5K races near Westvale

The Race for ChildRUN is a Minneapolis charity run centered at Gold Medal Park and the Guthrie Theater, with courses along the Mississippi River. It provides 3 Mile, 5 Mile, and 10 Mile distances, plus a 0.30-mile Kids Run for children aged 10 and under. The longer races begin in the morning, followed by the Kids Run and then the 3 Mile Run/Walk, allowing families and runners of various abilities to participate in the same event. The Minneapolis race benefits Ronald McDonald House Charities Upper Midwest, generating over $50,000 annually to assist children and families needing temporary housing during difficult times. It is part of RBC Race for the Kids, a global initiative supporting youth. Parents may accompany their children in the Kids Run, and afterward, kids can enjoy games and win prizes in the race village. Registration includes a performance shirt and a finisher medal.

The Inner Harbor 5K is a 3.1-mile road race in Syracuse, New York, held in the fall and centered on the Syracuse Inner Harbor. The course begins on Solar Street and concludes at the harbor. Race-day packet pickup and registration occur at the intersection of Solar and West Kirkpatrick. Alongside the main 5K, the event features a 2K Peace Run for Brexi, offering both a standard distance and a shorter community run. The certified 5K course is largely flat and fast, winding through Franklin Square before looping back to the Inner Harbor. Awards recognize the top three male and female finishers overall, age-group winners, and mid-pack participants, fostering a broad sense of accomplishment beyond just the elite field. Post-race activities include massages, yoga, music, food trucks, and beer tasting. Proceeds benefit It's About Childhood & Family, Inc., a Central New York nonprofit offering trauma-informed therapeutic services for children and families, and the Syracuse Run Club, a community group focused on accessible weekly runs.

The Great Swamp Conservancy 5k Trail Run is a morning 5K in Canastota, New York, starting at the Great Swamp Conservancy habitat center on North Main Street. It is a trail race, with runners on paths within the conservancy’s grounds. The route stays within the habitat center boundaries and includes a country-road crossing, offering a local-trail feel rather than a closed-city-course setup. It is part of the Great Swamp Conservancy’s event calendar, and participants receive a race T-shirt.

The Run 4 All 5K & 1 Mile is a community run/walk held at Yaman Park in Cortland. It begins at 10:00 AM and offers both 5K and 1-mile distances. The event focuses on practical accessibility by maintaining lower entry fees and supporting two local organizations that address accessibility issues in Cortland County through donations and race proceeds. The 5K follows a two-loop path extending into the surrounding neighborhoods, and the 1-mile course also travels through nearby streets. Access To Independence and the Cortland YMCA are the joint organizers. A resource fair will be available on the day of the event, alongside the races. Participants can collect bibs and hats before the start. Parking is available at the park, and same-day registration will be accepted with cash payments.

On the first Sunday of November, the New York City Marathon covers a 26.2-mile course through all five boroughs. The race, currently branded as the TCS New York City Marathon, is organized by New York Road Runners and is part of the Abbott World Marathon Majors. It attracts professional runners, club runners, charity teams, and amateurs globally, with recent editions seeing over 59,000 finishers from more than 200,000 applications. Securing a spot is a challenge: most entries are awarded via lottery across New York metro, national, and international pools. Guaranteed entry is available through NYRR’s 9+1 program, charity fundraising, time qualifying, philanthropic membership, or by finishing the race 15 or more times previously. The event originated as a smaller race within Central Park, organized by Fred Lebow and Vincent Chiappetta, starting with 127 participants, approximately 100 spectators, and 55 finishers. Women were permitted from the outset, though their results were not initially official, and Nina Kuscsik was the sole female participant in that inaugural field.

Boos & Brews 5K is a Halloween-themed 5K held in the Syracuse area, starting at WT Brews in Baldwinsville. Runners can select one of two morning start times, 10:00 AM or 11:30 AM, with each heat limited to 250 participants. The event has sold out annually for the past three years; the second start time allows more runners to participate while maintaining small wave sizes. Costumes are encouraged, chip timing is provided, and the event supports Baldwinsville Meals On Wheels. The course is notably flat, crossing roads, a paved trail, and a wooded trail alongside the Seneca River, extending into Lions Community Park before returning. Participants include those competing for overall, masters, and age-group awards, as well as many runners drawn to the Halloween aspect of the event. All finishers receive a custom medal, a custom bib, a long sleeve shirt, and a DEATH finisher certificate. Following the race, festivities continue at WT Brews with beer specials, homemade Halloween cookies, Ghoulash, and a costume contest featuring awards for the best, most creative, and scariest outfits.

The Battle of the Branches 5K is a military-themed 5K run at the New York State Fairgrounds in Syracuse. It takes place before the CNY Veterans Parade and Expo. The race is framed as a friendly fitness competition where runners select a team representing a service branch: Army, Navy, Marines, Air Force, Coast Guard, or Space Force. The event welcomes both service members and their supporters. The participants include veterans, families, friends, and community members, not exclusively competitive runners. Each participant receives a custom Battle of the Branches shirt and a finisher Challenge Coin. These items connect the finish line to military tradition and the branch-versus-branch theme.

The Clear Path 5k Trail Run is a beginner-friendly 5k held on the Clear Path for Veterans campus in Chittenango, New York. Starting from Salt Springs Road, the race is timed to coincide with Veterans Day. The morning is designated for runners and walkers aged 8 and older. Proceeds benefit Clear Path for Veterans, an organization providing community programs, direct services, and wellness support to veterans, service members, and their families. The course follows the campus trails, offering views across Upstate New York from Oswego toward the Adirondack foothills. This event honors veterans, active military members, and military families, attracting participants seeking a short trail race with a service-oriented mission. A linked Kid's 1k Color Run is also part of the day, with Miles & Macros providing coaching and nutrition services for participants.

The Dana Point Turkey Trot is a Thanksgiving Day race held in Dana Point Harbor, featuring a 5K as its main distance. This USA Track & Field-certified event also includes a 10K, a Combo 15K, and a Kids' 1-Mile Gobble Wobble. The event has been held for nearly five decades, establishing itself as one of the largest turkey trots in the United States. Participants can enter a costume contest, browse a health and fitness expo, and contribute to local charities by running.

The Syracuse Ugly Sweater 5K is a holiday run and walk held at Onondaga Lake Park in Liverpool, New York. Participants wear distinctive, humorous, and festive sweaters as they run through the Lights on the Lake display before its public opening. This is a casual 5K with many participants, focused on beginning the holiday season together rather than achieving fast race times. The race benefits Ainsley's Angels of Syracuse, an organization that supplies adaptive racing chairs, enabling children and young adults with developmental disabilities to participate in road races. Adaptive athletes, volunteers, families, club runners, walkers, and newcomers share the course, regardless of the weather. The attire, decorations, and costumes that contribute to the atmosphere of a mobile holiday party. Participants receive a custom stocking and medal, with awards presented afterward at The Cobblestone.

Cupid's Chase 5K Syracuse is a February 5K held at Onondaga Lake Park in Liverpool, near Syracuse. The race begins in the morning following check-in. It follows a certified 5K course and provides professional timing, with results available immediately after completion. This event is part of the national Cupid's Chase series, commemorating the founding of Community Options each February. The series attracts over 17,000 participants nationwide. The Syracuse race welcomes a diverse group, including runners, walkers, wheelchair users, families with strollers, sponsors, and leashed pets. Participants who finish receive a Cupid's Chase medal and a drawstring bag, as long as supplies permit. The race shirt carries a Valentine's theme: white indicates single, while red signifies being in a relationship. Awards are extensive for a community 5K, featuring trophies for the top three male and female finishers overall, and medals for various age groups ranging from 12-and-under to 70-and-over. Proceeds from the race benefit Community Options, a nonprofit established in 1989 that offers housing and employment services for individuals with disabilities.