 200 meters and school-age children and teenagers running 1,200 meters. After that come 5 kilometer events for runners, walkers, and Nordic walkers, each with separate timing, plus a 10 kilometer race for those who want the longer option. With more than thirty editions behind it, the event feels like a local Advent tradition rather than just a standard winter 5k.