MLK Jr. Freedom Run 5K/10K/13.1 AUSTIN/ROUNDROCK

MLK Jr. Freedom Run 5K/10K/13.1 AUSTIN/ROUNDROCK takes place in the Austin and Round Rock area of Texas on January 16, 2027, part of a national series marking the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. The half marathon (13.1 miles), the 10K, the 5K and a one mile family fun run all start at 7:30 a.m. The event runs without timing chips, and every entrant receives a bib, a shirt, a finisher towel and a medal. Anyone who cannot travel can take part virtually.

With four distances going off together, the practical question is what you can hold for the whole way rather than what you would like to run. Any of the three main options works as a January checkpoint: the 5K to see where your speed is, the 10K as a solid hour of work, the half as a long effort you can build a winter plan around. Since nothing is being timed, use your own watch for your own record and run the pace you would want to repeat.