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Veterans 5K Run & Walk presented by ELDRIDGE ROOFING 2026

Date
Saturday, November 7, 2026
Start time
7:00 AM start (Chicago)
Entry fee
From Free
Included with entry
Includes a shirt
Fundraising
Takes optional donations when you register
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Registration is open.

We earn a small commission when you register through this link, at no cost to you. Details

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Events and entry fees

EventDistanceWhenEntry feeCap
Volunteer–Nov 7, 20267:00 AMFree–
Kids Fun Run - Free for kids 10 & underKidsNov 7, 20269:30 AMFree–
Kids 5K (Children 17 and under)5KNov 7, 202610:00 AM$15–
Veterans 5k Ruck5KNov 7, 202610:00 AM$35–
Veterans 5K Run & Walk5KNov 7, 202610:00 AM$35–

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

Race day planning

Entry fee schedule

  • Volunteer: Free until Oct 31.
  • Kids Fun Run - Free for kids 10 & under: Free until Nov 7.
  • Kids 5K (Children 17 and under): $15 until Nov 7.
  • Veterans 5k Ruck and Veterans 5K Run & Walk: $35 until Nov 7.

Online registration closes Nov 7, 2026, unless the race fills first.

How the price compares

At $15, entry is about 57 percent below a typical 5K in Illinois, which costs $35 right now.

What a typical finish looks like

A typical finisher at a 5K in Rockford runs 35:06, about 11:18 a mile, based on 6 races with published results. Women typically finish in 38:51 and men in 30:56.

Light and altitude

Sunrise on race morning is at about 6:35 AM, and the Volunteer starts at 7:00 AM. The start sits about 870 feet above sea level.

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

Start location and course

3301 N. Mulford Rd., Rockford, IL 61114

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

Veterans 5K Run & Walk

518
finishers
35:06
median (11:18 /mi)
17:32
winning time
51% / 49%
women / men
median 35:0618:311:04:26
Finish times, fastest to slowest. Each bar is a slice of the field; the dashed line is the median.

Veterans 5k Ruck

30
finishers
49:03
median (15:47 /mi)
29:57
winning time
47% / 53%
women / men

Aggregated from official results for Veterans 5K Run & Walk presented by ELDRIDGE ROOFING. Individual finisher names are not stored here.

How fast do you need to be at Veterans 5K Run & Walk presented by ELDRIDGE ROOFING?

At the 2025 Veterans 5K Run & Walk, the fastest tenth finished in 23:39 or better, the top quarter in 28:11, and half the field in 35:06; the last tenth came in after 56:05.

At the 2025 Veterans 5k Ruck, the fastest tenth finished in 37:39 or better, the top quarter in 42:51, and half the field in 49:03; the last tenth came in after 53:48.

Third place by age group, 2025 Veterans 5K Run & Walk
AgeWomenMen
Under 2027:0819:26
20-2924:2121:48
30-3923:1319:39
40-4926:2018:21
50-5926:1320:24
60-6927:0923:28
70+44:2530:52

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.

Veterans 5K Run & Walk presented by ELDRIDGE ROOFING 5K year by year

From 2021 to 2025, the field went from 528 to 518 finishers, and the median time rose from 33:37 to 35:06.

YearFinishersMedianFastest tenthWinner
2025518 (+15%)35:06under 23:3917:32
2024449 (same)34:13under 24:1218:13
2023451 (+4%)34:52under 23:0516:47
2022432 (-18%)35:17under 24:1018:15
202152833:37under 23:1816:45

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 28:11, 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 November 7 the day usually runs from 37°F at dawn to 54°F in the afternoon, with measurable rain on about 17% of days. Cold snaps dip to 27°F and hot years reach 67°F.

Based on 70 days within a week of the date over the last 5 years, from historical weather for the start area. Not a forecast.

From the race's page

What the organizers of Veterans 5K Run & Walk presented by ELDRIDGE ROOFING cover on their registration page, in brief.

Schedule and packet pickup

Packet Pick-up and Registration

REGISTRATION NOTES - IMPORTANT. There is No day of event registration or registration after online registration closes! Online registration for all events closes on Friday, November 6th, 2026, at 11:59pm - sorry, no exceptions.

Shirt and medal

Honor your Special Veteran on our Shirt - 10 Spots are Available on the Shirt

The "wall shirt" is a unique opportunity to memorialize the Veterans who are no longer with us or who are currently keeping us safe. We have 10 spots available on the back of our shirts at $100 each. Their name and branch will be listed…

Full details on the race's RunSignup page

Race details

Where
3301 N. Mulford Rd., Rockford, IL 61114Map
Course
Road
Start elevation
About 870 feet
Included with entry
T-Shirt; T-shirt
Donations
Accepted when you register
Distances
5K, Kids
Editions
2026 (Nov 7, 2026), 2025 (Nov 8, 2025), 2024 (Nov 2, 2024), 2023 (Nov 4, 2023), 2022 (Nov 5, 2022), 2021 (Nov 13, 2021)

Organize this race? Add details or a correction

Plan your race

Quick answers

When is Veterans 5K Run & Walk presented by ELDRIDGE ROOFING?
Saturday, November 7, 2026, starting at 7:00 AM.
How much does it cost?
Entry starts at Free before processing fees.
When does registration close?
Online registration closes Nov 7, 2026, unless the race fills first.
Is the entry fee high for Illinois?
At $15, entry is about 57 percent below 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?
5K, Kids.
How big is it, and how fast?
In 2025, 518 runners finished the Veterans 5K Run & Walk; the median finish was 35:06 and the winner ran 17:32.
Is it a fast course?
The fastest quarter of the 2025 5K field finished under 28:11, against 28:26 in a typical Illinois 5K, so times here are about average.
Where does it start?
3301 N. Mulford Rd., Rockford, IL 61114.

From the organizers

5K Run & Walk:

A 5K Run/Walk to Benefit the Veterans Drop-In Center in Rockford, IL. This is our 14th annual run and will, again, be held at Rock Valley College. This run is USATF certified (IL26022NM) and is a 2026 RRR Circuit Race. See more information about the RRR Circuit at www.rockfordroadrunners.org

5k Ruck Division:

This is a 5k Ruck. This event starts at the same time as the 5k. It requires the participant to carry a rucksack (aka. backpack) for the entire 5k distance.

If you weigh > 150 lbs = your Ruck should weigh 20 lb.

If you weigh < 150 lbs = your Ruck should weigh 10 lb.

Read the full description on RunSignup