5K races near Statesville

The Haunted 5K & 13.1M in Hickory, North Carolina, is a Halloween-themed US Road Running event featuring a 5K and a half marathon. Both races begin at 8:30 AM. Online registration via RunSignup is required prior to race day, as on-site registration is unavailable. Packet pickup is available in the brief period before the start. Both races follow simple out-and-back courses. The 5K course is repeated twice, and the half marathon course is repeated six times. The start and registration area are located north of the VFW, with parking and restrooms at the Trailhead. The event has a 3-hour, 30-minute time limit. All finishers will receive a themed medal, and costumes are encouraged. A group photo marks the start of each race, and the best costume award is presented at the start, integrating the Halloween theme into the morning before the repeated course begins.

Cal Tri Charlotte athletes head to Lake Norman State Park in North Carolina, located approximately 38 miles north of Charlotte. This event offers a flexible multisport day with 12 options, divided equally between Sprint and Olympic distances. Choices include triathlon, RunBikeRun, SwimBike, SwimRun, swim-only, and run-only formats. The standard triathlon involves a swim, bike, and run. RunBikeRun variations substitute the swim with a second run: Sprint distances are 5 km, 26 km bike, 5 km, while Olympic distances are 5 km, 40 km bike, 10 km. Swim-only participants can select 400 yards or 1,640 yards, and runners have 5K and 10K choices. Average air temperatures range from 59 F to 77 F, with water averaging 69 F. Organizers suggest a wetsuit for the swim.

The Night Crawl 5K is an in-person run, walk, or crawl through downtown Newton, North Carolina. It is presented by the Catawba Valley Association of Realtors and offers a standard 5K, a student 5K, and a T-shirt-only option for those who wish to support the event without racing. The race raises money for the Elementary School Back Pack Programs in Caldwell and Catawba Counties, making the local charity purpose central to why people sign up, sponsor, or volunteer. This is the event's 17th annual running, and registration is handled through RunSignup or the Catawba Valley Association of Realtors office.

Race for Peace, or Carrera por la Paz, is a morning 5K run/walk at La Villita Park on Chicago’s South Side, located at 2800 S Sacramento Ave. The Little Village Rotary Club organizes this event to raise funds for youth programs in Little Village and nearby communities, with the race centered on an anti-violence and peace message. Participants can select a competitive 5K that begins first or a non-competitive 5K run/walk that follows shortly after. The event is local and accessible: the park entrance and lot are reached from South Albany Ave, offering free on-site parking, street parking, nearby CTA bus stops, and the Pink Line about a mile away. Competitive runners can compete for cash prizes, with awards for the top three men and women. All registered participants receive a finisher medal and a race-day shirt. Packets are available for pickup on race morning, and volunteers can hold personal belongings during the race.

The Iredell County Special Olympics Ghoulish Gallop is a Halloween-themed Greenway race featuring a 5K and a 1 Mile Fun Run/Walk. Separate entry options are available for youth and adult participants, accommodating runners, walkers, families, and Special Olympics supporters. The course remains on the Greenway, offering a straightforward off-road setting rather than a route dominated by streets. Proceeds benefit Iredell County Special Olympics, and the first 10 finishers will receive a free pair of Feetures socks.

The Gobbler 5K & 13.1M is a small race at Hickory City Park in Hickory, North Carolina, offering both a 5K and a half marathon. Both races begin at 8:30 AM. Participants register via RunSignup prior to race day, as on-site registration is unavailable. Packet pickup is available in a brief pre-race window, opening 30 minutes before the start and closing 10 minutes prior. The start and registration area are located north of the VFW, opposite the intersection of 16th Ave Pl NW and 12th St Dr NW. Parking and restrooms are situated at the Trailhead. Both races follow a repeated out-and-back format. The 5K completes its out-and-back course twice, and the half marathon repeats its out-and-back course six times. All participants must finish within a 3 hour and 30 minute time limit.

The Old Armor 5K for Heroes is a 5K race held in Kannapolis, North Carolina. It starts in Downtown Kannapolis and is associated with Old Armor Beer Company on West Avenue. This race is part of the Run Kannapolis series, concluding the local race schedule. Participants of all ages and abilities, including runners and walkers, are welcome. The event is structured to encourage broad community involvement, not just elite athletes. All funds raised benefit W.A.R. (Warriors Always Rise), a local nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting veterans and first responders.

Miles for Meals 5K is a food-relief charity run/walk with local versions tied to meal programs: one at Mine Falls Park for Meals on Wheels of Hillsborough County, and one at Basset Creek Park in Crystal, Minnesota, for Loaves & Fishes. The Hillsborough County event is an annual 5K run/walk, while the Minnesota race is part of Crystal Frolics and starts after a kids' Fun Run. At Mine Falls Park, runners use a 5K route and walkers can choose 3K trails. In Crystal, the course is fast and flat, chipped, and awards prizes to top finishers. The field is built for runners, walkers, virtual participants, families, and teams, with fundraising pages available so friends and relatives can sponsor a run. The Minnesota race links into Crystal Frolics, a four-day community celebration with food, fireworks, live entertainment, and pickleball tournaments, while Loaves & Fishes uses the event to support free meal programs across urban, suburban, and rural communities.

The Hickory Foundation YMCA Turkey Trot is a Thanksgiving-season race morning based at the Hickory Foundation YMCA in Hickory, North Carolina. Runners can choose a 5K or 10K, and kids have their own Youth Fun Run before the main races start. The event is in its 24th running and keeps a practical, community-race feel, with team packet pickup, individual packet pickup, and race-day registration handled at the nearby C.O. Miller Teen Center. The Youth Fun Run goes first at 8:15 a.m., followed by the 10K at 9:00 and the 5K a few minutes later. All participants have a 1 hour 30 minute cutoff, so the setup is friendly to walkers and casual runners but still organized around a clear morning schedule. Entry fees and donations support the YMCA’s local programs for healthy spirit, mind, and body, with the stated goal of strengthening the Hickory community.

Race with heart at the 5K that empowers girls and builds a brighter future. Your participation invests in our community. Alumni, return to the starting line for a special bib. The Kid's Dash offers young supporters the joy of crossing a finish line. Proceeds from this Girls on the Run of the Greater Piedmont 5K go towards financial assistance, helping girls activate their potential and confidently cross the finish line.