5K races near Rittman

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.

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.

At the Sancta Clara Nun Run, nuns cheer participants as the 5K enters the monastery grounds. The Saturday morning run/walk starts at St George Byzantine Catholic in Canton, Ohio. Registration is capped at 300 due to fire-code and parking limitations. The event benefits the Poor Clares sisters, with proceeds supporting the nuns and the renovation of Sancta Clara Monastery. The course includes local streets, the Middlebranch trail, and the monastery grounds, giving it the feel of a parish-and-neighborhood fundraiser rather than a typical road race. Strollers are permitted, and those not participating in the run or walk can opt for a shirt-only package. A kids fun run precedes the 5K, followed by awards, refreshments, food, face painting, and a balloon artist. All finishers get a running nun medal, and the race marks the start of the Poor Clares' anniversary observance in Canton.

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 RePlay for Kids Halloween Run is a charity race in Medina, Ohio, hosted at the Medina County Board of Developmental Disabilities. It offers a chip-timed 5K for runners, an untimed 1 Mile Fun Walk for a more casual outing, and a virtual option for people who want to support the event from elsewhere. The race supports RePlay for Kids, a nonprofit that repairs, adapts, and gives toys and assistive devices to children with disabilities. Costumes are encouraged, so the event leans more family-friendly and playful than strictly competitive. People can sign up on their own or join a team, and virtual participants receive mailed race shirts and gift bags. The 5K still has a competitive side, with awards for the top overall male and female finishers and age-group winners.

The TuscParks Annual Canal Tavern of Zoar 5K Run and Walk is an afternoon 5K on the Towpath trail in Tuscarawas County, Ohio. It starts at Fort Laurens Museum and finishes at the Canal Lands Park trailhead near Zoar, with runners and walkers using the same point-to-point trail route. Parking and registration are handled at the Canal Lands Park trailhead, and a free shuttle carries participants to the start at Fort Laurens. The race is hosted by TuscParks and the Canal Tavern of Zoar, with proceeds going to upkeep of the Towpath trail and nearby features. After the finish, awards and door prizes move to the Canal Tavern, where the day ends with an Octoberfest-style patio party with bratwurst, beer, and music.

Trick-or-Trot is a Halloween-themed run and walk in Brecksville, Ohio, featuring a 5K, a 1-mile fun run, and a costume contest held on the same morning. Organized by Ken Ganley Companies and Brecksville Kiwanis, this annual event is designed for families and runners alike. It includes children’s music, face painting, crafts, and trick-or-treating activities that run concurrently with the races. The start and finish lines are located at the Oak Grove Pavilion area in Brecksville Metroparks, close to Blossom Hill. Awards are presented to top 5K finishers and costume contest participants across various age groups. The costume contest offers 15 categories, such as Funniest Costume, Best Hero or Villain, and Tastiest Costume. Proceeds benefit local children, including Kids in Flight, an organization that provides aviation experiences for children facing serious illnesses or disabilities.

Turkey Trails Cleveland is an annual Thanksgiving-themed running event offering a half marathon, 10K, 5K, untimed 1 mile, and a kid's dash. The main races feature chip timing, live results, and awards, while the shorter family options are less competitive. Registration for the half marathon, 10K, 5K, and 1 mile includes a custom bib, a designer shirt, and a finisher medal. This event is designed as a family holiday run rather than a competition exclusively for serious runners. Children 10 and under can participate in the untimed dash, receiving a mini bib, youth shirt, and a kid-specific medal, or they can run without the extra items. The 5K and 10K also provide youth pricing for participants 12 and under. Post-race treats, complimentary photos, and a virtual race option are available; virtual participants can run at their own location and still receive the event merchandise.

The North Royalton Bear Run is a local running event in North Royalton, Ohio, offering a 5K run/walk and a 1.6K race. Both events commence in the morning from North Royalton High School. The 5K is a standard 5.0 km route suitable for runners and walkers. The 1.6K functions as a shorter, one-mile fun run, ideal for families, children, or participants preferring a reduced distance. Packet pickup is available before the races, aligning the event with a straightforward school-based morning schedule instead of a large festival setup.