5K races near Bellefontaine

Hero Harvest is a 5k fun run in Piqua, Ohio, held in October at Lock 9 Park, following a Veteran Ceremony. The race is sponsored by Operation Veteran and Caregiver Support. Every entry fee supports its programs for veterans, military families, widows, and active duty service members from all branches. This event is for runners and walkers. Children have lower pricing. The race-day setup is straightforward: check in at Lock 9 Park, receive a race number, and finish with a snack. Participants who register early enough receive a shirt. Online registration is available through Can’t Stop Running Co.

The Horseshoe Hill Climb is a trail race at Marmon Valley Farm near Zanesfield, Ohio, approximately 45 minutes northwest of Columbus. It takes place in November and provides short and longer trail options, with distances noted in recent event information as 5K, 10K, 20K, and occasionally 30K. The race utilizes the farm’s private trail network instead of paved roads, so participants should anticipate dirt, grass, uneven terrain, creek crossings, and mud if conditions are wet. The course is structured around a 10K loop crossing bridle trails, farm lanes, open meadows, hardwood forest, ravines, fields, creeks, and scenic overlooks across Marmon Valley Farm’s extensive acreage. The event generates funds for summer horse camp scholarships, enabling children from economically disadvantaged families to attend camp; runners can also contribute to this cause by supporting Team Wrangler. Awards are presented to the top male and female finishers in each distance category, and the participants generally consist of trail runners seeking a challenging, unpaved farm course rather than a road race focused on personal bests.

The ORRRC Turkey Hunt Map & Compass Challenge is an orienteering race at George Rogers Clark Park. It begins in the afternoon and has a two-hour time limit. Participants use a detailed map and compass to navigate, selecting their own routes to find as many control points as possible before returning to the finish. The strategy is key, as controls can be visited in any order. Each control is worth five points, with a one-point penalty for each minute past the time limit. Registration is available before the race. Newcomers can take a practice course and attend an introductory session offered by the Miami Valley Orienteering Club. Awards are presented to the top 50 finishers, making the event suitable for fast competitors, precise navigators, and those new to orienteering.

Dash Before the Game Day Bash is a 5K in West Liberty, Ohio, held at 9:00 a.m. on the Saturday after Thanksgiving. This race is the rebranded version of the West Liberty Luminary Race. It features a flat, fast course and takes place on the same day downtown hosts its pre-parade 5K before the Village Christmas Parade. The route runs in and around West Liberty, following a path similar to the old Luminary Route, but it avoids Route 68. Runners can register on race morning. Awards are presented afterward at The Grove. Early registrants receive a race medal; medals for late sign-ups are available based on supply. Proceeds benefit the West Liberty Business Association, the nonprofit organization responsible for the village Christmas celebration and other local events.

The Holly Jolly 5K & 10K Run is a December road race in Piqua, Ohio, offering both five-kilometer and ten-kilometer distances. The race begins at 10 a.m., with registration and check-in prior, and this marks its 23rd year. Participants start and finish at Lock 9 Park, following an out-and-back route along the Great Miami Riverway between the park and Farrington Reserve. The event is designed for a wide local field, featuring male and female age divisions from 14 and under up to 70 and over, with awards for the top three overall finishers and the top three in each age group.