When in January are most 5K races held?
The busiest weekend in Illinois is January 30 and January 31, with 4 of them. Another 2 fall on a weekday, which is worth knowing if you are traveling for one.
Race calendar · January 2027 · Illinois
5K Races in Illinois in January 2027
Every 5K in Illinois in January 2027, all 12 of them, sorted by date. Dates, entry fees, finish-time stats from past results, and start-line maps.
What the field actually runs
January 5K Races, By the Numbers
37:24Median finish time
18:23Median winning time
431Median field size
4January 5K races with published results
How we calculate these stats: RunSesh calculates these figures from the most recent published results of past editions, sourced from RunSignup. We show aggregates only: field size, winning and median times, and the cutoff. We never publish individual finisher tables. Last updated Nov 12, 2026.
When in January
The January Race Weekends
5K races are not spread evenly across January. Here is how the calendar actually falls, weekend by weekend, which is the part worth knowing before you book a trip or plan a taper around one.
By the numbers
The Biggest and Longest-Running
The January 5K races that stand out on the numbers: the biggest field, and the longest unbroken run of editions.
Illinois 5K Races by City in January
All 5K Runs in Illinois in January
12 total Fri, Jan 1, 2027Cheers to New Year's 5k Run/Walk Itasca, ILFrom $30Details Fri, Jan 1, 2027Way of Lights Run Belleville, ILFrom $30Details Sat, Jan 2, 2027Snowman Shuffle Carterville, ILFrom $30Details Sat, Jan 2, 2027Time Travel Half-Marathon/5K/10K - Greater Chicago Greater Chicago, ILFrom $46Details Sat, Jan 2, 2027Resolution Spirits Run Libertyville, ILFrom $50Details Sat, Jan 9, 2027Frozen Fairway 5K Normal, ILFrom $30Details Sat, Jan 16, 2027MLK Jr. Freedom Run 5K/10K/13.1 CHICAGO/EVANSTON Chicago, ILFrom $30Register Sat, Jan 16, 2027Sunrise Marathon 5K/10K/13.1 CHICAGO/EVANSTON Chicago, ILFrom $30Register Sat, Jan 30, 202718th Annual F^3 Lake Half Marathon & 5k Chicago, ILFrom $65Details Sat, Jan 30, 20272027 Woodstock Groundhog Day 5k Woodstock, ILFrom $40Details Sat, Jan 30, 2027Coffee Lovers Run CHICAGO/EVANSTON Chicago, ILFrom $30Register Sat, Jan 30, 2027Run for Donuts CHICAGO/EVANSTON Chicago, ILFrom $30Register
Common Questions About Running a January 5K in Illinois
What is a good 5K time?
Across the 4 of these January 5K races with published results from past editions, the median finisher ran 37:24, and the median winning time was 18:23. So anything under 37:24 puts you in the faster half of a typical field. That is the middle of these RunSignup fields, walkers and charity entrants included, not a national average.
How big is a typical January 5K field?
The median one finished 431 runners, across the 4 of these January 5K races with published results from past editions. Most are far smaller than the big-city events people picture, which means less crowding at the start and a friendlier field, with a last recorded finisher at 1:09:53.