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5K Celebration

Confidence through
Accomplishment

Each season comes to an end with a celebratory 5K. This closing event gives program participants of all abilities a tangible sense of accomplishment. Crossing the finish line instills confidence through completion and is a joyful moment program participants always remember! Everyone in our program receives a commemorative medal to celebrate this incredible achievement.

5K Celebration

Confidence through
Accomplishment
Hero stars right
Girls on the Run participant has her arms in the air as she completes the 5K. Her 5K Buddy cheers her on.
Hero stars right
Two Girls on the Run participants smile.
Runners and walkers approach the finish line at the GOTR 5K.

5K Event Details

Event
KGPCo Girls on the Run Minnesota 5K
Date
Sunday, November 8, 2026
Location

MN State Fairgrounds, Saint Paul, MN 

Time

TBA

Price

Registration Type Fee
5K Registration $40 (pay-what-you-can)

 

NOTE: Program participants and coaches are automatically registered for the 5K and DO NOT need to register.

Join us Sunday, November 8 at the Minnesota State Fairgrounds for a joy-filled 5K!

Girls on the Run teams from the Twin Cities Metro area will join us at the MN State Fairgrounds for our Fall 5K event on Sunday, Nov 8. 

Girls on the Run teams in Rochester and Duluth will host regional 5K events on Saturday, November 7. Click here for Rochester info and here for Duluth info.  

Registration - will open mid-August for Fall 2026 

Every girl must have a registered 5K Buddy—any trusted adult (18+) who will run or walk alongside her and cheer her on. This can be a parent, grandparent, teacher, family member, or friend.

Our 5K is open to all! We welcome runners and walkers of all ages.

  • All 5K Buddies, family members, and friends participating must register
  • GOTR participants and coachs are automatically registered

5K Buddies will receive their t-shirt and bib from their team’s coaches on event day. There is no separate packet pick-up. Upon arrival, families can go directly to their team meeting location.

Wave Assignments

To ensure a smooth and enjoyable experience for more than 3,000 runners, the 5K will feature rolling wave starts and continuing throughout the morning. Fall 2026 wave assignments will be provided October 2026. 

All teams/sites are assigned a wave start time and color to organize teams in the GOTR 5K Village.  Please look for your team's color and sign upon arrival.

Please plan to arrive approximately 1 hour before your wave start time to allow for parking, walking to the 5K Village AND participating in some fun pre-5K activities. 

Course Information

The 5K course will be run on the roadways in the MN State Fairgrounds. The 5K will begin near the Grandstand, weave through all your favorite State Fair locations and finish on Judson Ave. See a PDF of the Course Map here, or our great Google event map here.

 

Road Construction & Parking

Please note that Highway 280 near the Fairgrounds is closed for construction. We expect significant traffic congestion on Snelling Avenue, so please consider alternative routes and allow for extra travel time.

If you miss your assigned wave start time due to traffic delays, you are welcome to join a later wave.  

Free parking is available at the Minnesota State Fairgrounds in the following locations:

  • Como Parking Lots (1690 Como Ave)

  • Grandstand Lot (1842 W. Dan Patch Ave)

All other entrances to the Fairgrounds will be closed for the event.

Metro Transit routes are available, and some teams may coordinate bus transportation—please check with your coach.

ADA parking is available in both locations.

Weather

This is an important day for our girls and the 5K will be held rain, snow or shine. If conditions become unsafe, we will notify participants through email, texts, and social media.  

5K Etiquette

This is a non-competitive event and we encourage all participants to go their “happy pace.” To keep the course clear for all, we ask slower runners and walkers to stay to the right, leaving room for other runners to pass. 

Pets are not allowed on the run course or in the start/finish areas. We have a large number of youth attending our event, for everyone's safety, please leave pets at home. 

Sensory Room

We know the gathering of all our teams with music and announcements can feel overwhelming for some participants. We are excited to offer a sensory room as a quiet space for participants and families to prepare for the 5K. Participants will be able to join their teams as they walk to the start line, feeling confident and prepared for a great run. 

5K Social Narrative

Is this your first 5K? Not sure what to expect? Check out our great social narrative to prepare for the event!

Event Guides

Looking for all our 5K event information in one easy spot?5K Event Guides for Fall 2026 will be available October 2026: 

 

We will rely on hundreds of volunteers to ensure a safe and joyful 5K for more than 3,000 kids and their 5K Buddies on the morning of November 8! 

Online volunteer registration for Fall 2026 will open August 2026.

Timing: shifts to be assigned between 6:45 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. (~3 hour shifts) 

With the 5K starting at 8 a.m., most volunteer shifts will start at 6:45 a.m. or 7 a.m. and end around 10 A.M. Limited later shifts are available, please request while signing up if needed.

Volunteer tasks may include:

  • course marshal/cheerleader
  • chalker
  • registration
  • greeting participants
  • water stop
  • post-5K food
  • bus parking
  • any other tasks that pop up!

Sign up with a friend, family members, co-workers, etc. All volunteers 14 years or older are welcome to support this magical event - the more the merrier! 

Exact arrival times and duration will vary depending on your role. You can let us know when registering if you have any volunteering preferences. Volunteer assignments were sent out on May 15 to all pre-registered volunteers. For later sign-ups, you will receive an email confirming your assignment by Wednesday, May 27. Thanks for your flexibility!

Volunteer Groups

We love having groups volunteer with us! Do you have a group of co-workers, friends or family that want to join us? To include your group in our group registration options, please email 5K@gotrmn.org. 

Adult 5K participant smiles while running outdoors through the city

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The course for a 5K is 3.1 miles. 

As a reminder, this is a fun, celebratory event for our participants and not a competitive race. While our fastest 5K participants will complete the course in 25 minutes, most cross the finish line in by 60 minutes. Everyone who participates is encouraged to walk, roll, push, run or skip at their happy pace!

First, we understand that life happens, and circumstance might make it impossible to attend.

 

We strongly encourage that all participants attend and complete the 5K, as it is the goal that teams are preparing for all season long! It’s the ultimate opportunity to build confidence through accomplishment. Remember, this is the first 5K event for many – including coaches, participants, friends and family members. We are in it together!

For safety reasons, every participant must wear a 5K bib provided by us. Our council ensures every participant has a 5K buddy, and only critical 5K volunteers have access to confidential information.

To ensure every participant crosses the finish line, we monitor the course have a safety plan in place, which trains staff and volunteers on how to respond during an emergency or incident.

Yes. Girls on the Run 5K events are for everyone! All participants can walk, run, push or roll safely and at their own happy pace. Designated parking spots are available.

 

Every girl needs to have a registered 5K Buddy for the 5K event. A 5K Buddy is any trusted adult 18+, who can run/walk alongside their girl and cheer her on through this day of accomplishment. A 5K buddy can be a parent, grandparent, uncle, teacher, family friend, favorite babysitter - anyone 18+ your girl knows and trust!  All 5K Buddies must register for the 5k. 

Yes! This is encouraged! This is a great way to accomplish a goal together. 

Absolutely! Every registered participant who completes the 5K will receive a 5K bib, t-shirt, medal and post-race food.

Yes! Family, friends and community members outside of our program can participate in the event, but must register.

Yes. All 5K registration forms include liability waivers.

The registration fee is $40 with a pay-what-you-can option. GOTR Program Participants and coaches are already registered and do not need to register separately for the 5K. 

This is a non-competitive event and we encourage all runners to go their “happy pace.” To keep the course clear for all, we ask slower runners and walkers to stay to the right, leaving room for other runners to pass. 

Yes, strollers are welcome, and we ask that anyone with a stroller starts at the back of the pack for safety. 

No, please leave your pets at home. 

Yes. We will have a semi-private space available for anyone who needs to nurse or pump during the event. It is located inside the History & Heritage Center—just follow the signs for the Sensory Space. 

Nous écrire

Interested in sponsoring our council’s programs,
5K or a future event?

Email Us

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Two Girls on the Run Coaches 5K volunteers smile

See you on November 8!

Not a coach or a Girls on the Run participant?  
Register to join our 5K event!