5K races near Laurel

Glen Burnie Improvement Association 5K RUN & FUN WALK starts from the Glen Burnie Carnival Grounds. Connect with neighbors and get active.

The second edition runs through Druid Hill Park, a historic public park. The course follows tree-lined paths and open green spaces, with clear signs and marshals. A themed medal, chip-timed results, and free race photos are included. Marshals will provide guidance and encouragement.

The MoCo CARES Charity Race begins at 7503 Muncaster Mill Road in Gaithersburg, Maryland, offering 1.6 km, 5 km, and 10 km distances. This local charity run, organized by So What Else and Covenant Life School, focuses on fundraising for local charities and assisting children and families in need throughout Montgomery County. The course features short-distance paths arranged by volunteers, including a route similar to a 1-mile run and a 5K route. Local families, businesses, volunteers, and Companies Who CARE participate in the event. Capital Youth Outreach Club collaborates with So What Else for service support. Volunteers manage the event's logistics, such as setting up signs and booths, encouraging runners, ensuring children's safety, participating in a post-race service project, and assisting with cleanup. Formerly known as the LaunchCARES Charity Race, it originated as a small community gathering before growing into a county-wide initiative aimed at combating hunger.

The Fall Foliage 5k & 10k begins at Constitution Park in Waynesboro, Virginia, during the autumn leaf season. Participants can select either a 5k or a 10k, accommodating those seeking a brief community run and those preferring a longer morning race. The route winds through Waynesboro neighborhoods and follows the South River Greenway, featuring autumn colors and fallen leaves. Aid stations are provided, participants receive a race-day shirt, and a food-and-drink gathering follows the finish. The Fall Foliage Art Festival, featuring artists nationwide, takes place downtown the same weekend.

The Fall Harvest 5K begins at 9:00 a.m. starting from BB&T Bank. Morning registration and packet pickup are at the Borough Building on Filbert Street. This is a 3.1-mile road race on a flat, fast, wheel-measured course. The plan is straightforward: arrive early, attach your bib, and complete a quick local 5K. Awards are presented to the top three men and women in each age group, with divisions from under 10 to 70+. The fastest overall male and female runners receive trophies. The current course records are 16:56.80 for men and 17:20.65 for women. A $200 prize is offered for the first man and first woman to break the record in the new 70+ age group.

The Red Shoe 5k is a 5 km run/walk held in Forest Heights, Maryland. The race begins at Capital Canopy on National Plaza and marks the event's 16th year. Proceeds benefit the Ronald McDonald House. This event welcomes participants beyond competitive runners. Walkers are welcome in the main 5k, and a Kids Fun Run is available for children. The focus on charity provides the day with a distinct objective, as families and community members gather for a short race that is straightforward and suitable for various age groups.

The New Market STRONG Run/Walk and Festival is an annual 5K in New Market, Maryland. It honors Karen Durbin, the town clerk who served the community for over 14 years before passing away after a prolonged battle with breast cancer. This 3.1-mile event accommodates both runners and walkers, with timing provided by Racine MultiSports. Families, walkers, and leashed dogs are welcome. The course follows New Market’s historic streets and adjacent neighborhoods, keeping the race centered on the town it benefits. Proceeds are directed to the Hurwitz Breast Cancer Fund, supporting the Frederick Health Hospital Cancer Center. Following the race, the event transitions into a local festival featuring live music, vendors, food and beverage trucks, family activities, and a cornhole competition.

Run Like Michael centers on Michael’s 5K Run For Life, a July race connected to Michael’s Run for Life Festival in Peoria. Packet pickup is handled at RC Outfitters on SW Water Street before race day, and on-site registration is available at the festival. The run was created because Michael loved running, and it supports the foundation’s fight against signet ring colon cancer. The event’s message is direct: a large group of people can take on hard problems together. The race gathers runners and supporters around that cause, rather than around a complicated course or elite field.