
From the Organizer
Fraidy Cat 5k, 8k & Meow Mile
October 25th, 2026
9:00am - Mile
9:20 am - 8K
9:30 am - 8k
Oswego, IL
EVENT INFORMATION -
The 5K, 8K & Meow Mile races are chip-timed at the start and finish. The Meow Mile will start promptly at 9 a.m. at Prairie Point Elementary School, 3650 Grove Rd, Oswego, Illinois and the FraidyCat 5K and Ghost Run 8K will start at approximately 9:20 (Ghost Run) & 9:30 a.m (5k). The course will close at 11:30 a.m. COSTUMES ARE ENCOURAGED! Baby joggers or strollers are allowed - please start at the back of the runners, bikes, skates of any kind, scooters, skateboards and dogs are prohibited. Please use caution and watch for moving vehicles. This race is not on a closed course and most of the race will be on a bike path. Team Triumph Teams are welcomed and encouraged in the race! Shirt sizes not guaranteed after 10/1/26.
We have established Fraidycat Scholarships that will be given to graduating seniors at Oswego High School and Oswego East High School who do a lot community giveback/volunteerism in Oswego. A portion of the proceeds will go into these scholarships every year.
Packet Pickup:
Thurs. October 22 - 2 pm - 6 pm, Chamber office, 25 E Jackson St, Oswego
Friday, October 23 - 8 am - 5 pm, Chamber office, 25 E Jackson St, Oswego
Sat Oct 24 - 8 am - 11 am , Chamber office, 25 E Jackson St., Oswego
Sun. Oct. 25th, 7:30 –8:45am
Race Day pickup onsite at Prairie Point School
Prizes
Meow Mile—Awards will be presented to the top male and female finishers. All participants will receive a ribbon and awards will be given to the top three male and female finishers in each age group.
FraidyCat 5K—Awards will be presented to the top overall male and female finishers. Age group medals will be given to the top three male and female finishers in each age group. Awards presentation will begin at approximately 10:15 a.m. All runners for the 5k and 8k will receive finisher medals
Ghost Run 8K— Awards will be presented to the top overall male and female finishers. AGE GROUP medals will be given to the top 3 male & female finishers in each age group. Awards presentation will begin at approximately 10:45 am All runners for the 5k and 8k will receive finisher medals
Check the FraidyCat website for Age group breakdowns. www.fraidycat5k.com
Race day registration RACE DAY REGISTRATION AVAILABLE via QR code and your smart phone.
Registration starts at 7:30 am on site.
All registration closes at 8:45 am
RACE TIME
Mile at 9:00 am
8K at 9:20 am
5k at 9:30 am approximately
Weather Policy
The FraidyCat 5K, 8K Ghost Run and Meow Mile will take place rain or shine. If cancellation of the event is warranted due to dangerous weather conditions, announcements will be made race day at the race site and on the FraidyCat Facebook page. The event will not be canceled in advance. All decisions regarding cancellation will be made on site, race day.
Parking information
Limited parking is available at Prairie Point Elementary School, 3650 Grove Rd, Oswego and at the Park District parking lot off of Plainfield Rd. Help us reduce our carbon footprint! We highly recommend carpooling or riding your bicycle to the event. On street parking is only allowed on streets NOT being used for the run course. Check the race website and your race packet for final details and new maps. Watch our Facebook page and emails for parking instructions.
Events
Weather
It's too far out for a forecast, so here's what weather on this date is normally like in the area. A race day forecast will replace this as race week approaches.
Typical High
59°
Typical Low
40°
Chance of Rain
30%
Based on US Climate Normals data from Aurora, 8 mi from the venue.
Host City
Population
35,463
as of 2023
City Elevation
660 ft
Nearest Airport
ORD
Chicago O'Hare International Airport · 30 mi
Time Zone
Central Time
From Endurance Grid
A mid-size host city. Enough lodging and amenities to keep race weekend easy, without big-city sprawl.
Race Location
Your Next Start Line
Every finish line starts with a single decision. Claim your spot at Fraidycat 5k,8k & Meow Mile, put it on the calendar, and turn “someday” into a start date.
130
Days to train
Coming Up
COREY CARES FOUNDATION WALK & RUN
5 miles away
Summer's Last Kick
4 miles away
Better Than Yesterday 5K
7 miles away
1st Annual APRCC Coqui 5K Run/Walk
5 miles away
From Endurance Grid
Endurance Grid is here to help you understand the sport, decide if it’s the right fit, and learn how to prepare. For course distances, logistics, and race-day specifics, always defer to the race organizer’s event page.
With running, there's a distance for every fitness level, a community at every start line, and nothing beats the feeling of crossing a finish line you trained for.
Running is an endurance sport that rewards consistency, and showing up every week compounds in ways that will surprise you.
From 5K to marathon, running races are the most accessible entry point into endurance sport. There's a distance for every fitness level and a community at every start line.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Fraidycat 5k,8k & Meow Mile
Oct 25, 2026