Sat, Oct 24, 2026

Lake Bluff PTO Pumpkin Chase

Lake Bluff, IL

Registration openAnnual since at least 2022

5K1 Mile

Entry is $20 now and rises to $23 after Sep 7, 2026, so registering before then saves $3.

About the Lake Bluff PTO Pumpkin Chase

The course runs through tree-lined residential streets on the east side of town, dropping down toward a bluff above Lake Michigan. It is a road course, and the terrain is largely flat until that descent. The fun run draws plenty of kids, with grade-school bragging rights apparently taken seriously. Post-race refreshments and an awards ceremony follow each race.

The start and finish are a short walk from the Metra station, which makes the train a real option if you want to skip the parking scramble. The organizers encourage carpooling, and overflow parking is available at the middle school's west lot. A few streets near the course are closed to parking, so read the directions before you drive.

Free race emails

Get the Weekly RunSesh

In for this one or still deciding, keep race season near Lake Bluff on your radar: a Monday look ahead and a Thursday rundown of the weekend's races.

Two helpful emails per week. No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.

Finish-Time Stats

Going by the 2025 results, this is a decent-sized field, with a competitive front end and a big recreational middle.

5K · 2025 results

361finishers

16:00winner

26:36median

1:03:23cutoff

Top 3: Brendan Thielsen (16:00) · Aaron Etienne (16:20) · Maria Lindberg (16:42)

1 Miles · 2025 results

187finishers

6:11winner

10:58median

24:28cutoff

Top 3: R. Hartman (6:11) · Thomas Robbins (6:56) · G. Gustafson (6:58)

The Lake Bluff PTO Pumpkin Chase has been held every year since at least 2022. 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

5K10/24/2026 08:00$35

1 Mile10/24/2026 09:15$20

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

Where to Stay

Traveling for this race? The map shows hotels and rentals in and around Lake Bluff — pan or zoom to compare what's nearby.

The map is provided by Stay22. If you book through it, RunSesh may earn a commission at no extra cost to you — it never affects the races we list.

Common Questions About the Lake Bluff PTO Pumpkin Chase

Will I finish last at the Lake Bluff PTO Pumpkin Chase?

Almost certainly not. Half the 5K field finished slower than 26:36, and the last recorded finisher came in around 1:03:23, so there is a long tail of runners behind the middle of the pack. Most fields are far slower than people expect.

Is the Lake Bluff PTO Pumpkin Chase a good first 5K?

A field of 361 is big enough that you will have company at your pace without feeling lost in a crowd. 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 Lake Bluff PTO Pumpkin Chase?

The 5K winner ran 16:00 while the median finisher took 26:36. That spread points to a mixed field, with a competitive front and a big recreational middle.