5K races near Lakewood Township

The OCC Viking 5K and Fun Run is a campus race at Ocean County College, featuring a 5K run, a Fun Run, and a Health Walk on the same morning. It is presented by the Ocean County College Foundation and Ocean County College Athletics. Check-in begins at 7:30 a.m. The 5K follows a USATF-certified course, and participants agree to USATF terms upon registration. All proceeds benefit the Ocean County College Foundation, supporting access to higher education for Ocean County residents via scholarships and awards.

The Ocean Running Club hosts its Seaside Half Marathon and 5K on the central New Jersey shore in Seaside Heights. The course is fast and flat, utilizing the boardwalk, beach, and Atlantic Ocean views. The event takes place in October, with average local temperatures ranging from the 40s to the upper 60s. Participants can choose from three options: the Seaside 5K, the Seaside Half Marathon, or the Seaside Challenge, which involves running both races consecutively. The half marathon follows an out-and-back route on the boardwalk and paved city streets through Seaside Park, extending towards Island Beach State Park. Both walkers and runners are welcome. Its flat terrain is ideal for those training for fall marathons in the New York and New Jersey areas. Over 400 participants finished a recent edition of the race, which has a history spanning nearly fifty years. The 5K begins before the half marathon, Challenge runners receive three medals, and proceeds benefit the Tri-Boro First Aid Squad and the Ocean Running Club Scholarship Fund.

The Eden Autism 5K & Fun Run/Walk takes place annually in October at 2 Merwick Road in Princeton, New Jersey. It offers a USATF-certified 5K for runners and a 1-mile Fun Run/Walk for walkers, families, and younger children, both beginning at the same morning hour. Registration fees are reduced for ages 5 to 17 and USATF members; children 4 and under participate for free. Same-day registration is available for those deciding to join on the morning of the event. The event benefits Eden Autism, an organization that assists individuals with autism from diagnosis through adulthood. The first 1,000 participants will receive a long-sleeved shirt, hat, and finisher medal. Awards for the 5K include prizes for the top overall female, male, and non-binary finishers, as well as the top three runners in 10-year age categories ranging from 9 and under to over 80. A race festival precedes, accompanies, and follows the races, featuring face painting, balloon animals, and craft tables.

The Heart & Sole 5K is an annual community race held at Oak Point Park in Plano, Texas. It features a 5K run and a 1-mile fun run, both taking place on the same morning. Organized by ASC, the event supports a selected nonprofit beneficiary, focusing on both physical activity and fundraising. The fun run starts before the 5K. Afterward, the event transitions into a post-race gathering with breakfast, music, and activities for families. A kids' zone offers a bounce house, face painting, and a balloon artist, contributing to the atmosphere of a local fundraiser. The Heart & Sole 5K has been running for at least 16 years, with local sponsors contributing to elements like finisher awards and water stations.

Mary's Place by the Sea Walk-A-Thon & Run gathers walkers and runners in Ocean Grove, New Jersey, each October for a charity event offering two choices: a 4K walk-a-thon or a 5K run. The course begins at Ocean Avenue and Ocean Pathway, near the beach and the town center. The event supports Mary's Place by the Sea, the designated beneficiary. Over 1,500 participants attended a recent iteration, establishing a new attendance record and exceeding its $200,000 fundraising target. The walk-a-thon has occurred at least 14 times, and the 5K run at least 7 times, attracting both long-time supporters and individuals seeking a brief community race along the coast.

The Tunnel to Towers 5K Run & Walk - Jersey Shore is a 3.1-mile run or walk held in Wall, New Jersey. It offers separate registration for adults, first responders and military members, teens, and children, allowing families and service groups to participate together. The series commemorates Stephen Siller, an FDNY firefighter who ran through the Brooklyn Battery Tunnel toward the Twin Towers on September 11, carrying his gear. The Wall event also honors all who died that day, generates funds for the Tunnel to Towers Foundation’s programs, and supports first responders and military members for their significant sacrifices.

The Skeleton Run is a winter sliding race series built around skeleton: athletes launch themselves headfirst on small metal sleds and race down iced tracks at speeds that can reach 140 km/h. The rider lies only a few centimeters above the ice, so the sport asks for nerve, precise steering, and a clean start. Skeleton grew out of Swiss toboggan racing, when winter sports enthusiasts began racing down icy slopes on sleds inspired by transport sleds from Canada and India, with links also traced to Norwegian sled designs. The early sport centered on tracks such as the Davos-to-Klosters route in Switzerland, where a straight slide was later given curves to make the racing harder. The name may come from the bare metal look of an early sled, or from an English version of the Norwegian word "Kjaelke." Modern skeleton spread through IBSF racing, Olympic competition, training schools, and circuits such as the World Cup, Europa Cup, North American Cup, and Intercontinental Cup. Competitors now come from around 30 countries across six continents, with newer nations investing in the sport alongside established winter-sport teams.

The 5K Race for Recovery on the Boardwalk is an annual 5K run in Ocean Grove, New Jersey, taking place on the town’s boardwalk. It is directly associated with Market Street Mission, and the race name indicates its purpose: supporting individuals on their path to recovery from drug and alcohol addiction. The event was previously known as the Jersey Shore Rescue Mission 5K Race & Family Walk. Proceeds benefit Market Street Mission, a nonprofit organization assisting individuals who are hungry, homeless, or dealing with addiction, offering programs without charge and without government funding.

The LBI Halloween Hustle is a new community race in Surf City, New Jersey, built around a 5K run/walk and a children’s Little Monsters Dash. Surf City Volunteer Fire & EMS hosts it from 713 Long Beach Blvd, with registration offered separately for the main 5K and the kids’ dash. The event leans into its Halloween timing rather than treating costumes as an afterthought: awards are planned for best costumes as well as race results. The setup is simple and local, with walkers, runners, families, and kids all given a place in the day.