Our run benefits the marathon clubs and other local youth running programs
Entry fee
$42.36* - before Nov 22
$37.70* - per person for families of 3 or more (before Nov 22)
$47.94* - Nov 22-26, no family discounts
* includes processing fee and sales tax
Nov 25: Wednesday Packet Pickup/Registration
- 11:30 am - 6 pm - at Ad Astra Running, 835 Massachusetts, Lawrence KS.
- 6 - 11:30 pm - you can still register on-line, then go to packet pickup Thursday.
- When we reach 1500 entrants, registration will close.
Nov 26: Race Day Packet Pickup, no race day registrations for 5K
- 7 am - 8 am - Woodlawn School, 508 Elm, Lawrence KS.
- Fun Run registration only on race day at the school gym. 7 am - 9 am.
- You may leave your warm-ups in the supervised bag drop area of the gym during the race.
- 8:30 am - 5K start
- 9:20 - 9:40 am - awards ceremony in gym
- 9:45 am - fun run start
Parking
Do not park around Woodlawn School. 2 blocks away are the Union Depot parking lot & south public lot. Additional parking behind Johnny's Tavern (west side of N 2nd) and across the river at the parking garage by City Hall. Limited street parking on Locust. Watch traffic when crossing streets. Parking Map
You may leave warm-ups in the school gym at the bag drop area.
Start/Finish
The start/finish line is in front of Woodlawn School on Elm Street. The faster runners and those masters runners chasing records will be cordoned off at the front. Those wanting to be in this elite start group, need to request the special mark on their bib at packet pickup.The rest of the runners will start 15 seconds Same courtesy: line up with the faster people in the front; walkers near the back. Your time starts when you cross the starting mat, not when the gun goes off.
Restrooms are inside the school; also port-a-johns outside near the start area.
Swag
Souvenir Goodr sunglasses. The style: Phoenix at a Bloody Mary Bar.
Safety
No dogs, headsets, roller skates or wagons are allowed on the 5K race. If walking with a stroller, you must start at the back and walk. Be careful on the short descent from the levee. Please be courteous and obey the course marshals on where to run and walk. The streets are not closed so be alert for any cars on the streets or leaving driveways.
Cancellation
The run will be held rain or shine. If necessary, we will cancel the run for safety reasons. No refunds for any reasons; proceeds will go to local running programs and projects.
9:45 am Free Children’s Fun Run
7:30 - 9 am: Sign up on race day (only) at the school gym before the 9:45 am start. Medals to all finishers. Distance is one kilometer. If accompanying parent is running the 5K, allow time to be done before 9:40 when we call the children to the start.
Results and Awards
This year we are holding a very speedy Awards Ceremony! Please enjoy post-race snacks in the cafeteria, then head to the gym WITHOUT those snacks at 9:15am. We realize many of you are traveling, however we have some gorgeous hand-crafted medals & awards from Van Go to distribute to the top 3 in each age category & would love for you to see them as we snap speedy pics of our award winners. Plus, we will be randomly drawing names of those who participate in the Costume Contest as we await the results; you must be present to win! We will start with overall, then youngest to oldest, moving through as quickly as possible to allow everyone to head outside to cheer on the kids for the 9:45AM Fun Run before you head home. Please plan to join us - we promise we'll make it fun & fast!
In addition, VanGo awards will go to the first three overall males and females, 1st male and female 40-49, 1st male and female 50-59, and 1st male and female 60+. These awards are separate from the cash prizes; see below.
Our event is also the RRCA Kansas 5K State Championship. Additonal medals go to the top overall male and female, 1st male and female 40-49, 1st male and female 50-59, and 1st male and female 60+.
In order to be eligible for any awards you must be registered and wearing the correct chip.
After race day, awards may be picked up at Ad Astra Running in Lawrence until December 31st. This year we will have an awards ceremony at 9:20 for the erly finishers.
Age Groups
10 & under, 11-14, 15-19, 20-24, 25-29, 30-34, 35-39, 40-44, 45-49, 50-54, 55-59, 60-64, 65-69, 70-74, 75-79, 80+
Chip Timing
by Red Dirt Race Management. The timing chip is attached to the bib. Pin your bib on your front side. Check to be sure you have your bib and not someone else's.
Event Records & Prize Money for 2026
Male: Reid Buchanan (Kansas City MO) 14:36 (2024)
Female: Amy Cragg (Portland OR) 16:46 (2016)
All time best records
Prize money
will be available in memory of Lynne Lipsey, a Lawrence resident and retired KU staff member.
The fastest female and fastest male finisher, based on gun time (first across the line), will receive $250 each. 2nd fastest female and male will receive $125 each. 3rd fastest female and male will receive $100.
Top age-graded masters (male and female, 40+) will receive $125.
2nd fastest age-graded masters (M & F) will receive $100.
Age-adjusted times will be based on the 2025 USATF MLDR Road age-grading calculator.
Prize money winners will be determined a day after the event after results are reviewed for accuracy.
The prize money is separate from the age group awards and will be mailed to the winners.
High school runners are not eligible for prize money because of the potential loss of eligibility. College runners check with your coaches.
New for 2026: State record bonus: $500 bonus for a male and/or female Kansas resident who breaks the Open division state record. Current state records are 14:16 for men and 16:26 for women. Times are based on gun time, and if there are multiple record breakers, the bonus goes to the first one across the finish line. A record-breaking male and/or female would receive $750.
Separately, a $100 bonus for a course record, male and/or female, no residence requirement, no double-dipping (runners can't win bonus for both state record and course record). A second-place runner who broke the course record would receive that bonus in addition to the second-place prize of $125.
Our current course records are 14:36 and 16:46.
Tie-breakers (See below)*
Race Results
Participants will be able to get live results as soon as they cross the finish. You can get these results by text message, Facebook, or by visiting one of the results kiosks set up in the gym. Check the www.runLawrence.org web site for the final results.
Photography
We love our photographer. John Knepper will be taking your photos again. Take a look at his 2025 photos.
Proceeds
. . . benefit Woodlawn School, the host facility, and numerous local youth running programs. Any running/fitness club at a public K-12 school in the Lawrence area may apply to receive support. To apply, fill out the runLawrence Request for Support form. Fill out the form and it will automatically be saved for review.
Income from the run benefits many local youth running programs like the Deerfield and Quail Run Marathon Clubs.
(photo on right by Chad Harper)
Volunteers
If you are not running, we can use your help. Cheering burns calories, too. If you're available, please sign up. Please contact Cristal. See the volunteer page for a fun description of the jobs.
Sponsorship Opportunity
If you would like to be a sponsor of the run, please take a look at our brochure.
More Information
Race Director: Cristal Barnes, runlawrence@gmail.com.
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*Tie-breakers: A Kansas resident who broke the state record but finished second to an out-of-state resident would receive the $500 bonus, and the out-of-state runner would receive $100 for the course record.
A Kansas resident who broke the course record but finished second behind
another Kansas resident would receive the $100 bonus and, the Kansas-resident winner would receive the $500 bonus
