West Akron 5k Race
- Date
- August 1, 2026
- Location
- 1040 Copley Road, AKRON, OH
- Distance
- 5K · 1 Mile Walk
From the Organizer
The 13th Annual West Akron African American Wellness 5K Race is fast approaching and we look forward to exceeding last year’s participation and seeing you on Saturday, August 1, 2026!
The goal of the West Akron 5k Race is to unite the community in a spirit of wellness and philanthropy while raising funds to benefit students in the community. With the support of United Baptist Church, The Akron NAACP, Summa Health, the Gus Johnson Community Foundation, CareSource, Akron Children’s Hospital, Stewart & Calhoun Funeral Home, this year’s race is on track to do just that with the help and support of our long-time sponsors. This 5K Race Initiative aims to bring awareness of disparities with diabetes, high blood pressure, and the risk of stroke among men while also supplying our schools, that are lacking, the resources needed to ensure our children receive the best education possible.
The West Akron 5K was founded by two-time Iraq war veteran and Buchtel alumni Mary Anderson (class of 1994) began the West Akron 5k in 2013 as a means of giving back to the school and community that nurtured her. We aim to unify a community around wellness and philanthropy that benefits the students in the Buchtel Cluster and citizens in Summit County and surrounding areas. The pandemic prompted us to expand into education around COVID-19, testing, and partnering with entities to provide vaccines and boosters. A goal of the 5K Run/Walk is to raise funds in order to supply our cluster schools, that are lacking, the resources needed to ensure our children receive the best education possible while also informing the community about living a healthy life.
We need your support to take both of these important issues head on! If you can’t run you can walk. If you can’t walk you can still donate!!!
We look forward to another successful race that will benefit the children and families within our community.
Events
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
85°
Typical Low
64°
Chance of Rain
36%
Based on US Climate Normals data from Akron Fulton Intl Ap, 4 mi from the venue.
Host City
About AKRON, OH
Population
189,526
as of 2023
Elevation
986 ft
Nearest Airport
CAK
Akron Canton Regional Airport · 12 mi
Major Hub
CLE
Cleveland Hopkins International Airport · 28 mi
Time Zone
Eastern 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 West Akron 5k Race, put it on the calendar, and turn “someday” into a start date.
Coming Up
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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.
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 West Akron 5k Race?
- West Akron 5k Race is a running race held in AKRON, Ohio on August 1, 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 West Akron 5k Race?
- Saturday, August 1, 2026 in AKRON, Ohio at 1040 Copley Road, AKRON, OH. Check the event page for exact start times and wave schedules.
- How do I register for the West Akron 5k Race?
- Registration is handled through the event's registration page. Confirm pricing and distances there, and sign up.
West Akron 5k Race
Aug 1, 2026