Western Michigan University Homecoming 5K Presented by the College of Health and Human Services 2026
- Date
- Saturday, October 10, 2026
- Start time
- 8:15 AM start (Detroit)
- Location
- Kalamazoo, Michigan
- Entry fee
- From Free · goes up to $45 on Oct 1, 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kids Run (Ages 10 and Under) | Kids | Oct 10, 20268:15 AM | Free | – |
| Western Michigan University Homecoming 5K Presented by the College of Health and Human Services (Active WMU Student sign up only) | 5K | Oct 10, 20268:30 AM | $25 | – |
| Western Michigan University Homecoming 5K Run/Walk | 5K | Oct 10, 20268:30 AM | $40$45 after Oct 1, 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 1, 2026.
Race day planning
Entry fee schedule
- Kids Run (Ages 10 and Under): Free until Oct 10.
- Western Michigan University Homecoming 5K Presented by the College of Health and Human Services (Active WMU Student sign up only): $25 until Oct 10.
- Western Michigan University Homecoming 5K Run/Walk: $40 until Sep 30, then $45 until Oct 10.
Online registration closes Oct 10, 2026, unless the race fills first.
How the price compares
At $25, entry is about 17 percent below a typical 5K in Michigan, which costs $30 right now.
What a typical finish looks like
A typical finisher at a 5K in Kalamazoo runs 40:13, about 12:57 a mile, based on 10 races with published results. Women typically finish in 43:15 and men in 34:33.
Light and altitude
Sunrise on race morning is at about 7:47 AM, and the Kids Run (Ages 10 and Under) starts at 8:15 AM. The start sits about 920 feet above sea level.
Fees exclude processing fees. Comparisons use current entry fees and published results from races nearby.
Start location and course
4601 Campus Drive, Kalamazoo, MI 49008
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 (2 years)Aggregated from official results (Rotpac Racing) for Western Michigan University Homecoming 5K Presented by the College of Health and Human Services. Individual finisher names are not stored here.
How fast do you need to be at Western Michigan University Homecoming 5K Presented by the College of Health and Human Services?
In 2025, the fastest tenth finished in 23:45 or better, the top quarter in 27:06, and half the field in 32:06; the last tenth came in after 44:38.
| Age | Women | Men |
|---|---|---|
| Under 20 | 22:02 | 20:47 |
| 20-29 | 28:25 | 22:37 |
| 30-39 | 25:56 | 24:59 |
| 40-49 | 30:20 | 27:44 |
| 50-59 | 31:57 | 26:56 |
| 60-69 | n/a | 30:38 |
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 35 percent since 2024.
All events combined, from official results.
Western Michigan University Homecoming 5K Presented by the College of Health and Human Services 5K year by year
From 2024 to 2025, the field went from 102 to 138 finishers, and the median time rose from 31:25 to 32:06.
| Year | Finishers | Median | Fastest tenth | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 138 (+35%) | 32:06 | under 23:45 | 16:58 |
| 2024 | 102 | 31:25 | under 21:47 | 16:43 |
From each year's official results for the 5K; virtual options are left out.
How fast is it?
Faster than most Michigan 5Ks
The fastest quarter of the 2025 5K field finished under 27:06, against 28:36 in a typical Michigan 5K, so times here run 5 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 10 the day usually runs from 47°F at dawn to 65°F in the afternoon, with measurable rain on about 29% of days. Cold snaps dip to 39°F and hot years reach 76°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
- 4601 Campus Drive, Kalamazoo, MI 49008Map
- Course
- Road
- Start elevation
- About 920 feet
- Included with entry
- T-Shirt; T-shirt
- Donations
- Accepted when you register
- Distances
- 5K, Kids
- Editions
- 2026 (Oct 10, 2026), 2025 (Oct 12, 2025), 2024 (Oct 20, 2024)
Organize this race? Add details or a correction
Plan your race
Quick answers
- When is Western Michigan University Homecoming 5K Presented by the College of Health and Human Services?
- Saturday, October 10, 2026, starting at 8:15 AM.
- How much does it cost?
- Entry starts at Free before processing fees, and rises to $45 on Oct 1, 2026.
- When does registration close?
- Online registration closes Oct 10, 2026, unless the race fills first.
- Is the entry fee high for Michigan?
- At $25, entry is about 17 percent below a typical 5K in Michigan, 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, Kids.
- How big is it, and how fast?
- In 2025, 138 runners finished the Western Michigan University Homecoming 5K; the median finish was 32:06 and the winner ran 16:58.
- Is it a fast course?
- The fastest quarter of the 2025 5K field finished under 27:06, against 28:36 in a typical Michigan 5K, so times here run 5 percent faster.
- Where does it start?
- 4601 Campus Drive, Kalamazoo, MI 49008.
From the organizers
NEW THIS YEAR! The WMU Homecoming 5K course has changed locations from main campus to the engineering campus. This course will be flatter and faster than in past years. It will also allow for participants to run the 5K in the morning and enjoy the rest of the homecoming festivities in the afternoon. There is also a 10 and under 400m race free to all kids under 10 and under. There is also a discounted sign up for all active WMU students with valid WMU email and WIN#.