
HOW 5K is a running race on October 18, 2026 in Chicago, IL, with entry fees from $45 to $65.
From the Organizer
About the Event:
HOW is thrilled to invite you to join us for our annual 5K run/walk, held this year on October 18th at Horner Park on Chicago’s North Side. All ages and abilities are welcome to run, walk, jog, or stroll the course. Check-in will open at 9AM and the run/walk will start at 10AM. Following the completion of the run/walk, we'll have an afterparty with food and drinks at Irving Park Pizza & Patio from 11AM-1PM.
Housing is a human right. That's the belief at the heart of everything we do at HOW. As federal funding grows increasingly uncertain, it's our community — people like you — who make it possible to keep our neighbors housed.
That's where the 2026 HOW 5K comes in. For years, this event has rallied people from across the city all in service of one goal: keeping our neighbors housed. This year, that support matters more than ever. Lace up, show up, and stand with your community. Your neighbors are counting on you.
Every Registrant Helps Provide:
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
60°
Typical Low
47°
Based on US Climate Normals data from Chicago Northerly Is, 9 mi from the venue.
Host City
Population
2,707,648
as of 2023
City Elevation
594 ft
Nearest Airport
MDW
Chicago Midway International Airport · 6 mi
Time Zone
Central Time
From Endurance Grid
A big city race. Expect multiple lodging options and plenty to do the day before.
Race Location
Your Next Start Line
Every finish line starts with a single decision. Claim your spot at HOW 5K, put it on the calendar, and turn “someday” into a start date.
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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 an accessible entry point into endurance sport. There's a distance for every fitness level and a community at every start line.
Coming Up
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
HOW 5K
Oct 18, 2026