Midwest · IL
Running Races in Illinois
Illinois currently has 262 upcoming races with a confirmed date listed in RaceRove. Chicago, Geneva, Wheaton and Peoria have the largest concentration of events.
By distance, that includes 190 5Ks, 68 10Ks, 37 half marathons and 12 marathons. Many events offer more than one distance, so a race can appear in more than one of those counts.
November (82), October (27) and December (27) are the busiest months on the calendar right now. Another 410 annual races are waiting for next year's date to be announced.
- Upcoming, date confirmed
- 262
- Active listings
- 672
- Cities with races
- 318
Browse Illinois races by distance
Upcoming races in Illinois
The next 60 of 262 with a confirmed date, soonest first.
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Run the BluffPeoria, IL1 Mile Fun Run/Walk (Untimed)1 Mile Fun Run/Walk (Untimed) - Student (21 & Under)5K Run/Walk5K Run/Walk - Student
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Springfield Marathon & Harvest Wind Half Marathon & 10KNew Berlin, ILMarathonHalf Marathon10K ~1,403 runners
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Theresa Tracy TrotEast Peoria, IL2 Mile Walk2 Mile Walk Pancreatic Cancer Survivor4 Mile Run4 Mile Run Pancreatic Cancer Survivor
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Big Timber XC ChallengeElgin, IL3 Mile Run 8:00 AM Start5 Mile Run 9:30 AM StartKids Fun Runs 9:00 AM Start
Dates come from each race's own listing. Always confirm on the organiser's site before you book travel.
Largest races in Illinois
By estimated field size across all distances at the event.
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Richardson Farm Fall 5K & 10K with Family 1 Mile Adventure RunSpring Grove, IL Usually held in October · next date not announced5K ~26,000 runners
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Jaimie Cox Memorial RunRoscoe, IL Usually held in October · next date not announced5K ~16,645 runners
When races happen in Illinois
- January
- 11 upcoming races
- February
- 7 upcoming races
- March
- 16 upcoming races
- April
- 12 upcoming races
- May
- 19 upcoming races
- June
- 22 upcoming races
- July
- 9 upcoming races
- August
- 14 upcoming races
- September
- 16 upcoming races
- October
- 27 upcoming races
- November
- 82 upcoming races
- December
- 27 upcoming races
Illinois cities with the most races
- Chicago
- 48 upcoming races
- Geneva
- 5 upcoming races
- Wheaton
- 5 upcoming races
- Peoria
- 5 upcoming races
- Rockford
- 5 upcoming races
- Belleville
- 5 upcoming races
- Lemont
- 5 upcoming races
- Aurora
- 4 upcoming races
Running in Illinois cities
Browse Illinois races by month
Annual events awaiting their next date
These races are held every year, but the next date isn't in the listing yet. The month shown is when each is usually held.
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Richardson Farm Fall 5K & 10K with Family 1 Mile Adventure RunSpring Grove, IL Usually held in October · next date not announced5K ~26,000 runners
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Jaimie Cox Memorial RunRoscoe, IL Usually held in October · next date not announced5K ~16,645 runners
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Polish Independence RunChicago, IL Usually held in October · next date not announced10K5K ~11,847 runners
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Long Grove's Oktoberfest Half Marathon, 10K & 5KLong Grove, IL Usually held in October · next date not announcedHalf Marathon5K10K ~9,000 runners
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Naperville Half MarathonNaperville, IL Usually held in October · next date not announcedHalf Marathon10K5K ~6,000 runners
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Hot Cider Hustle - Wheaton 8 Mile Run & 5K Run/WalkWheaton, IL Usually held in October · next date not announced8 Miles5K ~3,471 runners
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Bloomingdale Trail 5KChicago, IL Usually held in September · next date not announced5K0.5 Miles0.25 Miles ~2,250 runners
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Dim Sum & Then Some 5K/10K & Kids DashChicago, IL Usually held in August · next date not announced5K10KKids Dash ~2,000 runners
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Rosehill Cemetery 'Crypt' 5K Run/WalkChicago, IL Usually held in October · next date not announced5K ~1,100 runners
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Halloween Hustle 5K & Kids DashPalatine, IL Usually held in October · next date not announced5K ~1,080 runners
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Haunted Wine Run 5k at Busse WoodsElk Grove Village, IL Usually held in October · next date not announced5K ~900 runners
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Riverside Foundation Halloween Hustle 5K Walk or RunLincolnshire, IL Usually held in October · next date not announced5K ~900 runners
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Northwest CASA Pumpkin Dash 5k / 10kElk Grove Village, IL Usually held in September · next date not announced5K10K ~750 runners
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Outlast ChicagoPalatine, IL Usually held in October · next date not announced18 Miles ~705 runners
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Day of the Dead Family 5K Run/WalkWheeling, IL Usually held in October · next date not announced5K ~600 runners
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TBK Bank Quad Cities MarathonMoline, IL Usually held in September · next date not announcedGroup O 5KGroup O 5k + Shoes for Kids MileHappy Joe's Kids Micro-MarathonMel Foster Co. Half Marathon +1 more ~563 runners
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Haunted Highlander Assault Trail RunPingree Grove, IL Usually held in October · next date not announced5K ~500 runners
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Raue Center's Night Owl Bike RideCrystal Lake, IL Usually held in August · next date not announcedNight Owl Bike RideNight Owl Bike Ride Kids RegistrationNon-Rider After Party Ticket ~500 runners
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Centerstone's 4th Annual Life;Story 5K Run/Walk for Suicide Prevention - IllinoisMarion, IL Usually held in September · next date not announced5K ~440 runners
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Last Chance BQ.2 Marathon (Illinois)Geneva, IL Usually held in September · next date not announcedMarathon ~254 runners
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Kennekuk Road Runners - Howl at the Moon 8/4 hour UltraDanville, IL Usually held in August · next date not announced3.25 Miles ~250 runners
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Galena 5k Stair ChallengeGalena, IL Usually held in September · next date not announced5K ~200 runners
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Sweet Ride | Bike • Run • WalkWillow Springs, IL Usually held in October · next date not announced5K ~200 runners
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Belleville Main Street Marathon & Half MarathonBelleville, IL Usually held in September · next date not announcedMarathonHalf Marathon10K5K ~175 runners
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MADDER THAN A WET HEN 5kCharleston, IL Usually held in July · next date not announced5K ~125 runners
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Shake Your Trail Feather Trail RunCharleston, IL Usually held in October · next date not announced100K50K16 Miler8 Miler +1 more ~125 runners
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Watershed Endurance 6Hr/3Hr RunsEdwardsville, IL Usually held in August · next date not announced1.01 Miles ~120 runners
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Shawnee Hills Trail RacesOzark, IL Usually held in August · next date not announced100 Miler100K50K5K ~91 runners
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Route 66 Mother Road 5K Foot RaceSpringfield, IL Usually held in September · next date not announced5K1 Mile ~75 runners
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Kennekuk Road Runners - Fall FrenzyDanville, IL Usually held in October · next date not announcedOther ~50 runners
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Dr. J. Noonan Legacy 5K- brought to you by the Noonan Syndrome FoundationAnywhere, IL Usually held in October · next date not announced5K ~18 runners
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5K Fun Run/Walk and Community Health FairMelrose Park, IL Usually held in October · next date not announced5K
Races in nearby states
Guides from the RaceRove blog
- 8 min read How to Choose the Best Half Marathon for a PR, Racecation or 50-State Challenge The best half marathon depends on what you want from it. How to choose a course for a personal record, a race worth travelling for, or an efficient stop on a 50-state challenge.
- 4 min read Diplo's Run Club 2026-27: Every City, Date and Course Diplo's Run Club is a 5K with a post-race concert. Every US date for 2026-27 (San Francisco, New York, Los Angeles, San Diego and Phoenix), start times and courses.
- 8 min read How to Choose Your First Marathon A practical checklist for choosing a first marathon based on course, weather, cutoff, travel, field size and support.
- Blog All guides Planning advice for finding, choosing and travelling to races.
Running Races in Illinois: common questions
- How many races are there in Illinois?
- RaceRove currently lists 262 upcoming races in Illinois with a confirmed date, plus 410 annual events whose next date hasn't been announced yet.
- Which Illinois cities have the most races?
- By upcoming events listed in RaceRove: Chicago (48), Geneva (5), Wheaton (5), Peoria (5) and Rockford (5).
- When is race season in Illinois?
- Of the upcoming races listed, the busiest months are November (82), October (27) and December (27).
- What is the biggest race in Illinois?
- By estimated field size, the largest race listed in Illinois is the Bank of America Chicago Marathon, with about 55,000 runners across all of its distances.
Search every race in Illinois
Filter by month, course profile and field size, save races to a shortlist and compare them side by side in the interactive search.