5K races near Davidson

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 Journey 5K & Family Fun Run and Walk is a 5K run/walk held at Frank Liske Park in Concord, North Carolina. It begins at 10 a.m. and includes a virtual option for those unable to attend in person. The Journey Collective Inc. organizes the event, focusing on women’s wellness across spiritual, emotional, physical, and financial aspects. The race honors the memory of Audrey L. Ward. It is designed for a wide range of participants, not exclusively competitive runners. Women, men, families, children, walkers, supporters, and pets are welcome. The entry fee remains the same for both in-person and virtual participation.

The Haunted 5K, 10K, & 13.1M is a Saturday morning race in Charlotte, North Carolina. It begins at 8:30 AM next to Marion Diehl Adaptive Field on Tyvola Road. Participants select a 5K, 10K, or half marathon. Advance registration is required via RunSignup; no on-site registration is available. The 5K and 10K follow an out-and-back course, with the 5K completed once and the 10K twice. The half marathon is also out and back, repeating its course four times, making it a lap-style race. The time limit is 3 hours and 30 minutes. Finishers receive medals, awards are presented, and the event contributes series points. The Halloween theme is most evident in the best costume award.

The Haunted 5K, 10K, & 13.1M in Charlotte is a fall running race starting at 2229 Tyvola Road, near Marion Diehl Adaptive Field. Participants can select a 5K, 10K, or half marathon, with all distances beginning in the morning. Registration is exclusively via RunSignup; no on-site signups are available. Packet pickup occurs on race morning shortly before the start. The courses are straightforward out-and-back routes, making the format clear before race day. The 5K covers the route once, the 10K covers it twice, and the half marathon completes the out-and-back course four times. The race has a 3 hour 30 minute time limit, offers finisher medals, awards, US Road Running series points, and a best costume award aligned with the Haunted theme.

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.

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 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 Haunted 5K, 10K, & 13.1M is a fall running event in Charlotte, North Carolina. It begins at Mallard Creek Playground on Mallard Creek Road, across from Mallard Creek Elementary School. Participants can select a 5K, 10K, or half marathon. All distances commence at 8:30 AM. Online registration is available via RunSignup; no race-day sign-ups will be permitted. The course design is straightforward and repetitive: each distance follows an out-and-back route. The 5K completes it once, the 10K completes it twice, and the half marathon completes its out-and-back course four times. This allows runners to cover the same terrain multiple times and monitor their progress with each loop. Packet pickup is available 30 minutes prior to the start and concludes 10 minutes before the start. The course time limit is 3 hours and 30 minutes. Entry fees are reduced for children aged 1 to 15 for all distances.

Race for Peace, or Carrera por la Paz, is a morning 5K run/walk at La Villita Park on Chicago’s South Side, located at 2800 S Sacramento Ave. The Little Village Rotary Club organizes this event to raise funds for youth programs in Little Village and nearby communities, with the race centered on an anti-violence and peace message. Participants can select a competitive 5K that begins first or a non-competitive 5K run/walk that follows shortly after. The event is local and accessible: the park entrance and lot are reached from South Albany Ave, offering free on-site parking, street parking, nearby CTA bus stops, and the Pink Line about a mile away. Competitive runners can compete for cash prizes, with awards for the top three men and women. All registered participants receive a finisher medal and a race-day shirt. Packets are available for pickup on race morning, and volunteers can hold personal belongings during the race.