OKTOBERFEST 5 Miler

OKTOBERFEST 5 Miler takes place in Columbia, Maryland, in Howard County, on October 25, 2026, over a single distance: 5 miles, or 8 kilometers, starting at 8:00 a.m. The course winds around Lake Elkhorn, so the setting gives you something to look at while you work through the pace.

Five miles is a distance worth respecting. It is too long to attack from the gun and too short to settle into marathon rhythm, which makes even pacing the whole skill: pick an effort you could hold for roughly 35 to 45 minutes and only spend what is left in the last mile. Runners get quality race swag, and afterward the field gathers at Black Flag Brewing Co. to compare notes. A share of the proceeds goes to Bridges to Housing Stability in Howard County.