5KKids

Back to the Valley 5K/2M 2026

Date: Saturday, October 3, 2026
Start time: 8:00 AM start (Chicago)
Location: Dexter, Kansas
Entry fee: From $25
Included with entry: Includes a shirt
Fundraising: Takes optional donations when you register

Registration is open.

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Official race website

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Events and entry fees

Event	Distance	When	Entry fee	Cap
5K	5K	Oct 3, 20268:00 AM	$25	–
Kids Fun Run	Kids	Oct 3, 20268:15 AM	$25	–

Entry fees exclude processing fees. Prices and dates come from the race's registration page and refresh nightly.

Race day planning

Entry fee schedule

$25 until Oct 3.

Online registration closes Oct 3, 2026, unless the race fills first.

How the price compares

At $25, entry is about 19 percent below a typical 5K in Kansas, which costs $31 right now.

What a typical finish looks like

A typical finisher at a 5K in Kansas runs 37:50, about 12:11 a mile, based on 124 races with published results. Women typically finish in 41:00 and men in 32:55.

Light and altitude

Sunrise on race morning is at about 7:22 AM, and the 5K starts at 8:00 AM. The start sits about 1,220 feet above sea level.

Fees exclude processing fees. Comparisons use current entry fees and published results from races nearby.

Start location and course

100 Block S. Main, Dexter, KS 67038

Directions to the start

The pin marks the address the race lists, which is usually the start. The organizers have not shared a course map with us yet.

Typical race-day weather

Around October 3 the day usually runs from 61°F at dawn to 82°F in the afternoon, with measurable rain on about 5% of days. Cold snaps dip to 53°F and hot years reach 90°F.

Based on 75 days within a week of the date over the last 5 years, from historical weather for the start area. Not a forecast.

Race details

Where: 100 Block S. Main, Dexter, KS 67038Map
Course: Road
Start elevation: About 1,220 feet
Included with entry: T-Shirt
Donations: Accepted when you register
Distances: 5K, Kids
Editions: 2026 (Oct 3, 2026), 2024 (Jul 13, 2024), 2023 (Jul 8, 2023), 2022 (Jul 9, 2022), 2021 (Jul 10, 2021), 2020 (Jul 11, 2020)

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Plan your race

Quick answers

When is Back to the Valley 5K/2M?: Saturday, October 3, 2026, starting at 8:00 AM.
How much does it cost?: Entry starts at $25 before processing fees.
When does registration close?: Online registration closes Oct 3, 2026, unless the race fills first.
Is the entry fee high for Kansas?: At $25, entry is about 19 percent below a typical 5K in Kansas, which costs $31 right now.
Do runners get a shirt or medal?: Entry includes a shirt, according to the race's registration page. Check it for sizes and whether kids' races get the same.
Can I donate to a cause when I register?: Yes. The registration form offers an optional donation, usually for the charity or nonprofit the race supports. The race's own page names the cause.
What distances can I run?: 5K, Kids.
Where does it start?: 100 Block S. Main, Dexter, KS 67038.

From the organizers

The Back to the Valley 5K and Kids Fun Run is part of a new community event. This event offers two different races to fit everyone's needs with 5K and kids 400 meter fun run. T-Shirts and finisher medals are given to all runners/walkers who meet the registration deadline. Medals are awarded to top three finishers in the men's and women's divisions of the 5K ONLY.