Cheesy Pretzel 5K and 1 Mile Walk 2026
- Date
- Sunday, October 4, 2026
- Start time
- 8:00 AM start (Chicago)
- Location
- Bolingbrook, Illinois
- Entry fee
- From $40 · goes up to $45 on Oct 2, 2026
- Included with entry
- Includes a shirt
- Fundraising
- Takes optional donations when you register
Registration is open.
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Official race websiteAdd to calendar: Apple or Outlook · Google
Events and entry fees
| Event | Distance | When | Entry fee | Cap |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cheesy Pretzel 5k | 5K | Oct 4, 20268:00 AM | $40$45 after Oct 2, 2026 | – |
| Cheesy Pretzel 1 Mile Walk | 1 Mile | Oct 4, 20268:05 AM | $40$45 after Oct 2, 2026 | – |
Entry fees exclude processing fees. Prices and dates come from the race's registration page and refresh nightly.
The 5K fee goes up to $45 on Oct 2, 2026.
Race day planning
Entry fee schedule
- $40 until Oct 2, then $45 until Oct 4.
Online registration closes Oct 4, 2026, unless the race fills first.
How the price compares
At $40, entry is about 14 percent above a typical 5K in Illinois, which costs $35 right now.
What a typical finish looks like
A typical finisher at a 5K in Bolingbrook runs 37:04, about 11:56 a mile, based on 3 races with published results. Women typically finish in 42:20 and men in 30:18.
Light and altitude
Sunrise on race morning is at about 6:50 AM, and the Cheesy Pretzel 5k starts at 8:00 AM. The start sits about 710 feet above sea level.
Fees exclude processing fees. Comparisons use current entry fees and published results from races nearby.
Start location and course
Promenade Bolingbrook, Bolingbrook, IL 60440
The pin marks the address the race lists, which is usually the start. The organizers have not shared a course map with us yet.
2025 results
All results (5 years)Aggregated from official results (T&H Timing) for Cheesy Pretzel 5K and 1 Mile Walk. Individual finisher names are not stored here.
How fast do you need to be at Cheesy Pretzel 5K and 1 Mile Walk?
In 2025, the fastest tenth finished in 24:13 or better, the top quarter in 27:39, and half the field in 34:30; the last tenth came in after 52:35.
| Age | Women | Men |
|---|---|---|
| Under 20 | 23:21 | 21:19 |
| 20-29 | 26:41 | 22:10 |
| 30-39 | 24:10 | 22:29 |
| 40-49 | 26:33 | 23:04 |
| 50-59 | 31:12 | 22:54 |
| 60-69 | 38:04 | 30:54 |
| 70+ | 49:00 | 28:48 |
Groups with fewer than five finishers are left out. Awards vary by race; check the race's rules.
What would my time get me?
Where a finish time would have placed in 2025.
Finishers by year
Up 69 percent since 2021.
All events combined, from official results.
Cheesy Pretzel 5K and 1 Mile Walk 5K year by year
From 2021 to 2025, the field went from 158 to 337 finishers, and the median time dropped from 36:45 to 34:30.
| Year | Finishers | Median | Fastest tenth | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 337 (-1%) | 34:30 | under 24:13 | 17:28 |
| 2024 | 340 (+37%) | 36:16 | under 24:21 | 18:31 |
| 2023 | 248 (same) | 37:12 | under 24:04 | 18:31 |
| 2022 | 248 (+57%) | 35:59 | under 24:24 | 17:44 |
| 2021 | 158 | 36:45 | under 25:01 | 18:26 |
From each year's official results for the 5K; virtual options are left out.
How fast is it?
About average for Illinois 5Ks
The fastest quarter of the 2025 5K field finished under 27:39, against 28:26 in a typical Illinois 5K, so times here are about average.
Compares the fastest quarter of each field, so walkers and first-timers do not skew it. It reflects the course and the field together: a flat course, cool weather, or a competitive crowd all make times faster.
Typical race-day weather
Around October 4 the day usually runs from 56°F at dawn to 71°F in the afternoon, with measurable rain on about 16% of days. Cold snaps dip to 42°F and hot years reach 82°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
- Promenade Bolingbrook, Bolingbrook, IL 60440Map
- Course
- Road
- Start elevation
- About 710 feet
- Included with entry
- Long Sleeve Shirt
- Donations
- Accepted when you register
- Distances
- 1 Mile, 5K
- Editions
- 2026 (Oct 4, 2026), 2025 (Oct 5, 2025), 2024 (Oct 6, 2024), 2023 (Oct 8, 2023), 2022 (Oct 9, 2022), 2021 (Oct 10, 2021)
Organize this race? Add details or a correction
Plan your race
Quick answers
- When is Cheesy Pretzel 5K and 1 Mile Walk?
- Sunday, October 4, 2026, starting at 8:00 AM.
- How much does it cost?
- Entry starts at $40 before processing fees, and rises to $45 on Oct 2, 2026.
- When does registration close?
- Online registration closes Oct 4, 2026, unless the race fills first.
- Is the entry fee high for Illinois?
- At $40, entry is about 14 percent above a typical 5K in Illinois, which costs $35 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?
- 1 Mile, 5K.
- How big is it, and how fast?
- In 2025, 337 runners finished the Cheesy Pretzel 5k; the median finish was 34:30 and the winner ran 17:28.
- Is it a fast course?
- The fastest quarter of the 2025 5K field finished under 27:39, against 28:26 in a typical Illinois 5K, so times here are about average.
- Where does it start?
- Promenade Bolingbrook, Bolingbrook, IL 60440.
From the organizers
The Cheesy Pretzel 5k is back for 2026!
The Cheesy Pretzel 5k & 1 Mile Walk is a USATF certified 5k event [IL23028NM] that winds through The Promenade Bolingbrook and surrounding neighborhoods. All participants in the 5k and 1 mile walk will receive an order of Pretzel Bites and Cheese!