5K races near Vermilion

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.

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.

The Fall Classic, organized by the Cleveland Road Runners Club, is a race weekend held at Cleveland Metroparks' Bonnie Park Picnic Area. Racing is divided across two days: a 5K on Saturday, followed by a half marathon and relay on Sunday. A 5K ruck option and a 400-meter Kids Dash are also part of the schedule. Both main courses are flat, USA Track & Field-certified, and designed for fast times, primarily following Valley Parkway within the park system. Each race day has a limit of 1,000 participants. The Foxy Challenge allows runners to complete both the 5K and half marathon during the same weekend. All finishers receive medals and a quarter-zip pullover. Relay teams are given a runner belt, and registration includes a beer ticket for the Masthead Beer Garden.

The Turkey-Wanis 5K is a Thanksgiving morning 5K in Wellington, Ohio, sponsored by the Kiwanis Club of Wellington. It is open as a race or walk, suitable for runners seeking a quick holiday effort and individuals preferring a shorter community event before the day's activities. The route crosses residential Wellington on a flat, fast, accurate course. The event, formerly the Thrive Turkey 5, gives awards to age-group runners and the top male and female finishers. It includes a small Thanksgiving tradition: every registrant is entered into a Pumpkin Pie raffle. Free parking is available at the stadium.

The White Squirrel Trot is Oberlin, Ohio’s local version of a Thanksgiving Turkey Trot, featuring a 5K run/walk and a 1-mile fun walk. This community event is designed for families, friends, walkers, and runners, not exclusively for fast competitors. The start and finish are located at Tappan Square in downtown Oberlin. The white squirrel theme extends to the finisher keepsake, with each participant receiving a handmade stoneware pottery White Squirrel medal.

The Ugly Sweater Run in Olmsted Falls is a holiday 5K starting and finishing at the Olmsted Community Center on Mapleway Drive. Run The Land hosts the race, where runners and walkers cover 5 kilometers through the streets of Olmsted Falls. Each participant receives a chip-timed bib, and a kids run follows the main event. The race emphasizes the sweater theme, encouraging participants to wear outrageous, sparkly, or ridiculous ugly sweaters. Participants receive a long-sleeve ugly sweater running shirt. Post-race amenities include hot cocoa, snacks, a photo opportunity, and a station to decorate your own ugly sweater cookie. Proceeds benefit the Christians in Action food pantry serving Olmsted Falls, which also accepts food and goods donations. Awards are given to the top three male and female finishers in 10-year age groups, but the event is designed for all ages and abilities, not exclusively for fast runners.

The Dukes 5K & Fun Run begins on the Wellington High School track in Wellington, Ohio. The 5K route starts from the stadium and concludes on the same track. This event features a timed 5K race and a 1-mile Fun Run. Gates open at 8:00 AM, with the 5K commencing at 9:00 AM. This marks the sixth year of the fundraiser for the Wellington High School Track and Field team, held regardless of weather conditions. The 5K course exits the stadium, circles the town, and returns to the track. The Fun Run, however, remains within the stadium, consisting of four laps around the track after the 5K participants have departed. The theme for this year is Heroes and Villains, inviting participants to wear costumes of their favorite heroes or villains. All participants will receive a themed finisher T-shirt and a custom Dukes 5K medal. Awards will be presented to the top male and female finishers overall, as well as to winners in various age groups ranging from 13-and-under to 60-and-up.