MLK Jr. Freedom Run 5K/10K/13.1 ATLANTA

MLK Jr. Freedom Run 5K/10K/13.1 ATLANTA is held in Atlanta, Georgia, on January 16, 2027, as one stop on a national series honoring the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Four distances leave at 7:30 a.m.: the half marathon (13.1 miles), the 10K, the 5K and a one mile family fun run. There are no timing chips, so you pick a distance without worrying about the clock. Entry includes a bib, a shirt, a finisher towel and a medal, and a virtual option is offered for anyone who would rather run from home.

An untimed half marathon is a genuinely useful thing to have on the calendar. It gives you the distance, the early start and the company of other runners without the pressure that turns a long run into a race, which makes it a good rehearsal for a spring goal event. If 13.1 is new to you, aim for twelve weeks of steady running with one long run a week; if it is not, use the day as a controlled effort at the pace you plan to hold later in the year.