The Runaway Pumpkin 10K & 5K Run/Walk

The Runaway Pumpkin 10K and 5K Run/Walk is set for Laconia, New Hampshire, on October 24, 2026. Two distances are on the program: a 10K and a 5K (3.1 miles), both open to runners and walkers. Start times are not listed, so check with the organizers before you plan your morning around a particular hour.

Having a 10K alongside the 5K makes this a useful date for a household with mixed fitness, and it also gives more experienced runners a distance long enough to test pacing rather than just top-end speed. If the 10K is your target, build for eight to ten weeks with a weekly long run of six to eight miles and one session at threshold effort. For the 5K, shorter and faster work three times a week does the job.