Field Station Frenzy Trail Run & Walk 5K 2026
- Date
- Sunday, October 4, 2026
- Start time
- 8:15 AM start (Chicago)
- Location
- Porter, Indiana
- Entry fee
- From Free · goes up to $35 on Oct 4, 2026
- Included with entry
- Includes a shirt
- Fundraising
- Takes optional donations when you register
Registration is open.
We earn a small commission when you register through this link, at no cost to you. Details
Official race websiteAdd to calendar: Apple or Outlook · Google
Events and entry fees
| Event | Distance | When | Entry fee | Cap |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kiddie Corral (Free Child Care) | Kids | Oct 4, 20268:15 AM | Free | – |
| 1K Kid's Fun Run (non-competitive) | Kids | Oct 4, 20268:30 AM | $15 | – |
| 500 m Tot Trot (non-competitive) | Kids | Oct 4, 20268:30 AM | $15 | – |
| Field Station Frenzy Trail Run & Walk 5K | 5K | Oct 4, 20269:00 AM | $30$35 after Oct 4, 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 $35 on Oct 4, 2026.
Race day planning
Entry fee schedule
- Kiddie Corral (Free Child Care): Free until Oct 4.
- 1K Kid's Fun Run (non-competitive) and 500 m Tot Trot (non-competitive): $15 until Oct 4.
- Field Station Frenzy Trail Run & Walk 5K: $30 until Oct 4, then $35 until Oct 4.
Online registration closes Oct 4, 2026, unless the race fills first.
How the price compares
At $30, entry is about the same as a typical 5K in Indiana ($30).
What a typical finish looks like
A typical finisher at a 5K in Indiana runs 35:04, about 11:17 a mile, based on 23 races with published results. Women typically finish in 39:28 and men in 32:03.
Light and altitude
Sunrise on race morning is at about 6:46 AM, and the Kiddie Corral (Free Child Care) starts at 8:15 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
Chellberg Farm, Indiana Dunes National Park, 709 N Mineral Springs Rd, Porter, IN, Porter, 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.
2025 results
All results (5 years)Aggregated from official results (T&H Timing) for Field Station Frenzy Trail Run & Walk 5K. Individual finisher names are not stored here.
How fast do you need to be at Field Station Frenzy Trail Run & Walk 5K?
In 2025, the fastest tenth finished in 24:36 or better, the top quarter in 28:58, and half the field in 35:13; the last tenth came in after 52:31.
| Age | Women | Men |
|---|---|---|
| Under 20 | 24:40 | 22:49 |
| 20-29 | 30:49 | 30:49 |
| 30-39 | 30:53 | 38:35 |
| 40-49 | 31:21 | 24:25 |
| 50-59 | 32:55 | 27:01 |
| 60-69 | 34:37 | 25:32 |
| 70+ | n/a | 32:02 |
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
About the same size since 2021.
All events combined, from official results.
Field Station Frenzy Trail Run & Walk 5K 5K year by year
From 2021 to 2025, the field went from 135 to 140 finishers, and the median time dropped from 38:44 to 35:13.
| Year | Finishers | Median | Fastest tenth | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 140 (-27%) | 35:13 | under 24:36 | 19:31 |
| 2024 | 191 (+22%) | 35:04 | under 24:13 | 19:12 |
| 2023 | 156 (-1%) | 35:11 | under 26:06 | 19:07 |
| 2022 | 158 (+17%) | 34:13 | under 23:51 | 19:17 |
| 2021 | 135 | 38:44 | under 25:19 | 19:43 |
From each year's official results for the 5K; virtual options are left out.
How fast is it?
Faster than most Indiana trail 5Ks
The fastest quarter of the 2025 5K field finished under 28:58, against 30:54 in a typical Indiana trail 5K, so times here run 6 percent faster.
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 55°F at dawn to 72°F in the afternoon, with measurable rain on about 19% 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
- Chellberg Farm, Indiana Dunes National Park, 709 N Mineral Springs Rd, Porter, IN, Porter, IN 46304Map
- Course
- Trail
- Start elevation
- About 660 feet
- Included with entry
- Race Shirt
- Donations
- Accepted when you register
- Distances
- 5K, Kids
- Editions
- 2026 (Oct 4, 2026), 2025 (Oct 5, 2025), 2024 (Oct 6, 2024), 2023 (Oct 1, 2023), 2022 (Oct 2, 2022), 2021 (Oct 3, 2021)
Organize this race? Add details or a correction
Plan your race
Quick answers
- When is Field Station Frenzy Trail Run & Walk 5K?
- Sunday, October 4, 2026, starting at 8:15 AM.
- How much does it cost?
- Entry starts at Free before processing fees, and rises to $35 on Oct 4, 2026.
- When does registration close?
- Online registration closes Oct 4, 2026, unless the race fills first.
- Is the entry fee high for Indiana?
- At $30, entry is about the same as a typical 5K in Indiana ($30).
- 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.
- How big is it, and how fast?
- In 2025, 140 runners finished the Field Station Frenzy Trail Run & Walk 5K; the median finish was 35:13 and the winner ran 19:31.
- Is it a fast course?
- The fastest quarter of the 2025 5K field finished under 28:58, against 30:54 in a typical Indiana trail 5K, so times here run 6 percent faster.
- Where does it start?
- Chellberg Farm, Indiana Dunes National Park, 709 N Mineral Springs Rd, Porter, IN, Porter, IN 46304.
From the organizers
Why Join in the Frenzy?
Fun, scenic trail run/walk inside the gorgeous Indiana Dunes National Park
Well-marked, carefully measured course, with professional chip timing
Long-sleeve tech shirts, finisher medals, and one-of-a-kind awards
Costumes and crazy outfits encouraged!
Free on-site childcare provided for all participants (potty-trained thru through elementary school age)
Part of the Calumet Region Striders' Gold Cup Elite Series
Support nature-based early childhood education
Schedule of Events (times subject to change)
All Registration is Online ONLY, NO paper forms, NO payment accepted on-site
Please check our website: Field Station Frenzy for updates to any information.
We will have early packet pick up available on Friday(10/2) and Saturday(10/3) at Extra Mile Fitness Company!