5Ks, 10Ks, Marathons, & Other Races
Kansas is a year-round running and race destination, with a wide variety of running events, trails, and races to get excited about, including a Boston-qualifying fall marathon and 5ks in Wichita. If you’re interested in the city’s running events, keep reading.
Upcoming Races
To get you excited about Wichita running events, here is a guide to upcoming races in 2026.
Prairie Fire Spring Half
Date: May 3, 2026
Distances: Half marathon (13.1 miles), 5k
Start Times: 7:30 am for the half, 7:50 for the 5k
Start/Finish: The start/finish line for the Prairie Fire half marathon is located in Equity Bank Park. The race usually starts on McLean Boulevard and ends inside the ballpark.
Cost: $95 for the half marathon, $45 for the Spring 5k, and $55 for the Mayor’s Friendly Untimed 5k, plus sign-up fees.
Parking/Packet Pickup: All participants must pick up their race packets on Saturday, as there will be no same-day pickup allowed. Participants may have someone else pick up their packet, as long as that person presents a copy of the runner’s ID and a note authorizing the pickup. The best parking options are downtown parking garages and street parking within walking distance of the stadium.
Register: Visit the Prairie Fire Race Series page to register and get more information.
Fidelity Bank River Run
Date: May 30, 2026
Distances: 10k, 5k, 1 mile, Wheelchair 1 mile, and Tot Trot
Start Times: 7:15 am, 7:35 am, 7:45 am, 9:15 am, and 10:30 am
Start/Finish: The races start on Douglas Avenue near the Century II Performing Arts & Convention Center and end up downtown in the heart of the Riverfest.
Cost: Earlybird prices before February 28th are $50 for the 10k, $40 for the 5ks, $30 for the 1-mile Family Fun Run, and $20 for the Tot Trot.
Parking/Packet Pickup: Participants can pick up their race packets Friday, May 29, between 9 am and 8 pm at "Connecting Lobby" of Century II or the day of the race starting at 6 am in the same place. Parking options include the RISE Car Park downtown, Century II area, downtown garages, and street parking.
Register: To register and get more information, visit the race website.
Fall Prairie Fire Marathon
Date: October 11, 2026
Distances: Marathon (26.2 miles), half marathon (13.1 miles), and two 5ks.
Start Times: The marathon and half marathon begin at 7:10 am, and the 5ks begin at 7:30 am.
Start/Finish: Same as the spring races, the fall Prairie Fire Marathon races start and end in the Equity Bank Park. This is also a qualifier for the Boston Marathon.
Cost: $100 for the full marathon, $85 for the half, $40 for the Fall 5k, and $55 for the Mayor’s Friendly Untimed 5k, plus signup fees.
Parking/Packet Pickup: All participants must pick up their race packets on Saturday, as there will be no same-day pickup allowed. Participants may have someone else pick up their packet, as long as that person presents a copy of the runner’s ID and a note authorizing the pickup. The best parking options are downtown parking garages and street parking within walking distance of the stadium.
Register: Visit the Prairie Fire Race Series page and fill out the registration form.
Exploration Place Parkrun
Date: Weekly 5ks in Wichita, KS, which take place each Saturday.
Distances: 5k.
Start Times: 8 am.
Start/Finish: The Exploration Place science center—it’s an out and back course.
Cost: Free!
Parking/Packet Pickup: There is on-site parking available at the Exploration Place, with a dedicated lot as well as street parking. There are no race packets to pick up.
Register: Visit the website to register and get more information.
Training Tips
As you look ahead to these running events, keep these training tips in mind:
-
Prepare ahead of time and focus on speed intervals to feel comfortable with the distance by race day.
-
For longer races, perfect your hydration and nutrition strategy.
-
Carbo load 1-3 days prior to your race to maximize the stores of glycogen and increase your endurance. Which means you get to gorge on pasta and pizza at Wichita’s best Italian restaurants in the days leading up to the race!
Make It a Weekend
While you’re in town for a race, extend your stay and make it a weekend to remember in our beautiful city.
Stay at one of our comfortable and conveniently located hotels and take advantage of local shopping and dining opportunities.
After the race, head to one of our wineries or breweries to celebrate. Then, make the most of your time here and visit some of our top attractions, like the Sedgwick County Zoo or the Museums on the River.
While you’re in town, check out other outdoor activities in Wichita.
