Vets Day 5K & 10K 2026
- Date
- Saturday, November 7, 2026
- Start time
- 8:45 AM start (Chicago)
- Location
- Milwaukee, Wisconsin
- Entry fee
- From Free · goes up to $37.50 on Oct 10, 2026
- 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1K Kiddo's Race | Other | Nov 7, 20268:45 AM | Free | – |
| 10K | 10K | Nov 7, 20269:00 AM | $35$37.50 after Oct 10, 2026 | – |
| 5K | Other | Nov 7, 20269:00 AM | $35$37.50 after Oct 10, 2026 | – |
| 5K Ruck | Other | Nov 7, 20269:00 AM | $35$37.50 after Oct 10, 2026 | – |
| 5K Walk | Other | Nov 7, 20269:00 AM | $35$37.50 after Oct 10, 2026 | – |
Entry fees exclude processing fees. Prices and dates come from the race's registration page and refresh nightly.
The 10K fee goes up to $37.50 on Oct 10, 2026.
Race day planning
Entry fee schedule
- 1K Kiddo's Race: Free until Nov 7.
- 10K and 5K and 5K Walk: $35 until Oct 10, then $37.50 until Oct 24, then $40 until Nov 6, then $45 until Nov 7.
- 5K Ruck: $35 until Oct 10, then $37.50 until Oct 24, then $40 until Nov 6, then $45 until Nov 8.
Online registration closes Nov 8, 2026, unless the race fills first.
How the price compares
At $35, entry is about the same as a typical 10K in Wisconsin ($37).
What a typical finish looks like
A typical finisher at a 10K in Milwaukee runs 1:02:26, about 10:03 a mile, based on 12 races with published results. Women typically finish in 1:04:10 and men in 58:31.
Light and altitude
Sunrise on race morning is at about 6:32 AM, and the 1K Kiddo's Race starts at 8:45 AM. The start sits about 680 feet above sea level.
Fees exclude processing fees. Comparisons use current entry fees and published results from races nearby.
Start location and course
War Memorial, Milwaukee, WI 53202
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)5K
10K
5K Walk
Aggregated from official results (Silver Circle Sports Events, LLC) for Vets Day 5K & 10K. Individual finisher names are not stored here.
How fast do you need to be at Vets Day 5K & 10K?
At the 2025 5K, the fastest tenth finished in 25:55 or better, the top quarter in 29:30, and half the field in 33:42; the last tenth came in after 45:45.
At the 2025 10K, the fastest tenth finished in 47:31 or better, the top quarter in 52:21, and half the field in 57:14; the last tenth came in after 1:14:28.
At the 2025 5K Walk, the fastest tenth finished in 47:43 or better, the top quarter in 48:43, and half the field in 54:14; the last tenth came in after 1:01:40.
| Age | Women | Men |
|---|---|---|
| Under 20 | 29:30 | 25:03 |
| 20-29 | 29:16 | 29:43 |
| 30-39 | 30:02 | 25:53 |
| 40-49 | 29:45 | 24:57 |
| 50-59 | 30:07 | 26:48 |
| 60-69 | 33:11 | 30:46 |
| 70+ | n/a | 33:39 |
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 42 percent since 2021.
All events combined, from official results.
Vets Day 5K & 10K Other year by year
From 2024 to 2025, the field went from 214 to 169 finishers, and the median time rose from 33:00 to 33:42.
| Year | Finishers | Median | Fastest tenth | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 169 (-21%) | 33:42 | under 25:55 | 17:35 |
| 2024 | 214 | 33:00 | under 24:45 | 17:42 |
From each year's official results for the Other; virtual options are left out.
How fast is it?
About average for Wisconsin 5Ks
The fastest quarter of the 2023 5K field finished under 28:33, against 28:16 in a typical Wisconsin 5K, so times here are about average.
- 10K: About average for Wisconsin 10Ks. The fastest quarter of the 2025 10K field finished under 52:21, against 53:12 in a typical Wisconsin 10K, 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 39°F at dawn to 53°F in the afternoon, with measurable rain on about 20% 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.
Race details
- Where
- War Memorial, Milwaukee, WI 53202Map
- Course
- Road
- Start elevation
- About 680 feet
- Included with entry
- T-Shirt
- Donations
- Accepted when you register
- Distances
- 10K, Other
- Editions
- 2026 (Nov 7, 2026), 2025 (Nov 8, 2025), 2024 (Nov 9, 2024), 2023 (Nov 11, 2023), 2022 (Nov 12, 2022), 2021 (Nov 6, 2021)
Organize this race? Add details or a correction
Plan your race
Quick answers
- When is Vets Day 5K & 10K?
- Saturday, November 7, 2026, starting at 8:45 AM.
- How much does it cost?
- Entry starts at Free before processing fees, and rises to $37.50 on Oct 10, 2026.
- When does registration close?
- Online registration closes Nov 8, 2026, unless the race fills first.
- Is the entry fee high for Wisconsin?
- At $35, entry is about the same as a typical 10K in Wisconsin ($37).
- 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?
- 10K, Other.
- How big is it, and how fast?
- In 2025, 169 runners finished the 5K; the median finish was 33:42 and the winner ran 17:35.
- Is it a fast course?
- The fastest quarter of the 2023 5K field finished under 28:33, against 28:16 in a typical Wisconsin 5K, so times here are about average.
- Where does it start?
- War Memorial, Milwaukee, WI 53202.
From the organizers
Begin your winter running season with meaning at the Vets Day 5K & 10K presented by Cargill & hosted by Silver Circle on Saturday, November 7, 2026, at the War Memorial. This special event honors our veterans and active-duty service members and is part of the Wisconsin Chilly Willy Winter Run Series. Join hundreds of runners as you make your way through the beautiful Veterans Park in the only race that starts and finishes on Mason Street, right in front of the War Memorial. After the race, stick around for the awards ceremony and treat yourself to our hot chocolate bar.
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