Illinois State University Homecoming Town and Gown 5K logo
Running

Illinois State University Homecoming Town and Gown 5K

Date
October 24, 2026
Distance
5K · 1 Mile Fun Run/Walk (Untimed) · 5K - Virtual & more
Register →

From the Organizer

All registration will be done online.  To save time, please complete your registration prior to arriving on site.

Get ready to raise the banner high at the Town and Gown Hybrid 5K and 1-Mile Fun Run/Walk as a part of Homecoming. The in-person race will take off at the Student Fitness Center at 8 a.m. and go through Uptown Normal and around campus. One water stop will be set on the course, and refreshments, courtesy of the Town of Normal, will be available afterward for all run/walk participants. Check out the course to get ready to run.

The Office of Sustainability will be onsite with reusable water bottles and Zero Waste Crew to make this a zero-waste event. No pets, please. Strollers welcomed. Parking is available in the School Street Parking Garage off of Beaufort. Prizes will be awarded to overall male and female winners, overall male and female wheelchair racers, and overall non-binary racer. Additional awards for the top three male and female finishers in each age division: 14 & under, 15-19, 20-29, 30-39, 40-49, 50-59, 60 and over.  

This year’s registration cost is $20 for all ages and races. Five dollars of each registration will support the Marian H. Dean Scholarship. Online registration is available until 7:45 a.m. on race day. To guarantee a shirt, racers must register by midnight on September 16.

 

Packet pick-up is Friday (day before the race) in the Kasten Room at the Alumni Center or Saturday (race day_ from 7–7:45 a.m. at the Student Fitness Center (347 S. University).

 

Virtual runners will receive a confirmation email in the following weeks after registering, including a bib to print, further instructions, and a link to submit race time. Shirts will be mailed. All participants are encouraged to run on race day sporting their Redbird gear, but you can finish anytime before the date.

Events

1 Mile Fun Run/Walk (Untimed)8 AMRegister →
5K - Virtual8 AMRegister →
5K - Virtual WITHOUT t-shirt8 AMRegister →

Weather

Typical Conditions

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

62°

Typical Low

39°

Chance of Rain

30%

Based on US Climate Normals data from Normal 4ne, 3 mi from the venue.

Sunrise 7:17 AMSunset 6:04 PMDaylight 10h 47m

Host City

About Normal, IL

Population

52,908

as of 2023

Elevation

793 ft

Nearest Airport

BMI

Central Illinois Regional Airport at Bloomington-Normal · 5 mi

Major Hub

MDW

Chicago Midway International Airport · 109 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

What Are You
Waiting For?

Every finish line starts with a single decision. Claim your spot at Illinois State University Homecoming Town and Gown 5K, put it on the calendar, and turn “someday” into a start date.

138

Days to train

Race
Illinois State University Homecoming Town and Gown 5K
Date
October 24, 2026

From Endurance Grid

About This Sport

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.

Read the Guide

Running

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)

What is the Illinois State University Homecoming Town and Gown 5K?
Illinois State University Homecoming Town and Gown 5K is a running race held in Normal, Illinois on October 24, 2026. It is one of the many endurance events listed on Endurance Grid, a multi-sport endurance event calendar covering running races, triathlons, HYROX, and more endurance sports across the United States. Find more running races near you or explore our sports guides to learn what race day actually feels like.
When and where is the Illinois State University Homecoming Town and Gown 5K?
Saturday, October 24, 2026 in Normal, Illinois at 347 S University St, Normal, IL. Check the event page for exact start times and wave schedules.
How do I register for the Illinois State University Homecoming Town and Gown 5K?
Registration is handled through the event's registration page. Confirm pricing and distances there, and sign up.

Illinois State University Homecoming Town and Gown 5K

Oct 24, 2026

Register →