Mash Dash 5 K

Mash Dash 5 K is run in Charleston on October 24, 2026, as part of the Potato Hill Festival. One distance is on the program, a 5K, and it starts early at 7:30 a.m. That means an early alarm, but it also means cool air and a finish line reached before the rest of the festival day gets going.

With a start that early, the warm-up matters more than usual: ten minutes of easy jogging and a few strides will stop the opening half-mile feeling like a shock. The 5K itself is the most approachable racing distance, reachable off four to six weeks of regular running with one faster session each week, and forgiving enough that a first-timer and someone chasing a personal record can share the same start line without either feeling out of place.