CKF's 5K for Life 2026
- Date
- Saturday, October 10, 2026
- Start time
- 10:30 AM start (Chicago)
- Location
- Chesterton, Indiana
- Entry fee
- From $15
- Included with entry
- Includes a shirt
- Fundraising
- Takes optional donations when you register
Registration is open.
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Events and entry fees
| Event | Distance | When | Entry fee | Cap |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CKF's 5K for Life | 5K | Oct 10, 202610:30 AM | $20 | – |
| Kids 5K for Life | 5K | Oct 10, 202610:30 AM | $15 | – |
| Virtual 5k for LifeVirtual | 5K | Oct 10, 20267:30 AM | $20 | – |
Entry fees exclude processing fees. Prices and dates come from the race's registration page and refresh nightly.
Race day planning
Entry fee schedule
- CKF's 5K for Life: $20 until Oct 10.
- Kids 5K for Life: $15 until Oct 10.
Online registration closes Oct 10, 2026, unless the race fills first.
How the price compares
At $20, entry is about 33 percent below a typical 5K in Indiana, which costs $30 right now.
What a typical finish looks like
A typical finisher at a 5K in Chesterton runs 31:03, about 10:00 a mile, based on 8 races with published results. Women typically finish in 33:41 and men in 27:15.
Light and altitude
Sunrise on race morning is at about 6:53 AM, and the CKF's 5K for Life starts at 10:30 AM. The start sits about 660 feet above sea level.
Fees exclude processing fees. Comparisons use current entry fees and published results from races nearby.
Start location and course
Coffee Creek Preserve, Chesterton, IN 46304
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 10 the day usually runs from 49°F at dawn to 68°F in the afternoon, with measurable rain on about 29% of days. Cold snaps dip to 40°F and hot years reach 78°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
- Coffee Creek Preserve, Chesterton, IN 46304Map
- Course
- Road
- Start elevation
- About 660 feet
- Included with entry
- T-Shirt
- Donations
- Accepted when you register
- Distances
- 5K
- Editions
- 2026 (Oct 10, 2026), 2025 (Sep 20, 2025), 2024 (Sep 14, 2024)
Organize this race? Add details or a correction
Plan your race
Quick answers
- When is CKF's 5K for Life?
- Saturday, October 10, 2026, starting at 10:30 AM.
- How much does it cost?
- Entry starts at $15 before processing fees.
- When does registration close?
- Online registration closes Oct 10, 2026, unless the race fills first.
- Is the entry fee high for Indiana?
- At $20, entry is about 33 percent below a typical 5K in Indiana, which costs $30 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.
- Where does it start?
- Coffee Creek Preserve, Chesterton, IN 46304.
From the organizers
Join us on Saturday, September 19th at Coffee Creek Preserve in Chesterton, IN, for the third annual CKF 5K for Life. This year, we also have a virtual option in case you are not local to the Chesterton area! We will bring the community together to share the message of organ, eye, and tissue donation and show the world what a transplant makes possible.