Sun, Oct 25, 2026

Howl-o-ween 5k - Dan Ryan Woods

Chicago, IL

Registration openAnnual since at least 2024

Entry is $25 now and rises to $30 after Aug 23, 2026, so registering before then saves $5.

About the Howl-o-ween 5k - Dan Ryan Woods

The course runs a paved loop around Dan Ryan Forest Preserve on Chicago's southwest side. It is flat enough that people bring dogs on leashes, and the Howl-o-ween theme means the crowd tends to show up in costume. The race benefits animal shelters and a veterans' organization that works with dogs, so the atmosphere leans toward that mix of causes.

Packet pickup is race morning only, starting an hour before the gun. There is no pre-race bag pickup to plan around.

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Finish-Time Stats

Going by the 2025 results, this is a small, friendly field, and the spread of finish times is wide, so this is a mostly recreational race rather than one for club runners.

5K · 2025 results

162finishers

18:42winner

47:49median

1:14:33cutoff

Top 3: Shaun Kriske (18:42) · Jose Maldonado (20:42) · Tateonna Terrell (23:00)

The Howl-o-ween 5k - Dan Ryan Woods has been held every year since at least 2024. 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

5K10/25/2026 09:00$25

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Common Questions About the Howl-o-ween 5k - Dan Ryan Woods

Will I finish last at the Howl-o-ween 5k - Dan Ryan Woods?

Almost certainly not. Half the 5K field finished slower than 47:49, and the last recorded finisher came in around 1:14:33, so there is a long tail of runners behind the middle of the pack. Most fields are far slower than people expect.

Is the Howl-o-ween 5k - Dan Ryan Woods a good first 5K?

It is a small race (162 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 Howl-o-ween 5k - Dan Ryan Woods?

The 5K winner ran 18:42 while the median finisher took 47:49. That spread points to a broad, mostly recreational field rather than a race dominated by club runners.

Where can I train for the Howl-o-ween 5k - Dan Ryan Woods?

Join a local run club. CARA Run Crew, Second City Track Club, Venados Running Club and others in Chicago welcome runners of all paces, and a weekly group run is the most reliable way to hold a training block together.