5K races near Hixson

Lance's Legacy 5K and Fun Run is a fundraising run in Dalton, Georgia, starting from 652 Haig Mill Lake Road. It offers a 5K and a fun run, with a $30 registration fee for runners supporting the cause. The event is organized by Lance's Legacy, a nonprofit created in memory of Lance Sotelo, a runner from the Dalton and Charlotte running communities who died while out on a run. The race is held on Lance's birthday and raises money for scholarships for high school and college runners. These scholarships are for athletes who show perseverance, acceptance, and love, the qualities his family chose to carry forward through the nonprofit. The day also includes a live DJ, food vendors, inflatables, and awards, structured as both a community fundraiser and a family-friendly race day.

The Furry Scurry Fun Run and Walk is a pet-friendly race morning at Chickamauga Dam in Chattanooga, Tennessee, offering a 5K and a 1 Mile option. The Husky Hustle 5K is the longer race, and the Dachshund Dash 1 Mile is the shorter one, with the event embracing a dog theme rather than treating pets as an afterthought. Runners and walkers are welcome to bring their pets, positioning it as a community fun run rather than a serious road-racing test. The setup includes water stations and prizes, and the event raises support for Warrior Freedom Service Dogs, a nonprofit focused on service-dog work for veterans.

Marigold Miles 5K: Día de los Muertos Run is a 5K in Downtown Los Angeles incorporating Day of the Dead traditions. Thousands of families and friends gather to run, walk, and remember departed loved ones. The event supports the Olvera Street Merchants Association Foundation, which funds traditional, historical, cultural, and educational events connected to Olvera Street. The race begins on Main Street within El Pueblo de Los Angeles Historical Monument, the city's oldest area and Olvera Street's location. The course travels through lower Chinatown and passes Los Angeles State Historic Park. Before the start, traditional Aztec dancers conduct a purification ceremony; around the course, participants paint their faces like skulls and place marigolds, candles, photos, and memorabilia on altars, including an official Community Altar. Following the finish, the festival proceeds with mariachi bands, folkloric dance groups, and stilt walkers, and the top three finishers in each gender category are awarded hand-painted skull trophies.

Tails, Trails, and Ales is a dog-friendly trail race day at Reflection Riding in Chattanooga, Tennessee, scheduled for the fall. Participants can choose from a 1-mile Pup Dash, a 5K, or a 10K, with timed and untimed options for those seeking a race effort or a relaxed trail outing with their dog. The event is designed for one dog per person, and all dogs must remain on a 6-foot leash. The race features dog-friendly aid stations, on-site veterinary and first-aid support, finisher awards for humans, pup bandanas, local craft beer, food from breweries and food trucks, pet-friendly vendors, and an option to support a local animal rescue or shelter. Nooga Paws, Bad Beard Events, and Reflection Riding are the hosts, with an anticipated field of approximately 200 human participants and their dogs.

The Cleveland Turkey Trot is a Thanksgiving morning race held at Greenway Park in Cleveland, Tennessee. A chip-timed 5K begins first, followed shortly by an untimed 1-mile fun run/walk. Terra Running Company organizes the event, and race-morning registration remains open until just before the start. This accommodates the casual holiday participants as well as runners aiming for a recorded 5K time. The 5K course starts and finishes at Greenway Park. It follows an out-and-back route heading south on the Greenway toward Willow Street. The event relocated to Greenway Park to accommodate larger numbers, with past participation exceeding 600 people. The course permits strollers and dogs, provided they begin at the rear due to runners moving in both directions. A food drive benefiting the Chattanooga Area Food Bank collects donations within Bradley County. The race also upholds a local tradition: early registrants receive beanie hats, and the first group to register gets sealed prize envelopes to be opened later at Terra Running Company.

The Stuffing Strut is a Thanksgiving morning 5K walk/run held at Chester Frost Park in Hixson, Tennessee. Participants begin at 8:30 a.m., with registration available from 7:30 a.m., allowing for an early start before the holiday meal. This marks the event's 14th year, and all registered participants receive a race shirt. The course winds through Chester Frost Park, commencing and concluding near the park pavilion on Causeway Road. Winners in each age group are awarded commemorative medals. The race emphasizes local fundraising alongside competition, with proceeds benefiting Northside Neighborhood House, Soddy-Daisy Food Bank, Dallas Bay Volunteer Fire Department, and Soddy-Daisy Middle School's Jim Wilson Fund, all supporting residents of Northern Hamilton County.

The Chattanooga Hungry Turkey is a late-November race in Chattanooga, Tennessee, designed around the post-Thanksgiving concept of running off the holiday meal. It provides a half marathon, 10K, and 5K. The 5K is open to both runners and walkers. The race is centered at Coolidge Park, with the start and finish located on Tremont Street in front of the Chattanooga Theatre. Participants select from three distinct routes, featuring aid stations and restrooms approximately every 1.5 miles. The event accommodates families and adults seeking a longer run. Children 11 and under may participate in the 5K Kids Division Fun Run, receiving an untimed bib and a finisher medal. Post-race traditions are straightforward and food-focused, including a fresh donut and a long-sleeve technical shirt for registrants, along with a medal for all finishers.

Holiday Hustle is a December running event in Dexter, Michigan, featuring a holiday-night 5K, a 1-mile dash, and longer distances within the same festive setting. The short course winds through neighborhood light displays, offering a relaxed route focused on holiday decorations instead of a typical road race. The half marathon and 13.1-mile relay begin and end at Erratic Ale Co., proceeding along the B2B trail through Hudson Mills before returning. Participants finish near a fire pit, with post-race snacks, medals, chip timing, official results, age-group awards, and the option for a drink afterward. The event also supports a charitable cause, aligning with the holiday spirit without a formal or exclusive atmosphere.

The Cupid's Chase 5K Chattanooga begins and ends at Marsh Pavilion on Amnicola Highway. Check-in is in the morning, and the race commences at 10:00 AM. This is a certified, professionally timed 5K held annually in February. It is part of the national Cupid's Chase series, which commemorates the founding of Community Options and generates funds for housing and employment programs supporting people with disabilities. The Chattanooga event accommodates a diverse field: runners, walkers, wheelchair participants, families with strollers, sponsors, and leashed pets are welcome. Medals and drawstring bags may be given to finishers while supplies last. The top three male and female finishers receive trophies, and medals are awarded to age groups from 12-and-under to 70-plus. A shirt tradition includes a Valentine's Day joke, with white shirts for singles and red for those in relationships. The overall series attracts over 17,000 participants nationwide.

The Trach Families presents Breath of Life 5K supports tracheostomy families in southeast Tennessee. Run to beat your personal best, or join families and children for a fun mile. This year features a Kids Zone with face painting, sensory games, and more for children. Trach/Vent life is life altering, and together we're building a community of children thriving with their traits.