5K races near Leland

Run for the Ta Tas includes a 5K race in Wilmington, North Carolina, held in October. This event is a short road run, suitable for runners and walkers seeking a manageable fall race, rather than a long endurance challenge. The listing provides the event's location in Wilmington and specifies only the 5K category, without a detailed course map. The race is organized by Run for the Ta-Tas, suggesting a themed community run rather than a typical club competition.

Monster Dash is a Halloween-themed 5K and Kids' Fun Run held in Manito Park on Spokane's South Hill. The 5K begins in the morning and is chip timed, with the kids' races taking place afterward. Costumes are encouraged, making the day about running, walking, and dressing for the season, rather than treating it as a standard road race. The kids' events include 1-mile, half-mile, and quarter-mile distances, with candy goodie bags at the finish. Adults may walk or run the full kids' course with their children, and many parents complete the 5K before participating in the Fun Run. Bib and shirt pickup is located at the Lower Manito Park Picnic Shelter. All race proceeds benefit Active4Youth, a local nonprofit focused on introducing children to sports and healthy activities.

The Haunted 5K, 10K & 13.1M in Wilmington, North Carolina, is a US Road Running event with Halloween themes, offering 5K, 10K, and half marathon distances. All races commence at 8:00 AM. Packet pickup is available from 7:30 AM until 7:50 AM. Registration must be completed via RunSignup in advance; no race-day sign-ups will be accepted. The 5K course involves two repetitions of a short out-and-back section. The half marathon course consists of six repetitions of a longer out-and-back section. This design utilizes a compact, looping format instead of a linear route through Wilmington. The event has a 3 hour and 30 minute time limit. Participants receive medals, and awards will be presented. Series points are awarded, and a best costume prize ensures the haunted theme is integrated beyond just the event's title.

The Seaside Shuffle is a 5K race held at Wrightsville Beach Park in Wrightsville Beach, North Carolina, beginning at 321 Causeway Drive. As one of Wilmington's longest-standing road races, it offers a fast, flat course suitable for runners aiming for personal bests and for those seeking a relaxed community event. The Wilmington Roadrunners Club organizes the race, with a particular invitation extended to local students and families. The course is designed for simplicity and speed. Awards will be given to the top overall male and female finishers, masters winners, age-group competitors, and the largest and fastest teams. Participants receive a race shirt, subject to availability, along with coffee and breakfast post-race. All funds raised benefit the Wilmington Roadrunners Scholarship Program, which assists high school seniors from New Hanover, Brunswick, and Pender counties, having distributed $30,000 in scholarships since 2015.

The Compass Pointe 5K is a private Halloween 5K walk/run for residents of the Compass Pointe Community in Brunswick County, with an added virtual 5K option. It is a Race Against Hunger, with proceeds supporting Brunswick Family Assistance's efforts to combat hunger in the county. Entry includes a race T-shirt, a finisher medal for every participant, and official bib timing. The in-person route winds through the neighborhoods of Compass Pointe, designed for neighbors, clubs, walkers, runners, and friendly local competition rather than a large public race crowd. After the finish, attendees gather at the Grand Lanai for a festival featuring food from the Compass Point Culinary Club, beer from Waterline Brewing Company, and music from Whiplash; participants are encouraged to bring a chair and relax after the run.

The Medal Madness 5K & 13.1M at Wilmington, NC (44) is a US Road Running event in Wilmington, North Carolina. Both the 5K and half marathon begin at 8:00 AM near 4099 S 17th St. The event is designed for runners and walkers. Online registration is required before race day, as there is no on-site registration. Packet pickup is limited to race morning, opening 30 minutes before the start and closing 10 minutes prior. Both races feature repeat out-and-back courses. The 5K covers the same out-and-back section twice. The half marathon repeats its out-and-back section six times, making the event easy to follow for participants and spectators. The course time limit is 3 hours and 30 minutes. US Road Running provides themed finisher medals at its events. This series offers simple pricing, including reduced youth pricing for both distances.

The Gobbler 5K, 10K & 13.1M is a running event in Wilmington, North Carolina, offering three distances: 5K, 10K, and a half marathon. It begins at 8:00 AM from 4099 S 17th St. Packet pickup opens 30 minutes before the start and closes 10 minutes prior. Participants must register in advance via RunSignup, as no race-day registration is available on-site. The courses consist of simple out-and-back loops, making them easy to navigate and pace. The 5K involves completing a 1.56-mile out-and-back segment twice. The half marathon uses a 2.18-mile out-and-back segment six times. The event has a 3 hour 30 minute time limit. It is part of the US Road Running series, known for family-friendly events for runners and walkers, often featuring themed race branding and finisher medals.

The Wilmington Historic Half, 10K & 5K takes place in Wilmington, North Carolina, in December. All races run on closed roads through the historic downtown. Participants can select the half marathon, 10K, 5K, a virtual option, or the Challenge. The Challenge combines the early 5K with the half marathon, totaling 16.2 miles. A strict cutoff applies to the Challenge: the 5K must be completed in under 45 minutes, as the half marathon begins later that morning with no exceptions for late starts. The half marathon and 10K traverse all three downtown bridges and include over a mile on Wilmington’s well-regarded riverwalk, concluding in Riverfront Park. The 5K offers accessibility, while the Challenge presents a demanding local format for more competitive runners. All finishers receive a medal; Challenge participants get two medals and additional merchandise. The finish area features music, food, and beer from Wrightsville Beach Brewery and Oden Brewing Company. Race Raves voters recognized the half marathon as North Carolina’s top race, aligning with the event’s blend of downtown streets, bridges, riverfront paths, and efficient race-day logistics.

The William H. Craig Race for Life is an annual holiday 5K and 10K in Wilmington, North Carolina, held at the UNCW Greene Track. Participants select either distance, with the event structured around a morning race and a Christmas-season atmosphere, not just a standard road race. This is the oldest and largest holiday race in the Cape Fear region, honoring Dr. Bill Craig’s legacy and his community work in Wilmington. The day features snowball fights, elves, Santa, and hot chocolate. Proceeds benefit Girls on the Run, STRIDE, Victory Junction Gang Camp, and the Bill Craig Memorial Scholarship.

Viking Dash - Cape Fear is a 5K and 10K trail race held at Brunswick Nature Park in Winnabow, North Carolina, located south of Wilmington. The event takes place in February, beginning at 10:00 AM. Both race distances remain exclusively on unpaved trails, with no road sections included. The race is a component of the Viking Dash trail series, which embraces a Viking theme and highlights finisher medals. As a relatively new event without listed prize money, it presents as a themed local trail run for 5K and 10K participants rather than an elite competition.