5K races near Fairborn

The Run For Your Life 5k Series - The City Collapsed is a 5k road race in Fairborn, Ohio, held on a fall Saturday with a zombie-apocalypse theme. Participants start as Survivors, wearing flag football belts. The race challenges runners not just to finish the distance, but also to protect their flags from being captured, which would mark them as infected. Zombies have a distinct role: they remain within designated infected zones rather than completing the full course. Their objective is to remove flags from approaching Survivors. This event is modest in scale, anticipating 1 to 100 participants. It emphasizes costumes, imaginative zombie makeup, speed, rapid decision-making, and composure under duress.

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 Pumpkin Spice 5k is a fall run in Miamisburg, Ohio, centered on miles, snacks, and pumpkin spice. It begins at the Sycamore Trails Aquatic Center and follows the paved paths of Sycamore Trails Park, suitable for runners and walkers, not just those aiming for a fast time. Finishers receive a pumpkin spice latte, hot or iced, from Road Runner Espresso, along with baked goods from Sheetz. All ages and paces are welcome, with awards presented at the finish line and custom medals for top finishers in age and gender categories. Live standings are available on Speedy-Feet.com. Packet pickup is available the day before at Miamisburg Community Center and on race morning at the start site.

The Dupps Company 5k Glow Run/Walk starts and finishes at The Dupps Company on North Cherry Street in Germantown, Ohio. This $25 5k run/walk is a local morning event held around the start of the fall and holiday seasons. The setup is straightforward: packet pickup is before the race, the route returns to the company site, and children under 5 do not need to register. After the finish, participants can find food trucks, snacks, face painting, and extra shirts for sale. Race proceeds support Robyn’s Nest, which brings dogs to the event and shares information about its adoption process.

The ORRRC Cross Country Trail 5k is a Saturday morning trail race in Centerville, Ohio, starting at 9:00 a.m. with parking at Watts Middle School. The race follows trails within Grant Park, making it a straightforward 5k on park paths. It is presented by the Ohio River Road Runners Club, a nonprofit, all-volunteer running club serving the Dayton area. This is one of ORRRC’s smaller events. Members and children 14 and under participate without charge; non-members pay a modest entry fee. The format is straightforward and runner-oriented, omitting shirts and finisher medals. Participants receive chip timing from volunteer timers, refreshments, and a chance for age-group awards. Runners and walkers of all abilities are welcome, with awards for overall, masters, and grand masters categories for men and women.

Run For Your Life is a charity 5k and 10k fun run/walk held at the PNWU campus in Yakima, Washington, starting and finishing on campus. Organized by PNWU students, the race is combined with a health fair, making the morning suitable for runners, walkers, families, and local residents, not just competitive racers. Check-in is in the morning before a 9:30 start, with participants selecting either the 5k or 10k route. The event originated on PNWU’s campus in Terrace Heights and maintains a student-led, community-health focus. Funds raised support PNWU scholarships, particularly for students from rural and medically underserved areas pursuing health careers. The Community Fair features PNWU student clubs and local health organizations, offering information on topics like heart health, diabetes, smoking cessation, back pain, mental health, therapy services, substance abuse, outdoor recreation, exercise, and sexual health. Race shirts, route maps, parking details, and RunSignUp registration are provided.

Got Chocolate?! 5K/10K Walk, Run, or Roll starts at Xenia Station in Xenia, Ohio, with both distances using the local bike path. The event is open to runners, walkers, and participants using wheels, and the afternoon schedule starts with registration before the races begin. The race benefits Family Promise of Greene County, with proceeds helping local displaced families recover from homelessness. Finishers come back to a chocolate-focused post-race party with chocolate donuts, hot chocolate, and chocolate candy, while winners receive awards and results are posted through Speedy Feet as people finish.

Rabbit Hole Romp is a 5K in Dayton, Ohio. Registration and start details are at 645 Infirmary Road. It is a professionally timed run with a casual tone: strollers are permitted, leashed dogs are welcome, and a virtual option is available for those not participating in person. The route follows the Stillwater River from Island Park to Wegerzyn Park and back along a naturally sheltered trail, away from traffic. Embracing its literary theme, the race encourages Alice in Wonderland costumes, with some event listings also inviting other favorite literary characters. Prizes are awarded for the best costumes, along with awards for first overall and first in class. Entrants receive shirts and swag, and all finishers get medals. The event supports Dayton Book Fair causes and Rabbit Hole Books, functioning as a local literary fundraiser with an attached 5K.

The Ezra J. Hartke Race for Hope is an annual November fundraiser offering 5K and 10K races. Named for Ezra J. Hartke, it supports childhood cancer research and care, having raised over $133,000 to date. The event is presented by The Barry & Denise Johnson Foundation, a 501c3 nonprofit dedicated to raising funds and providing support for childhood cancer. Funds from the inaugural race generated $18,000 for Dayton Children's Hospital research into brain tumors. This research included studying how tumor cells resist treatment and how a steroid medication affects stem cells within a tumor. That initial donation contributed to launching a larger project focused on targeting specific cell types in brain tumors to improve therapy effectiveness.

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.

The Christmas in Springboro 5K Run/Walk begins at 9:00 a.m. from the corner of W. Mill Street and S. Main Street in Springboro, Ohio, during the Christmas in Historic Springboro weekend. This annual 5K costs $30 and welcomes both runners and walkers, with Niki Gulick at Reign Realty presenting the event. The race uses downtown Springboro as its base, with Saturday registration and packet pickup at the Beer Tent on S. Main and W. State. Awards are given to the top overall male and female finishers, plus the top male and female in age groups from 9 and under through 70 and over. After the finish, runners return to the Beer Tent for awards, refreshments, and a complimentary post-race beverage ticket. Proceeds support Operation Santa, Springboro Community Assistance Center, The Pantry, and Warren County Children’s Services.