5K races near Cherryville

Rocky Branch Park in Belmont, North Carolina, is the location for the To The Good Times Trail Run, organized by Belmont Run Club. This event offers 5K and 10K trail races. Participants can choose to run either on-site or virtually, with virtual entry fees matching those of the on-site races. The on-site races begin at Rocky Branch Park and utilize bib-chip timing from Innovative Timing. Awards will be presented to overall and age-group winners for each distance. All participants will receive a T-shirt branded with the To The Good Times Trail Run and Belmont Run Club logos, along with a sticker.

The Haunted 5K & 13.1M in Hickory, North Carolina, is a Halloween-themed US Road Running event featuring a 5K and a half marathon. Both races begin at 8:30 AM. Online registration via RunSignup is required prior to race day, as on-site registration is unavailable. Packet pickup is available in the brief period before the start. Both races follow simple out-and-back courses. The 5K course is repeated twice, and the half marathon course is repeated six times. The start and registration area are located north of the VFW, with parking and restrooms at the Trailhead. The event has a 3-hour, 30-minute time limit. All finishers will receive a themed medal, and costumes are encouraged. A group photo marks the start of each race, and the best costume award is presented at the start, integrating the Halloween theme into the morning before the repeated course begins.

Cal Tri Charlotte athletes head to Lake Norman State Park in North Carolina, located approximately 38 miles north of Charlotte. This event offers a flexible multisport day with 12 options, divided equally between Sprint and Olympic distances. Choices include triathlon, RunBikeRun, SwimBike, SwimRun, swim-only, and run-only formats. The standard triathlon involves a swim, bike, and run. RunBikeRun variations substitute the swim with a second run: Sprint distances are 5 km, 26 km bike, 5 km, while Olympic distances are 5 km, 40 km bike, 10 km. Swim-only participants can select 400 yards or 1,640 yards, and runners have 5K and 10K choices. Average air temperatures range from 59 F to 77 F, with water averaging 69 F. Organizers suggest a wetsuit for the swim.

The Last Wolf is a Last Man Standing race held in Kings Mountain, North Carolina, utilizing a 3.1-mile gravel loop. Participants begin new loops consecutively until they either fail to meet a cutoff time or choose to stop. The cutoff time is dynamic, cycling through 40, 45, 50, 55, and 60 minutes before resetting to 40 minutes and repeating this pattern. This shifting time limit creates periods of intense urgency followed by more relaxed intervals. The loop consists primarily of gravel, featuring both uphill and downhill segments. The course is structured as an out-and-back, with runners traveling approximately one mile out before turning back. A runner's race concludes upon missing the current time limit. To achieve victory, the final remaining runner must complete an additional loop solo within the active cutoff time; failure to finish this last loop within the limit results in no winner. Aid stations provide basic food items, eschewing an extensive course-wide selection.

Bit of Hope Ranch hosts its 5K on a 50-acre horse ranch in southern Gaston County, North Carolina. The start is at 5001 CR Wood Road in Gastonia. Participants can choose from a certified 5K trail run, a 2K walk, a virtual run option, or a Half-Pint Run for children age 7 and under. The race proceeds rain or shine, unless lightning requires cancellation. Packet pickup and walk-up registration are available on race morning. The 5K course is a true trail run, featuring challenging terrain in the back woods, paths through hardwoods, and sections along the waterfront. Runners finish downhill through a sensory trail, integrating the ranch's natural setting into the course. Walkers begin after the runners, allowing the shorter walk to occur in the same morning without impacting the 5K start. The Half-Pint Run is designed for young children, and those not participating in the race can support the ranch through donations.

The Night Crawl 5K is an in-person run, walk, or crawl through downtown Newton, North Carolina. It is presented by the Catawba Valley Association of Realtors and offers a standard 5K, a student 5K, and a T-shirt-only option for those who wish to support the event without racing. The race raises money for the Elementary School Back Pack Programs in Caldwell and Catawba Counties, making the local charity purpose central to why people sign up, sponsor, or volunteer. This is the event's 17th annual running, and registration is handled through RunSignup or the Catawba Valley Association of Realtors office.

The Gobbler 5K & 13.1M is a small race at Hickory City Park in Hickory, North Carolina, offering both a 5K and a half marathon. Both races begin at 8:30 AM. Participants register via RunSignup prior to race day, as on-site registration is unavailable. Packet pickup is available in a brief pre-race window, opening 30 minutes before the start and closing 10 minutes prior. The start and registration area are located north of the VFW, opposite the intersection of 16th Ave Pl NW and 12th St Dr NW. Parking and restrooms are situated at the Trailhead. Both races follow a repeated out-and-back format. The 5K completes its out-and-back course twice, and the half marathon repeats its out-and-back course six times. All participants must finish within a 3 hour and 30 minute time limit.

The Great Turkey Trot 5K, a 9:00 AM trail run/walk at Allison Creek Park in York, South Carolina, encourages Thanksgiving costumes. Hosted by Greater Things, this is the second year for the event. The setup is straightforward: a 5K on park trails, a $20 entry fee, a race shirt for registered participants, and age-group competition for runners from 16 and under to 50 and above. The day is designed for families and 5K runners alike. Top male and female finishers in each age group receive medals. Children can participate in a fun run and scavenger hunt. Adults and children are also invited to enter a Thanksgiving-themed costume contest, with prizes for the top three finishers. Local businesses and organizations will host tables offering treats and giveaways. Water and snacks will be available, and proceeds from the event will benefit underprivileged children and Veterans in York County.

The Hickory Foundation YMCA Turkey Trot is a Thanksgiving-season race morning based at the Hickory Foundation YMCA in Hickory, North Carolina. Runners can choose a 5K or 10K, and kids have their own Youth Fun Run before the main races start. The event is in its 24th running and keeps a practical, community-race feel, with team packet pickup, individual packet pickup, and race-day registration handled at the nearby C.O. Miller Teen Center. The Youth Fun Run goes first at 8:15 a.m., followed by the 10K at 9:00 and the 5K a few minutes later. All participants have a 1 hour 30 minute cutoff, so the setup is friendly to walkers and casual runners but still organized around a clear morning schedule. Entry fees and donations support the YMCA’s local programs for healthy spirit, mind, and body, with the stated goal of strengthening the Hickory community.