5K races near Leander

The Day of the Dead Half Marathon - Austin begins at 8 a.m. from Tanger Outlets in Austin, Texas. The primary event is a 13.1-mile half marathon, with shorter options available: a 5K, a quarter marathon, a 1-mile run, a Kids Dash, a virtual run, and a Volunteer then Run option. The Texas Parks Edition guides runners through parkland featuring lakes, trees, and shaded natural paths, differing from a downtown-only route. Bigfoot Running Company is the organizer. The Day of the Dead theme provides the race with a distinct focus: a run connected to life, memory, and remembrance. Aid stations will be on the course for hydration, and the variety of distances allows families, beginners, and half marathoners to participate together on the same race day.

The Hope Alliance Survive. Thrive. Prevent 5K Run/Walk is a 5K event on the Randy Morrow Trail in Georgetown, Texas, open to runners and walkers. The event supports Hope Alliance, an organization providing services, partnerships, healing, and prevention for individuals impacted by family and sexual violence. The course begins near the Cypress Pavilion, proceeds along the trail to the 1.5-mile marker by the Rivery Boulevard Bridge, and then returns to the starting point. Prizes are awarded to the top three male and female finishers in age categories ranging from 14 and under to 70 and over, offering a competitive element for serious runners while remaining accessible for families and casual participants.

The Bagel Run in Austin/Round Rock, Texas, offers 5K, 10K, and half-marathon distances, along with a Family 1 Mile Fun Run. A virtual run and a no-shirt Eco-Registration for the three main distances are also available. The in-person race employs capped waves; entries may close as each wave fills, with a waitlist or virtual option for those who miss a spot. The run begins at Richard Moya Park. The course map is provided to participants instead of being published beforehand. Runners and walkers of all paces are welcome, and participants under 18 must be accompanied by a guardian. Timing is optional, allowing individuals to use an app to track their run and submit the result later. Best Races organizes this as a private group run, extending invitations to local run clubs and offering bagels post-race.

Spooky Sprint-Austin is a Halloween-themed running event in Austin, held in October. It offers a half marathon, 10K, 5K, 1 mile, kids dash, virtual race, and a volunteer-then-run entry. The event is designed for families and casual groups alongside competitive runners: the 5K, 10K, and half marathon are chip-timed with live results and awards, while the 1 mile and kids dash are untimed. The event provides finishers with race swag, including custom bibs, designer shirts, and medals for the main distances. The kids dash includes a mini bib, youth shirt, and a child-specific medal. Children 10 and under can participate in the kids dash for free if they forgo the swag. The 5K and 10K also have reduced pricing for participants 12 and under. Finish-line treats, free participant photos, and a virtual option contribute to the race's playful atmosphere, even for timed runners who receive results and awards.

Fields of Gold Trail Run takes place in the fall at Shaffer Bend Recreation Area in Marble Falls, Texas, within the Texas Hill Country. The series offers runners a wide selection of distances: 50K, marathon, half marathon, a 12-hour endurance challenge, a 1-hour Gold Hour challenge, 10K, and 5K. The course is designed with dirt and park terrain, featuring rolling hills, meadow trails, lakeside paths, golden grasslands, wooded valleys, and overlooks across the bend area. The longer races cover the most varied terrain. The half marathon is presented as challenging yet accessible for runners not aiming for an ultra distance. The 12-hour event focuses on total miles accumulated rather than a set finish time, with aid stations and support available throughout the day. The 1-hour race applies the same endurance concept in a condensed format. The 5K Harvest Fun Run serves as the family-friendly option, winding through the meadows. The event also supports HKRS Cedar Park Youth Running Programs, connecting race day activities with local youth running initiatives.

Wizard Run Austin is a costume-friendly 5K and 1 mile fun run in Austin, timed for the Halloween season. Participants are encouraged to wear wizard and witch robes, carry the theme into the race itself, and choose either a single distance or the Chosen One Challenge, which involves running both the 5K and the 1 mile event. The event embraces its magic theme before the running begins. A Grand Sorcerer teaches the crowd new spells, fog covers the start gate, music plays, sparks and colored effects are displayed, and a loud horn signals the witches and wizards onto a themed route through town with staged sights and sounds along the way.

Halloween Trick or Trot is a Halloween-themed run at Richard Moya Park in Austin, offering 5K, 10K, half-marathon, virtual, and family 1-mile options. It runs in morning waves, with each wave capped to create a more intimate group atmosphere rather than a large, crowded event. Runners and walkers of all paces are welcome, and children may participate with a guardian. The course details are emailed to participants, and race bibs are distributed on race day, bypassing traditional packet pickup. Timing is optional; participants can use an app, request assistance from coordinators, or forgo chip timing altogether. Halloween elements include post-run candy, finisher medals, shirts sent to U.S. addresses, a towel or giveaway, online results, and a completion certificate. The organizer also provides local run club invitations, a virtual option if waves fill, and a charity component where logged miles after the race can contribute to donations.

The Hippo Dash 5K begins in the morning at 400 Park Ave in Hutto, Texas, offering a 5K Run/Walk and a Kids Dash. The main race follows a flat, paved, marked park course, suitable for walkers, newer runners, and those seeking timed results on a straightforward route. Registration provides a 5K training plan, a custom shirt, and a medal. The race embraces Hutto’s hippo theme with a "Stampede over the Bridges Hippos" element and a Finish Line Hippo Dance Party. The Kids Dash is open to ages 3 to 10, with costumes encouraged. The event also benefits the Hungry Hippo Drive for the Hutto Resource Center Food Pantry, requesting non-perishable dessert items like boxed cake mix, canned frosting, and canned pie or fruit filling.

Justice Run Austin is a race event based at the Travis County Exposition Center on Decker Lane in Austin, Texas, with races that include a marathon, half marathon, 10K, and 5K. It is held in November, with the listed date and venue still dependent on permitting. The marathon is a tighter commitment than the shorter races: runners get a strict five-hour cutoff because of road closure timelines, and anyone expecting to need more than four and a half hours is steered toward the half marathon. The event began in 2021 with a fundraising mission tied to human trafficking survivor care. Money raised goes toward The Justice Residences, planned long-term restoration homes for up to 100 survivors at a time, with care lasting one to three years. Thousands of racers have joined the event since it started, and the field is built for a wide range of participants, from marathoners to 5K families; children age five and under can enter the 5K free, though that entry does not include a runner bag or shirt.

The Salmagundi Trail Race follows the Pedernales River at Reimers Ranch in the Texas Hill Country. It begins and ends on Hamilton Pool Road in Dripping Springs, near Austin. This November event offers distances from 5K and 10K to a half marathon, marathon, and a 50K ultra. Runners can use it for their first trail run, a quick race, or a long day on the trails. The event has a 500-participant limit and is part of the Texas Trail Championship. The course is entirely off-road, featuring wide double track, narrower single track, and jeep trail. It includes rolling climbs, not steep mountain ascents. The 5K has approximately 180 feet of elevation gain, and the half marathon has about 700 feet. The marathon course consists of the half-marathon loop run twice, while the ultra adds a 10K loop to two half-marathon loops. A Ruck Division is also available, requiring specific pack weights, pre- and post-race weigh-ins, and prohibiting trekking poles. Custom awards from Southern Forge and Mill are given to finishers. The race supports Austin Sunshine Camps, and the post-race activities include live music and local food trucks.