
Illinois State University Homecoming Town and Gown 5K is a running race on October 24, 2026 in Normal, IL, with an entry fee of $20.
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 22.
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
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
62°
Typical Low
39°
Chance of Rain
30%
Based on US Climate Normals data from Normal 4ne, 4 mi from the venue.
Host City
Population
52,908
as of 2023
City 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
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.
93
Days to train
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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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1 mile away
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Plan your trip
Coming from out of town? There's more to Normal than race day. We'll help you line up nearby lodging, flights, a rental car, and things to do so you can make the most of your racecation.
Plan your trip to NormalFrequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Illinois State University Homecoming Town and Gown 5K
Oct 24, 2026