Sat, Apr 10, 2027

Footsteps for Families: 5k, Walk & Kids Run

Machesney Park, IL

Opens Oct 14, 2026Annual since at least 2025

5K1 Mile100m

Entry is $40 now and rises to $45 after Mar 6, 2027, so registering before then saves $5.

About the Footsteps for Families: 5k, Walk & Kids Run

The race starts at Harlem High School and takes runners out onto the Willow Creek Path, a trail that keeps traffic crossings to a minimum. The course is scenic rather than technical, and the start area doubles as a Family Fun Day with music, food, games, face painting, and activities going on around the finish.

The school hosts everything, so the start, the kids track run, and the post-race gathering are all in one place. Specific directions go out to registered participants ahead of the event, which is worth knowing since the school grounds can be a bit to navigate on race morning.

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Finish-Time Stats

Going by the 2026 results, this is a small, friendly field, with a competitive front end and a big recreational middle.

5K · 2026 results

68finishers

16:16winner

27:38median

58:38cutoff

Top 3: Carson Olofson (16:16) · Zachary Leahy (16:19) · John Noble (18:10)

The Footsteps for Families: 5k, Walk & Kids Run has been held every year since at least 2025. That is as far back as RunSignup's records for this race go, so it may well be older.

Where Would You Finish?

Enter a finish time to see where it lands against the most recent 5K results.

Median

See how your time stacks up nationally →

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 Jul 27, 2026.

Distances & Start Times

5K4/10/2027 09:00$40

1 Mile4/10/2027 09:15$30

100m4/10/2027 10:00Free

Going for a Time?

Set a goal and get a pace band: every mile split on a card sized for your phone lock screen, so race morning needs no math.

Plan Your Trip

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Common Questions About the Footsteps for Families: 5k, Walk & Kids Run

Will I finish last at the Footsteps for Families: 5k, Walk & Kids Run?

Almost certainly not. Half the 5K field finished slower than 27:38, and the last recorded finisher came in around 58:38, so there is a long tail of runners behind the middle of the pack. Most fields are far slower than people expect.

Is the Footsteps for Families: 5k, Walk & Kids Run a good first 5K?

It is a small race (68 finishers), which is friendlier and less intimidating than a big-city event, though the field thins out. There is no qualifying time, and the finish-time spread above shows how varied the field really is. If it is your first 5K, that spread matters more than the winner's time.

How competitive is the Footsteps for Families: 5k, Walk & Kids Run?

The 5K winner ran 16:16 while the median finisher took 27:38. That spread points to a mixed field, with a competitive front and a big recreational middle.