5K races near Willington

The Purple Light Project 5K begins at the IOL Campus on Retreat Avenue in Hartford, Connecticut. The main 5K race starts in the morning, following registration and a free single-circuit Fun Run for children 10 and under. This community 5K is connected to behavioral health support and is open to youth and adult runners. Fast Track Timing will professionally time the event. The race generates funds for Purple Light Project patients. Every dollar from the 5K directly supports practical needs, including food vouchers, transportation, winter clothing, hygiene items, and comfort items for individuals in treatment. Awards will be presented to male, female, and non-binary runners across various age groups. Participants will also receive race shirts and reusable water bottles.

The Harvest Hope 5K is a Thanksgiving Day turkey trot held in Denver’s Stapleton neighborhood, with its focus on Central Park in northeast Denver. The primary race is a professionally timed 5K run on a USATF certified course. Families also have the option to include younger participants in a Kids 1K Fun Run. The 5K route utilizes the paths within Central Park, providing a neighborhood-park atmosphere as opposed to a downtown-street setting. This event was introduced as the first organized and timed Northeast Denver Thanksgiving Day race. Registration covers a race shirt, a goodie bag, complimentary race-day photos, and a commemorative key-chain medal upon completion. Proceeds are directed to re.

Donny's Dash is a Halloween-themed fall 5K and walk in Simsbury, Connecticut, located in the Farmington River Valley. Hosted by UConn basketball figure Donny Marshall, all proceeds benefit the Boys & Girls Clubs of Hartford. The event accommodates a broad range of participants, not exclusively elite runners, offering a 5K, a Fitness Walk, and complimentary kids and youth runs for families and younger participants. The event emphasizes local sports and community connections. The Connecticut Sun sponsors the kids fun run, with Sun players and executives participating alongside leaders from the Hartford Marathon Foundation, the Hartford Yard Goats, and the Boys & Girls Clubs of Hartford. Recent editions have attracted over 400 runners. The day also features fitness activities, healthy snacks, giveaways, entertainment, and a post-race gathering. The launch event embraced the theme, featuring team mascots and a 10-yard Mascot Marathon.

The Bass Pro Shops Conservation Marathon Weekend begins outside Bass Pro Shops in Springfield, Missouri, and concludes at Wonders of Wildlife. Participants can choose from four race options: a Boston-qualifying marathon, the Maynard Cohick Half Marathon, the stroller-friendly CMC Recycling 5K, or a five-leg relay (10K, 5K, 10K, 5K, and 12K). The marathon, a 26.2-mile course with flat sections and Ozarks-style rolling hills, is suitable for both new marathoners and those aiming for a personal best. The race courses traverse Springfield neighborhoods, paved trails, a segment of historic Route 66, Missouri State University, downtown streets, and local parks. The half marathon follows the marathon course for its initial 10 miles before heading through downtown, parks, past Mother's Brewery, and onto a portion of the Ozark Greenways Trail. The 5K route winds behind Bass Pro Shops and through adjacent neighborhoods, finishing at Wonders of Wildlife. Runners and walkers from local to international levels participate, with all finishers receiving race shirts, medals, swag, and recovery provisions.

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 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 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 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 Norwich Winterfest 5K begins at Kelly Middle School in Norwich, Connecticut, starting at 10:00 AM and finishing at 25 Mahan Drive. This winter holiday 5K is open to runners and walkers, with a virtual option available for those wishing to support the cause from afar during the race weekend. The event supports Reliance Health, Inc., a nonprofit community mental health center serving Eastern Connecticut. The course winds through Mohegan Park and along the Spaulding Lake Path, offering a park-and-lake setting rather than a simple road loop. Families can bring younger children for a free Fit Kids Fun Run, featuring quarter-mile and half-mile options for ages 2 to 11. All 5K finishers will get a long sleeve technical shirt and medal. The race is linked to Hartford Marathon Foundation’s holiday challenges: Sleigh the Ks, CLA Blue Back Mitten Run for a beanie, and 12Ks of Christmas for a sweatshirt, with an optional ornament. Participants may also bring household cleaning supplies or personal hygiene items for The Care Cabinet at Reliance Health.

The CLA Blue Back Mitten Run is a December 5K road race held in Blue Back Square, West Hartford, Connecticut. This holiday race is designed for runners and walkers of all ages and abilities, featuring a 3.1-mile route that begins and ends in the square. As part of the seasonal theme, 5K finishers receive a holiday-themed beanie, and cookies are provided in the finish area. The course travels through decorated West Hartford neighborhoods and past festive shop displays before looping back to Blue Back Square. Families can also register their children for the HMF FitKids run, which offers half-mile and 1-mile dash options for ages 2 to 11. The race is included in the Sleigh the Ks holiday challenge, alongside the Norwich Winterfest 5K and the 12Ks of Christmas, offering additional seasonal gear for participants who finish the series. The event also gathers new winter hats, gloves, and mittens for local residents in need and contributes to the Town That Cares Fund via monetary donations.