Is November a good month for a 5K?
It is the fullest month of the year for the 5K. November carries 2,775 of them, more than any other month, so you get the widest choice of dates, locations and course types without having to travel far for one.
Race calendar · November 2026
5K Races in November 2026
2,775 5K races across the US in November 2026, sorted by date. Which weekends are busiest, what the fields actually run, entry fees, and where each one starts.
November 5Ks split into two very different races depending on where you line up. The Northeast and Midwest greet you with cold mornings, possible wind, and daylight that disappears by late afternoon. The South and much of the West stay mild enough that a long-sleeve shirt is all the layering you need.
The month runs on holiday momentum. Veterans Day weekend draws competitive fields, and Thanksgiving morning turns the 3.1-mile distance into a national tradition. If you are running with family or fitting a race around travel plans, November rewards that kind of scheduling flexibility.
Because so many of these events are charity-driven or community-organized, the atmosphere skews festive rather than purely competitive. That makes November a reasonable place to set a first PR, bring a newer runner, or close out a fall training cycle with something low-pressure before winter.
What the field actually runs
November 5K Races, By the Numbers
34:58Median finish time
17:46Median winning time
212Median field size
1,322November 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 Oct 16, 2026.
When in November
The November Race Weekends
5K races are not spread evenly across November. 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 November 5K races that stand out on the numbers: the biggest field, and the longest unbroken run of editions.
November 5K Races by State
Florida 250Texas 211California 168North Carolina 156Georgia 132Ohio 131Pennsylvania 122New Jersey 117Virginia 108New York 93Michigan 86Illinois 84Tennessee 74Massachusetts 70South Carolina 62Indiana 60Kentucky 60Missouri 55Alabama 52Washington 49Colorado 47Maryland 47Connecticut 45Arkansas 44Louisiana 40Arizona 38Oklahoma 36Iowa 34Wisconsin 34Kansas 23Oregon 22Mississippi 21Delaware 20West Virginia 20Minnesota 19Maine 16Idaho 15New Mexico 15New Hampshire 14Utah 14Nevada 12Montana 11Vermont 10Nebraska 8Rhode Island 8District of Columbia 7Hawaii 6North Dakota 3South Dakota 3Alaska 2Wyoming 1
5K Runs by City in November
The Next 5K Runs in November
2,775 total Sun, Nov 1, 2026Hope For Youths Trick or Trot Run North Babylon, NYFrom $30Details Sun, Nov 1, 2026Running with the Devils 5K Run & Walk West Orange, NJFrom $40Details Sun, Nov 1, 2026Ocean View Half Marathon & 5K Ipswich, MAFrom $49Details Sun, Nov 1, 2026Woldumar Trail Run Lansing, MIFrom $40Details Sun, Nov 1, 2026Thompson Cancer Survival Center Race Against Cancer Knoxville, TNFrom $38Details Sun, Nov 1, 2026Almond Bowl 5K & 10K November 1st, 2026 Chico, CAFrom $50Details Sun, Nov 1, 2026Two Cities Marathon Fresno, CAFrom $65Details Sun, Nov 1, 2026Sheldon Shuffle 5K Newark, DEFrom $35Details Sun, Nov 1, 2026Run with the Saints Darien, CTFrom $45Details Sun, Nov 1, 2026Clarksburg Country Run Clarksburg, CAFrom $57Details Sun, Nov 1, 2026Revenge of the Red Baron Half Marathon and 5K Corning, NYFrom $25Details Sun, Nov 1, 2026Buddy Run 5K and Fun Run Lutz, FLFrom $35Details
Common Questions About Running a November 5K
What should I wear to a November 5K?
In the Northeast and Midwest, plan for gloves and a hat at the start - you will likely shed them by the second mile. In the Southeast and Southwest, a lightweight long-sleeve or even a singlet may be enough. Check your local forecast the night before, because November swings hard in either direction depending on the week.
What happens on Thanksgiving morning at a 5K?
Turkey trot fields tend to be large, family-mixed, and walker-friendly, which shifts the pace and the energy of the race. Start corrals are looser, finish lines stay open longer, and the social scene before and after is half the point. If you want a competitive effort, seed yourself near the front early.
How far ahead should I start training to be ready for a November 5K?
A focused 5K build takes roughly six to eight weeks if you already have a running base. Starting in mid-September puts you in good shape for any November date. If you are coming back from time off, give yourself a full summer of easy running first, then layer in speed work in October.
Is it worth traveling for a November 5K, or should I race locally?
The 3.1-mile distance rarely justifies a flight on its own, but November is full of multi-distance weekends where a travel companion runs a longer race. Holiday travel is already in the air, so folding a race into a Thanksgiving trip or a long weekend away is genuinely practical this month.
When in November are most 5K races held?
The busiest weekend is November 7 and November 8, with 594 of them, 469 of those on Saturday, November 7. Another 981 fall on a weekday, which is worth knowing if you are traveling for one.
What is a good 5K time?
Across the 1,322 of these November 5K races with published results from past editions, the median finisher ran 34:58, and the median winning time was 17:46. So anything under 34:58 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 November 5K field?
The median one finished 212 runners, across the 1,322 of these November 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 1:06:53.
Which states have the most November 5K races?
Florida has 250, Texas has 211, California has 168, North Carolina has 156, Georgia has 132. If you are willing to travel, those are the states where a November weekend gives you the most to choose from.
Are there trail 5K races in November?
Yes, 95 races around the United States get you off the pavement: 56 are trail races, and 39 mix road and trail.