Is November a good month for a 5K?
It is the fullest month of the year for the 5K. November carries 2,212 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
2,212 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
34:52Median finish time
17:23Median winning time
272Median field size
986November 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 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 186Texas 166California 136North Carolina 125Georgia 96Ohio 96New Jersey 94Pennsylvania 91Virginia 85Michigan 77New York 77Illinois 75Tennessee 62Massachusetts 56South Carolina 50Indiana 49Washington 48Missouri 47Kentucky 45Colorado 40Alabama 39Maryland 36Connecticut 31Louisiana 31Arkansas 30Wisconsin 29Arizona 28Oklahoma 28Iowa 27Oregon 21Minnesota 20Kansas 19Mississippi 15New Mexico 15Idaho 14West Virginia 14Delaware 13Maine 13Montana 13New Hampshire 12Nevada 10Utah 10Nebraska 9Vermont 8Hawaii 6Rhode Island 6District of Columbia 5North Dakota 4Alaska 2South Dakota 2Wyoming 1
5K Runs by City in November
The Next 5K Runs in November
2,212 total Thu, Nov 12, 2026Southlake Showdown 5K Series Fall Season Southlake, TXFreeDetails Thu, Nov 12, 2026Kilometers For The Kids 10K, 5K and Fun Run Chapel Hill, NCFrom $20Details Thu, Nov 12, 2026v6014Test Test, NCRegistration closedPricing TBAView race Fri, Nov 13, 2026Dollywood's Light The Way 5k Pigeon Forge, TNRegistration closedFrom $50Details Fri, Nov 13, 20262026 BIAMD Scarecrow Classic 5k and 1 Mile Walk Baltimore, MDFrom $50Details Fri, Nov 13, 2026Run For Valor 10K + 5K Trail Run, 10K Ruck, 10K + 5K & 1 Mile Run/Walk King George, VAFrom $40Details Fri, Nov 13, 2026Light Up DARVO Fort Worth, TXFrom $25Details Fri, Nov 13, 2026A Good Run 5K New Haven, CTFrom $40Details Fri, Nov 13, 2026Friday the 13th Night Race - Deranged Turkey Trot: 5K, 10K, Half Marathon Long Beach, CAFrom $49Details Fri, Nov 13, 2026Wounded Warrior 5K Run Norfolk, VAFreeDetails Fri, Nov 13, 2026The Twisted Turkey Trot 5K Quitman, Texas Quitman, TXFrom $35Details Fri, Nov 13, 2026Friday Fright 5k Danville, IAFrom $30Register
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 14 and November 15, with 537 of them, 462 of those on Saturday, November 14. Another 1,039 fall on a weekday, which is worth knowing if you are traveling for one.
What is a good 5K time?
Across the 986 of these November 5K races with published results from past editions, the median finisher ran 34:52, and the median winning time was 17:23. So anything under 34:52 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 272 runners, across the 986 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 1:07:22.
Which states have the most November 5K races?
Florida has 186, Texas has 166, California has 136, North Carolina has 125, Georgia has 96. 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, 67 races around the United States get you off the pavement: 40 are trail races, and 27 mix road and trail.