5K races near Thompson

The Gloria Gemma 5K brings runners and walkers to the Rhode Island Statehouse area in Providence for a Sunday morning 3.1-mile run/walk each October. The event supports Breast Cancer Awareness Month and the Flames of Hope initiative, beginning at 10am with race-day check-in opening at 8am. The public race information does not provide a street-by-street course map, but it locates the event at Station Park and the Statehouse area in downtown Providence. The field accommodates both runners and walkers; strollers are permitted behind the runners. Participants can form or join teams to raise funds for cancer patients in the community. The event recognizes top fundraisers and top teams, highlighting fundraising as an integral part of the race-day culture.

The Davis Hill Dragon Dash is an annual 5K road race held at Davis Hill Elementary School in Holden. It is structured as a school-community event, welcoming runners, walkers, strollers, and leashed dogs on the course. The race benefits the Davis Hill School PTA, with funds directed to student programs like science enrichment and classroom supplies. This marks the 11th year for the event, which also offers local businesses opportunities for sponsorship, including mile-marker placements.

The Amica Insurance Women's Classic is a 5K run and 3K walk for women, held at Brown University Stadium on Elmgrove Avenue in Providence, Rhode Island. The main run and walk begin together in the morning. Student versions of both events are available at a reduced entry fee. The event benefits Ronald McDonald House Charities of New England, focusing on racing and fundraising alongside timed results. The 5K begins at Brown University Stadium, utilizing a certified, flat, fast course through Providence's East Side. The 3K walk, sponsored by Cardi's Furniture & Mattresses, mirrors the run's route, offering walkers the same stadium start and neighborhood course. Race morning also features children's races, a Kids Village, and a Health + Wellness Fair, contributing to a community atmosphere beyond a standard 5K.

The EPFD Freaky 5k is a 3.1-mile road race in Rumford, Rhode Island. It starts and finishes at EPFD Station 3, located at 30 N Broadway. This is a community run and walk, not a complex race series, offering a single 5k distance and a local neighborhood atmosphere. Registration includes a T-shirt. The event connects with the East Providence Fire Department community via EPFD Local 850. The route guides runners and walkers through Rumford neighborhoods before they loop back to the fire station. Costumes are encouraged, aligning with the "Freaky" name. Awards are presented for both the fastest racer and the best costume. DJ entertainment and post-race refreshments are provided for participants and spectators. Proceeds benefit the EPFD Local 850 charity fund, supporting the East Providence community.

The Providence Monster Dash 5K is a Halloween-themed 3.1-mile run or walk in Downtown Providence, Rhode Island, starting and finishing on Water Street. This annual fall race is designed for more than just runners: walkers can enter the 5K, children 12 and under have their own short dash, and parents may run with their kids. The kids race is approximately a quarter mile, with girls starting first, followed by boys. Strollers are permitted but must begin at the back for safety; pets are not allowed in the 5K. The race incorporates Halloween with costume contests. The top individual costume receives $100, and the best team costume wins $200, requiring at least three participants for the team category. The Monster Dash is also part of the Run Rhody Grand Slam, a four-race 5K series from September through December. Participants can register for the Grand Slam races together to reduce entry fees, and anyone completing all four receives a Grand Slam finisher medal and a gift. Virtual participation is available and counts toward the series, with shirts provided at packet pickup or mailed later.

Scaredy Cat K95K is a Halloween-season 5K walk/run for people and dogs at the Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine at Tufts University in North Grafton, Massachusetts. The in-person race starts at the campus center on Westboro Road; all paces are welcome, accommodating walkers, runners, families, teams, and individuals with one dog. Costumes are encouraged. Dogs attending the campus event require proof of a current rabies vaccine, and only dogs may participate in the in-person animal field. The event supports veterinary care and animal welfare. Proceeds benefit MVMA Charities, funding emergency care for abandoned and stray animals in Massachusetts, and Tufts University's Travis Fund, assisting with care for found animals and pets whose owners cannot afford veterinary bills. Following the 5K, a health and fitness fair will feature music, local vendors, and dog demonstrations, with a prize for the best-dressed pup. A virtual 5K option is available throughout October, allowing participation with pets not permitted at the campus event.

The CT Veterans Day Race is a Connecticut event held around Veterans Day, featuring a 4-mile run and 3-mile walk and 3-mile ruck options. The purpose is straightforward: participants attend to express gratitude to veterans, with all race proceeds directed to Veteran Service Organizations in Connecticut. The ruck provides the event's most unique feature. Rather than carrying a predetermined weight, ruck participants place non-perishable food items in a backpack for the 3 miles, then contribute it at the finish to the veterans food pantry at Veterans Base Camp. The race has been held for at least ten years, and its fundraising has aided several Connecticut veteran organizations annually.

The Salute the Troops race day is a Wisconsin fundraiser featuring several distances: a 10K, the Dobogai Memorial 5K, a kids' race, a fun run, and a Soldier Stroll. The 10K begins at Lakeside Park in Fond du Lac with a three-hour time limit, suitable for steady racers and those seeking a manageable community race supporting a veterans' cause. The event raises funds for military veterans. Awards are presented to the overall male and female finishers, age-group winners (0-14 to 70+), and the top male and female veteran finishers. Plaques are given to the two overall winners. This marks the 15th annual edition, with organizers relying on sponsors, volunteers, and returning participants to sustain the event.

The Pawtuxet River 5k: Run of the Mills is a 5k run or walk in Coventry, Rhode Island, starting by Rice Memorial Field in the historic village of Anthony. It is an autumn race along the Pawtuxet River, near Route 95, with all proceeds supporting the Pawtuxet River Authority and Watershed Council. The route follows the Coventry Greenway, also known as the Washington-Secondary bike path, and runs beside the river, crossing three trestle bridges. Runners pass two old mills and go through the Anthony Historic District, a site on the National Register of Historic Places. The race supports local river conservation; the beneficiary is a nonprofit that has worked for over 50 years protecting and restoring the Pawtuxet River watershed across Cranston, Coventry, Scituate, Warwick, and West Warwick.

The Monson Memorial Classic offers a hilly half marathon and a 5K in Monson, Massachusetts. Both races conclude at Memorial Hall on Main Street, located in the town’s historic district. Held annually in late October on a USATF-certified road course, the half marathon begins at noon, with the 5K starting 15 minutes later. This is a smaller event, typically attracting 100 to 500 participants, giving it the feel of a local New England race day rather than a large urban event. The race was established to honor sisters Kathy Waldron Perry and Kelly Waldron, who passed away from cancer within months of each other. Proceeds benefit cancer-related charities, presently Griffin’s Friends, which supports children undergoing treatment for pediatric cancer. The half marathon route follows rolling rural roads and town streets. Participants face sustained climbs for approximately the first 10 miles, followed by a long downhill stretch in the final 5K. Regular participants often mention the "nasty vert" and the rewarding descent near the finish. The course is also recognized as a Boston Marathon qualifier. Late October weather in Monson can be cool, with average high temperatures around 55°F and lows near 35°F. Participants can expect about seven aid stations, course volunteers, finisher medals, long-sleeve tech shirts, and cash prizes for the top five finishers. The post-race atmosphere is notably intimate, featuring bagpipes, live music, massage services, and homemade food served by volunteers.

The Husky Run & Ruck takes place during Veterans Day weekend in Storrs, Connecticut. It features a 10K run, a 5K run, and an untimed 1-mile fitness walk. The event is centered at UConn, with ceremonies before and after the races held outside the Student Recreation Center. All three main events begin on Hillside Road in the morning. The 5K has a distinct start area, separate from the 10K and walk. The 10K route follows the Bonemill loop through the rural Mansfield-Storrs area. All courses include a pass by the Ultimate Sacrifice Memorial on the Great Lawn. Proceeds benefit scholarships for military and veteran students, as well as the Kyle Milliken Fund. This fund honors Navy SEAL Kyle Jeffrey Milliken, a former UConn Track & Field walk-on who died in service. A Blackhawk helicopter landing on the Great Lawn adds a military presence, complementing the standard start line ceremony. A Kids Run concludes under the Hillside Road arch following the primary races.

The Rhode Island Family Turkey Trot 5K begins and ends at Pawtucket City Hall on Roosevelt Avenue on Thanksgiving morning. The main 5K starts at 10:00 a.m., preceded by a short youth run. This is a family-friendly road race in Pawtucket, Rhode Island. Walkers are welcome, parents can run with their children, and there is a youth option for kids 12 and under, covering about a quarter mile. The 5K route goes through historic Pawtucket and nearby Central Falls, making it more of a local holiday run than a closed-off event solely for fast runners. The race benefits the Pawtucket Soup Kitchen. Participants can add a donation or bring non-perishable food items to packet pickup. It is also part of the Run Rhody Grand Slam, the second event in a four-race fall series. Runners completing all four races receive a special series gift.