Purdue Boilermaker Half Marathon and 5K

Purdue Boilermaker Half Marathon and 5K is held in West Lafayette, Indiana, on October 24, 2026. The half marathon (13.1 miles) starts at 8 a.m. and the 5K run and walk follows at 8:40 a.m. Both begin and finish outside Ross-Ade Stadium; the half marathon loops through the Purdue campus and West Lafayette while the 5K stays close to campus. Entry includes a long-sleeve shirt, a finisher medal and post-race refreshments, with awards in several categories and discounts for Purdue students and military. It is open to everyone, with or without a university connection, and supports underserved young people through the Purdue Athletes Life Success program.

A half marathon in late October suits runners who have kept a summer base going: a 12- to 16-week build with a weekly long run reaching 10 or 11 miles is the standard route to this start line. If that base is not there this year, the 5K goes off 40 minutes later from the same place and finishes there too, which makes it easy for a group to enter different distances and still meet up afterwards.