5K races near Rocky River

Monster Mash Dash is a Halloween 5K and kids' race held in Manito Park on Spokane's South Hill. The main 5K begins in the morning and uses chip timing. The Kids' Fun Run follows later, offering 1-mile, half-mile, and quarter-mile options. Costumes are encouraged, allowing runners to dress for Halloween rather than treating it as a standard road race. The event is designed for families. Adults may walk or run the entire kids' course with their children, and kids receive candy goodie bags at the finish. Many parents run the 5K first, then join their children for the Fun Run. Proceeds benefit Active4Youth, a local nonprofit focused on childhood obesity and after-school activity programs, including a free elementary running program in Spokane-area school districts.

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.

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.

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 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.

Jerome T Osbourne Stadium hosts a run with special pricing for runners 18 and under. Scan a QR code at the tent for results. Top three overall male and female runners receive signed home plates; age group winners get Mentor-branded Softballs. The Mentor Softball Home Run Hustle is sure to be a hit.

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.

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.