5K races near Macedonia

KJ's 5K for Mental Health and Animal Rescue is a community 5K run/walk held at Portage Lakes State Park in Akron, Ohio. The in-person race begins at 9:00 am. A virtual 5K option is also available, allowing participants to complete the distance anywhere within its early-fall timeframe. This event is designed for local runners, walkers, families, and supporters, not exclusively competitive racers, with discounted entry fees for children aged 1 to 15. The park location provides a straightforward 3.1-mile course for the in-person event. The virtual option permits participants to cover the distance by running, walking, biking, crawling, or any other method away from the designated start line. Proceeds benefit local mental health and animal rescue organizations. The day features awards for the top three male, female, and youth finishers, followed by a remembrance and presentation. Virtual race packets contain a custom KJ's 5K shirt and a finisher medal.

The Iron Pickle 5K is a fun run held in early summer in Canton, Ohio, coinciding with Canton Pickle Fest. The course begins at the Stark County Fairgrounds and concludes at the festival grounds, allowing participants to go directly from the finish line to the post-race festivities. The event welcomes runners, walkers, families, and casual participants, offering a pickle-themed medal to all finishers. The Iron Pickle Challenge offers an optional upgrade: participants can choose to carry either pickles provided by The Crazy Cucumber or a large inflatable pickle throughout the 5K. Previous participants noted the inflatable pickle presented more difficulty than anticipated. A separate Little Pickle Run, a 200-meter event for children 8 and under, is also featured. Virtual participation is available for those unable to attend in person, with mailed packets that may contain an inflatable pickle.

The Cleveland Ostomy 5k is a run and walk at Acacia Reservation in Cleveland Metroparks, held as part of Ostomy Awareness Day. It offers separate registration for open participants and ostomates, allowing individuals with ostomies to enter a category that directly reflects the community the event supports. The event is in its third annual edition, now held at Acacia Reservation. Runners, walkers, ostomates, supporters, and volunteers participate together. Every entry supports the United Ostomy Associations of America, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit. Registration includes a T-shirt, a timing-chip bib, and a runner swag bag. Donations to the organization are tax deductible.

Cere-bration Walk, Roll, Run Akron is a community race day in October featuring a timed 5K, a 1-mile walk/roll, a Kids Dash, and a virtual 5K for participants at home. The Akron event supports traumatic brain injury support in Ohio, where over 1.9 million people live with lasting effects from a TBI. Both the 5K and 1-mile events begin in the morning, accommodating runners, walkers, wheelchair users, families, supporters, and spectators. The event focuses on bringing together survivors, caregivers, teams, and fundraisers. All proceeds fund free programs and services for brain injury survivors and caregivers throughout Ohio. The day includes a Survivor Celebration Zone, food, team recognition, and awards for the largest team, top fundraising team, top individual fundraiser, and best submitted team photo.

The Green Bulldog Dash is a school-community running event in Uniontown, Ohio, held at Green High School Athletic Stadium on Steese Road. Each October, runners and walkers can choose from a certified 5K, a 1 Mile Run/Walk, or a 200 Meter Dash Family Fun Run. The 5K route circles the high school athletic stadium. The shorter options accommodate families, younger children, walkers, and first-time participants. Green Local Schools organizes this 15-year-old event, with proceeds benefiting nearly 2,000 students at Green Primary School and Green Elementary School.

Cleveland Metroparks Zoo hosts this annual morning event with two options: a 5K run/walk at 8:30 AM or a 1-mile walk at 9:00 AM. Presented by CrossCountry Mortgage, the event supports the zoo’s conservation efforts, not just local racing. Participants choose a species to support: Andean Bear, Asian Turtle, Giraffe, Gorilla, Lion, or Rhino. With over twenty years of wildlife protection work, Cleveland Metroparks Zoo links a short, accessible course to a direct conservation fundraiser. Spectators are welcome inside the zoo with advance online tickets; membership does not grant spectator access.

The Drug Demand Reduction Dash is a 5K run/walk held in Kingman, Arizona, each October, originating from KRMC's Hualapai Mountain Campus. The start and finish lines are located on the hospital campus, with the majority of the course utilizing desert service roads instead of city streets. The event accommodates both runners and walkers, offering overall and age-group awards at the conclusion. Pets are permitted on the course; participants should bring water for their animals. A single water stop is provided for runners along the route. Registration and packet collection are managed locally, with options for in-person sign-ups at BLOOM Hair & Beauty Bar and early collection at the Hualapai Mountain Campus.

5KRunDead Zombie Run is a nationwide 5K series where runners try to get through a zombie-filled course without losing their “health” flags. Participants can sign up as runners or as zombies, so the same event works as both a short race and a chase game. The organizers describe it as the most affordable zombie run in the country, and the series has listed stops in at least 35 U.S. cities. Proceeds go to scientific research on Alzheimer’s disease, with some event material also naming cancer research as a beneficiary. The course is built around flag football-style survival: runners start with flags, zombies try to pull them, and anyone who reaches the finish with at least one flag survives. Zombies get free professional makeup before the race, with makeup artists on site to turn volunteers into more convincing pursuers. A DJ is part of the event setup, and participants receive a 5KRunDead shirt, refreshments, and a chance at prizes after the run.

Join the 3rd Annual Move for Mental Health at the Cleveland Metroparks Zoo. This event supports teen suicide prevention. Participate in the run or walk and enjoy snacks, goodies, music, a wellness health fair, family activities, and giveaways. You may also enjoy the zoo after the race. Dogs are not permitted.

The Monster Dash is a Halloween-season 5K and kids’ fun run in Spokane, held in Manito Park on the South Hill. The 5K starts in the morning and uses chip timing, while the Kids’ Fun Run follows with 1-mile, half-mile, and quarter-mile options. This setup allows parents to run the 5K first, then join their children for the shorter race. The kids’ races finish with candy goodie bags, and grownups can walk or run beside children for the whole course. Costumes are a significant part of the day, with most participants dressing up, and dogs and strollers are welcome. The MonsterDash series changes theme each year, with past themes including Dracula, spiders, skeletons, Frankenstein, aliens, and witches; music, food, expo items, gifts, collector bibs, and costume awards align with the theme. Race proceeds support Active4Youth, a local nonprofit focused on getting children into sports and healthy activity.

The Donut Worry Run Happy takes place in Cleveland, starting at Brewnuts, 6501 Detroit Road. It offers a 5K Run/Walk, a 1 Mile Walk, and the b.a. Sweetie Candy Company Donut Dash for children 8 and under. The 5K begins at Brewnuts and is chip-timed, while the mile walk and kids' dash are not timed. Participant numbers are limited to 600, keeping the event more intimate than a large city race. Packet pickup and registration occur outside Brewnuts before the start. All participants receive a custom shirt, a finisher medal, and a donut from Brewnuts. Children in the Donut Dash also get a donut and a Donut Goodie Bag. The event is designed for runners, walkers, and young children; dogs and strollers are prohibited on the course.