HCA Wicked 5K

HCA Wicked 5K is held in Hopkinton, Massachusetts, on October 25, 2026, and is organized by the Hopkinton Center for the Arts. Two formats are on the schedule: the 5K itself, 3.1 miles, starting at 10:00 a.m., and the Wee Wicked Dash, a 100-meter sprint for young children that goes first at 9:45 a.m.

The main event is short enough that you can race it hard without needing a long build behind you. Four to six weeks of consistent running, one weekly session of mile or half-mile repeats at 5K effort, and a steady long run are enough to arrive sharp. A mid-morning start is friendly too: you have time to eat a light breakfast, drive in, and jog fifteen minutes beforehand. With the toddler dash running just ahead of it, the morning works as a family outing as much as a race.