5K races near South Fulton

The Lucky Dog Walk for Recovery begins and ends at The Stone Summit in Kennesaw, Georgia, covering a 5K on the Noonday Creek trail. This October event serves as a community walk focused on addiction awareness, homelessness awareness, and support for individuals in recovery. Participants are encouraged to bring their canine companions, alongside human friends. The course follows a straightforward out-and-back path originating from The Stone Summit, concluding with music, food, and awards. The walk is named in honor of Lucky, a dog gifted to The Extension by a volunteer. Lucky resided at the men's campus, providing comfort to residents for years. Subsequently, the organization named its softball team The Lucky Dogs, and a costumed Lucky Dog mascot now attends softball games and other gatherings.

The Race offers a half marathon and a 5K, with virtual options available for both distances, accommodating runners and walkers participating remotely. It takes place in early October and has been organized annually since 2018. The event's planning centers on culture, community, wellness, local economic impact, and pride. The course details provided focus on the choice between the half marathon and the 5K. Race weekend also features an expo and a Community Impact Service Day, where volunteers and partners contribute to local neighborhood projects. The event's theme, ROOTED, emphasizes community, culture, and purpose, aligning with its stated mission: created for the culture and powered by the community.

The Winship 5K is an annual 5K run/walk held at McDonough Field on the Emory University campus in Atlanta. It offers both in-person and virtual participation, allowing individuals to join on campus or remotely. The race benefits cancer research at Winship Cancer Institute of Emory University. Participants may register individually or as a team, with a suggested fundraising goal of $250 per person. Recent editions have generated over $1.3 million in a single year, bringing the total raised for Winship cancer research to more than $12.75 million.

The Cobb County 5K begins at Marietta Square, raising funds for Make-A-Wish Georgia. Proceeds support granting wishes for children in Cobb County with critical illnesses. This 5-kilometer race offers timed and untimed options, alongside a donation-only Phantom Runner choice for those wishing to support the cause without participating in the run. The morning also features a 1K Fun Run for young children, providing a shorter race for families before the main 5K. Festivities commence early, with the 1K starting first, followed by the 5K from the square. The 5K course winds through Marietta streets, including Cherokee Street, Church Street, Freyer Drive, Pine Street, and Allgood Road. It then loops back downtown via Chicopee Drive and Church Street before returning to Cherokee Street. As a Peachtree Road Race qualifying event, runners seeking an official qualifying time have an incentive to start near the front. Teams of nine or more receive a reduced registration rate, and special pricing is available for teachers, students, and school groups. All finishers get a T-shirt, the winning T-shirt designer receives a plaque, and Wish Kids present medals to the winners.

The ERC Stride 5K for Mental Health Awareness is a 5K run/walk held at Shirley C. Franklin/Westside Park in Atlanta. The race begins in the morning and concludes around midday. The Empowerment Resource Center organizes this event to unite people for mental health awareness, wellness, resilience, and more open discussions about care and stigma. The event includes a timed 5K, finisher medals, race swag, and giveaways. It also features EMPOWERFEST, a community gathering with music, vendors, and wellness resources. Proceeds will fund therapeutic sessions for low-income individuals and support behavioral health services, substance abuse recovery programs, free community health screenings, educational events, and comprehensive care for ongoing wellness.

The Music City Run for Dyslexia takes place in September, offering 5K, 10K, and 1-mile distances. The Dyslexia Dash, the shortest option, is suitable for families and less experienced runners, complementing the longer road race choices. The race supports Learning Matters, a nonprofit assisting K-12 students with dyslexia and other learning disabilities. Their services encompass assessment, tutoring, and advocacy. All net proceeds from the event fund free interventional tutoring. The event also involves sponsors and volunteers, with past race photos and results available for participants.

Holy Halloween! 5K & 1 Mile "Fun" Run/Walk is CCA's annual Run to Serve event at Blackburn Park's Main Pavilion in Brookhaven, Georgia. It starts at 8:30 AM and offers two simple choices: a 5K run or a 1-mile fun run/walk, with walkers and beginners explicitly invited. The race is built around a Halloween theme and a low-pressure local format rather than an elite field. It is listed on Atlanta Track Club's Community Calendar, but it is organized outside the club by CCA, so race questions go to the event organizer.

The Mableton Pumpkin Chase is a 3.1-mile run or walk starting at the Mable House Barnes Amphitheatre in Mableton, Georgia. This Halloween-themed 5K welcomes runners, walkers, families, and individuals of all fitness levels; costumes are encouraged but not mandatory. The course begins and ends near the amphitheatre at 5239 Floyd Rd SW, incorporating a candy hunt into the standard 5K. A pumpkin runner might appear along the route with one of 50 candy bags, and the Wicked Witch will be at the finish with a cauldron of candy. The event also features a Kids Race with limited entry, post-race fitness demonstrations including yoga, bootcamp, strength training, and powerlifting, and benefits the It Starts With Me 2 Foundation.

Spooky Sprint Greater Atlanta is an annual Halloween-themed running event with a 5K, 10K, half marathon, 1-mile option, and a kids’ dash. It is built for families as much as regular runners, with youth pricing for the 5K and 10K and an untimed dash for children 10 and under. The race offers chip timing, live results, awards, free participant photos, and treats at the finish line. Registrants in the main distances receive a custom bib, designer shirt, and finisher medal, while kids’ dash entrants get a mini bib, youth shirt, and their own medal; children can also run the dash for free without the swag. A virtual option lets people run anywhere and still receive the race gear.

The Apex Halloween Hustle 5k begins at the City Rec Department on Lumpkin Drive in Carrollton, Georgia. A kids’ Minion’s Mile takes place before the 5k. The 3.1-mile Halloween run has approximately 250 feet of total elevation, making it manageable for newer runners while still offering a challenge for experienced participants. The route travels from the City Rec Department through wooded areas, past Castle Playground and the East Carrollton soccer fields, to a turnaround at the Log Cabin. The event incorporates Halloween elements with decorations, music, fog machines, a costume contest, complimentary cotton candy, and complimentary popcorn. The format accommodates runners, walkers, step counters, children, first-time 5k participants, and faster athletes. The course provides park benches and hydration stations for breaks.