Bloomington · United States
5K races near Bloomington
24 races in 2026
next one in 2 days
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Race calendar
Upcoming 5K races near Bloomington
This week 6
3JUL
Run · road · 5K
RUN WHITE and BOOM
Bement · 72 km away
4JUL
Run · road · 5K
Major Reid Nannen Memorial 5K
Hopedale · 36 km away
4JUL
Run · road · 5K
God's Country 5K/10K Run & 2 Mile Walk
Forrest · 58 km away
4JUL
Run · road · 5K
Freedom Celebration 5K Race and Youth Run
Champaign · 74 km away
4JUL
Run · road · 5K
Streator Run For Glory
Streator · 73 km away
+19 more 5K racesShow fewer ↓
4JUL
Run · road · 5K
Paxton Masonic Lodge 4th of July 5K
Paxton · 77 km away
JUL 9
11JUL
Run · road · 5K
2026 Fisher Fair 5K
Fisher · 58 km away
11JUL
Run · road · 5K
Dog Days 5K
Hudson · 19 km away
11JUL
Run · road · 5K
Run for Life 5K
Metamora · 48 km away
18JUL
Run · road · 5K
Run Your Bass Off
Stanford · 20 km away
18JUL
Run · road · 5K
Michael's Run for Life Festival
Germantown Hills · 52 km away
24JUL
Run · trail · 5K
Detweiller at Dark
Peoria · 61 km away
25JUL
Run · road · 5K
Whitney’s Walk for Suicide Prevention & Awareness
Brimfield · 78 km away
25JUL
Run · road · 5K
SANGAMAM 5K Run/2K Family Fun Water Gun Run or Walk
Bloomington · 6 km away
31JUL
Run · road · 5K
Run Mahomet
Mahomet · 58 km away
AUG 6
7AUG
Run · road · 5K
Wenona 5k
Wenona · 64 km away
8AUG
Run · road · 5K
Lincoln-Douglas 3 Mile/8 Mile Race
Metamora · 46 km away
15AUG
Run · road · 5K
Hill of a Race
Bloomington · 1 km away
17AUG
Run · road · 5K
Maui Jim Maka Maka 3 Mile Run
Peoria · 56 km away
22AUG
Run · road · 5K
Mansfield 5K Run & Walk
Mansfield · 51 km away
29AUG
Run · road · 5K
Balloons Over 66 5K
Lincoln · 49 km away
SEP 3
12SEP
Run · road · 5K
Jared Lee. Edge Memorial 5k/10k
Williamsville · 76 km away
25SEP
Run · road · 5K
KARES 5K: For the Long Run
Metamora · 46 km away
26SEP
Run · road · 5K
Empower Through Health 5K
Urbana · 77 km away
Bloomington · 80 km
24 races mapped
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Recurring 5K races near Bloomington
Races that repeat — weekly, monthly or yearly
Shoreline Classic
The Shoreline Classic, a fall road race in Decatur, Illinois, begins from Pavilion Drive near Lake Decatur. Participants can select a USATF-certified 5K or 15K, suitable for both competitive racers and recreational runners. The event also offers virtual 5K and 15K races, along with a Tot Trot for children aged 1 to 14.
The in-person 5K and 15K follow the shores of Lake Decatur. The 5K presents a quicker route, while the 15K incorporates rolling hills for those seeking a longer, less level course. The race attracts participants and observers from throughout Illinois, and the Tot Trot adds a family-friendly dimension, balancing the focus on adult distance events.
Run The Woods
Run The Woods is an annual trail event at Timber Pointe Outdoor Center, 21 Timber Pointe Lane in Hudson, Illinois, offering 5K and 8K races along with a 1-mile hike. It takes place in the fall, designed for those preferring a short off-road race or walk away from a road-race crowd.
The trails wind through wooded paths beside Lake Bloomington, welcoming seasoned runners, casual joggers, and families. Proceeds benefit Easterseals Central Illinois, aiding campers at Timber Pointe Outdoor Center, which supports children with developmental delays, disabilities, and special needs. Post-race, participants receive breakfast, and awards and prizes are presented.
Illinois State University Homecoming Town and Gown 5K
The Illinois State University Homecoming Town and Gown 5K begins at the Student Fitness Center in Normal, Illinois, during Homecoming week. This campus-and-community race offers a 5K, an untimed 1 Mile Fun Run/Walk, and virtual 5K options. The in-person races start in the morning. Participants should wear Redbird gear. Strollers are permitted, but pets are not. Registration must be completed online before arrival.
The 5K course winds through Uptown Normal and around the Illinois State campus. A water stop is provided on the course, with refreshments available afterward for all participants. The Office of Sustainability contributes reusable water bottles and a Zero Waste Crew, aiming to reduce event waste. Awards are presented to the overall male, female, non-binary, and wheelchair winners, along with the top three male and female finishers in age categories from 14 and under to 60 and over. A portion of each paid registration benefits the Marian H. Dean Scholarship, providing the Homecoming run with a direct campus fundraising objective.
Marshall Rotary presents: Jack-O-Jog 2026
The Jack-O-Jog begins at the Plum Street and 8th Street parking lot in Marshall, Illinois, with all race options scheduled for an evening start. The Marshall Rotary Club organizes this event as a Halloween-season run for families, children, walkers, and casual runners. Available options include a 1-mile walk, a 5K fun run, and a free Kids Dash for children in kindergarten through sixth grade.
The course is straightforward: walkers complete one 1-mile loop, and 5K runners traverse that same loop three times. Children have their own short dash. Costumes are welcome, provided all participants wear athletic shoes. Post-race amenities align with the event's family orientation, featuring goodie bags for Kids Dash participants containing a wearable trick-or-treat safety item, along with medals and shirts for walkers and runners.
Race the Dead
Race the Dead is a 5K fun run in Towanda, Illinois, beginning at sundown from Kicks Bar and Grill. It focuses on Halloween-style running, not serious competition: participants are encouraged to dress up, startle other runners, and contend for costume awards, though costumes are not required. The run is not officially timed, but a lit clock at the finish allows runners to view their own time.
The route follows an out-and-back path on old Dead Route 66, with luminaries guiding the way and passing Towanda’s historic haunted cemetery. Participants should bring a flashlight, suiting the sundown start and the eerie atmosphere. The single water stop is positioned near the start and finish, allowing runners to visit it twice; it offers water alongside seasonal snacks and drinks. Registration also includes a voucher for a soft drink or beer at Kicks, positioning the event as a community night run rather than a formal road race.
Cupcake 5K
The Cupcake Fun Run is a flat, easy 1-mile run/walk at Bayside Middle School, not an elite race or a long-distance test. It is an annual school-community event that welcomes runners, walkers, children, families, and anyone who wants to join at a relaxed pace.
The finish line comes with the race’s main treat: every participant gets a cupcake after completing the course. The day also includes food trucks, an espresso and milkshake truck, a bounce house, and teacher-led inflatable-run antics, so it feels as much like a school festival as a race. The event is the PTO’s biggest fundraiser each year and brings in almost a quarter of its annual fundraising, with the money supporting local schools.
The Redder for Edder Run
The Redder for Edder Run is a community 3-mile run/walk held at Maxwell Park in Normal, Illinois. It begins at 9 AM with the core purpose of gathering, wearing red, remembering Edder, and supporting his family.
The route is a 3-mile run/walk starting at Maxwell Park, open to both runners and walkers. The entry fee is $15 to encourage community participation, and donations are welcome. All proceeds will be given to Edder's family, with a fundraising goal of $10,000. Wearing red is a shared gesture, connecting participants to Edder's memory and his family.
Storm the Castle 5K Walk/Run
The Storm the Castle 5K Walk/Run is a November 5K held at Richwoods High School in Peoria, Illinois. The start and finish lines are located at The Castle, the school’s soccer field. This is a community race offered annually with options for runners, walkers, and those who wish to purchase only the event shirt. Chip timing is used, and registration is available online.
The course leads participants back onto the improved soccer pitch, meaning the finish line is directly connected to the field the race benefits. Proceeds from entry fees support the Richwoods High School Soccer Program and field improvement projects. These projects have funded a leveled and crowned field, a watering system, new grass, team shelters, lighting training walls, stairs, and a concessions building. The event is designed for families and runners alike, with its core purpose being to help the soccer program enhance its home field.
2025 Turkey Trot
Turkey Trot LA guides participants through downtown Los Angeles, featuring the Walt Disney Concert Hall along the route and Grand Park as the finish-line hub. The race offers a 5K, a 10K, and a Combo option for those completing both distances, alongside a 5K virtual run for remote participation. Additionally, the Widdlewobble, a 1-mile dog jog, adds a unique element beyond a typical road race.
The downtown course winds past historic structures before concluding in Grand Park, which hosts a post-event festival. Packet pickup is available before race day and recommended; race-morning pickup begins early to accommodate parking, road closures, bib collection, shirt distribution, and start-line timing. The event also supports fundraising, attracting families, dog owners, virtual participants, and runners contributing to a cause.
The Chocolate Turkey 3 Mile
The Chocolate Turkey 3 Mile is a Thanksgiving morning run along the Riverfront, with a 1 Mile Walk offered for those seeking a shorter outing. It is structured as a community holiday event, not solely for serious racers: participants may run, walk, dance, or spectate, and entry fees support Elite Community Outreach.
The route remains on the Riverfront, welcoming families and friends before they continue with their holiday plans. The finish line showcases the event's distinct character: the Elite Holiday Choir performs, finishers receive chocolate, participants are given a 3.5-ounce chocolate turkey and a signature shirt, and attendees can linger afterward for hot cocoa and treats. The event also welcomes direct donations for Elite Community Outreach, an organization dedicated to creating pathways out of poverty and fostering hope within the community.
Run Run Rudolph
Jingle Jog 5K
The Jingle Jog 5K is a December 5K focused on holiday enjoyment rather than competitive racing. It is designed for families, including cookies, cocoa, and music.
Participants can wear costumes for a contest, which includes prizes as part of the tradition. Santa and his companions also attend, making the day feel more like a holiday gathering with a run included than a typical road race.
Looking for something else near Bloomington?
Other races in the next 90 days
About 5K races in Bloomington
Bloomington Base Miles
Bloomington hosts 38 5K races in 2026 within 80 km of the city centre — upcoming dates, recurring series, and other races nearby, all in one place.
Locals put most easy miles on Constitution Trail, the 37-mile asphalt system shared by Bloomington and Normal. The trail gives you North-South and East-West lines, with The Junction near Normal City Hall Annex making routes simple. Fleet Feet Bloomington meets Mondays at 6:00 pm, starts at Tipton Park from March 9 to November 1, and lets you run as far as you'd like. Lake Run Club still has those Lake Bloomington roots from the early 1980s. Hill of a Race, The Big Run, the 45th Annual Lake Run, and Race the Dead give the calendar its anchor race feel.
Locals ride the same park-heavy grid for Z2, then roll out to country roads for longer work. The main climb is 1 km and gains 157 m. Bloomington Cycle & Fitness connects riders to The Mid South BCF Edition 51, while Bloomington Bike Project keeps the wrenching side social. Gravel days use SBT VRTL 144, The Brokaw Road, Gravel Ln out and back, and North 600 East Road. The climbs are around Lake Bloomington and the rolling B-roads, where the surface is gravel, busted up tarmac, and dirt.
March through November gives Bloomington runners and cyclists the cleanest outdoor block. Summer works well for early base miles, but locals respect the heat, especially when a tolerance run can mean 1 pm and 104 degrees. Fleet Feet Bloomington shifts on November 2 from Tipton Park to the store route on sidewalks and paved roads east of Hershey. Constitution Trail stays useful after snow, because Bloomington and Normal handle snow removal for events of two inches or greater, so winter becomes shorter loops, steadier Z2, and fewer hero intervals.