When in October are most 5K races held?
The busiest weekend in Illinois is October 2 and October 3, with 3 of them, 2 of those on Saturday, October 2. Every one of them is on a Saturday or a Sunday.
Race calendar · October 2027 · Illinois
5K Races in Illinois in October 2027
Every 5K in Illinois in October 2027, all 9 of them, sorted by date. Dates, entry fees, finish-time stats from past results, and start-line maps.
What the field actually runs
October 5K Races, By the Numbers
35:28Median finish time
20:03Median winning time
166Median field size
6October 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 October
The October Race Weekends
5K races are not spread evenly across October. 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 Field
The largest field of any October 5K in Illinois, from the most recent published results.
Illinois 5K Races by City in October
All 5K Runs in Illinois in October
9 total Sat, Oct 2, 2027Scarecrow Scramble Lisle, ILRegistration opens Jul 31, 2027From $45Details Sat, Oct 2, 2027Angels Against Abuse 5K Walk/Run Romeoville, ILRegistration opens Jun 22, 2027From $35Details Sun, Oct 3, 2027Cheesy Pretzel 5K and 1 Mile Walk Bolingbrook, ILFrom $30Details Sat, Oct 9, 2027Sarcoma Stomp: Run for Research 5K/10K Carlyle, ILRegistration opens May 14, 2027From $40Details Sat, Oct 9, 2027Run With Kenyans Pamoja 5K Shakeout Run - Chicago Chicago, ILRegistration opens Jul 26, 2027FreeDetails Sun, Oct 17, 2027Spooky Sprint - Greater Chicago Elk Grove Village, ILFrom $38Details Sun, Oct 17, 2027Bolingbrook Howl-O-Ween 5K Bolingbrook, ILRegistration opens Jan 1, 2027From $35Details Sun, Oct 24, 2027Haunted Halloween Half Marathon & 5km Chicago, ILFrom $35Details Sat, Oct 30, 20272nd Annual Copper Penny Spirits Halloween Eve 5k/10k Vandalia, ILFrom $30Details
Common Questions About Running an October 5K in Illinois
What is a good 5K time?
Across the 6 of these October 5K races with published results from past editions, the median finisher ran 35:28, and the median winning time was 20:03. So anything under 35:28 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 October 5K field?
The median one finished 166 runners, across the 6 of these October 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 1:12:16.
Are there trail 5K races in Illinois in October?
Yes, one race around Illinois gets you off the pavement: 1 mixes road and trail.