10K races near Elon

The Carrboro 5K/10K offers runners a choice between a 6.2-mile 10K and a 3.1-mile 5K. Both races begin at 8 a.m. from McDougle Middle School in Carrboro, North Carolina. The 5K, a more recent addition, has a participant limit of 300 runners. The entry fee for either distance is $35. Both races traverse Carrboro neighborhoods before concluding on the McDougle track. This event is part of Le Tour de Carrboro, a three-race series benefiting Carrboro Area Charities. Participants in the series must select either the 5K or the 10K for this particular race, not both.

Rootrock lives up to its name: the trail run sends 5K, 10K, and half marathon runners onto single-track paths covered in roots and rocks at Briar Chapel, south of Chapel Hill, North Carolina. It takes place on a mid-fall morning and utilizes the trail network within a 900-acre green community, featuring forested paths designed for hiking and mountain biking. Great Meadow Park is the start and finish area. Its lawn, stage, and pavilion provide a central gathering point for the race. This run is the first event of the Rootrock Trail Races and is paired with the Rootrock Mountain Bike Race; athletes registering for both receive a discount and a special award. Following the run, the event offers food, music, a kids' treasure race, and an awards ceremony with giveaways.

Birds of a Feather Trail Trot is a Thanksgiving Day trail run at Briar Chapel in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. Runners can choose a 2-mile route with paved path, grass, and smooth trail, or go longer on rugged 5K and 10K options with roots, rocks, and rolling hills. The 2-mile distance also has an untimed fun run option, suitable for those who want a relaxed holiday outing as well as those who want to race. The event embraces a turkey-trot feel while not being solely a road race. Families and groups can run together, kids 11 and under participate for free, and everyone can stay afterward for pie. The post-race awards ceremony includes contests and giveaways, contributing to the morning's neighborhood holiday gathering atmosphere rather than a simple start-to-finish run.

Run At The Rock guides participants through the trails of Cedarock Park in Burlington, North Carolina. Runners can choose from 5K, 10K, and half marathon distances. This event has been held annually since 2005. The 10K and half marathon begin at 9:00 a.m. Eastern, with the 5K starting at 9:30. Cedarock Park is located a short distance from Chapel Hill, Durham, Raleigh, Greensboro, and Winston-Salem. The courses feature winding single-track sections and more open equestrian trails. Course markers and aid stations are provided approximately every 1 to 2 miles. Registration provides a race hoodie, and finishers receive substantial medals that can also be used as drink coasters. The post-race gathering offers hot soup, music, a complimentary children's race, and an awards ceremony with numerous prizes.

The Viking Dash Greensboro is a trail run held in late January at Hagan-Stone Park in Pleasant Garden, near Greensboro, North Carolina. The race begins at 10:00 AM and includes both 5K and 10K distances, allowing participants to select a shorter trail run or a longer park loop. The course consists entirely of unpaved trails, distinguishing it as a true trail race. This event is part of the Viking Dash series, recognized by its organizers as a growing national trail run series. Finishers receive the series' themed medals. With no prize money, the event attracts recreational trail runners, local participants, and those seeking to collect series medals, rather than professional racers.