Enjoyable Runs – Mpls.St.Paul Magazine

Northern Lights 5K Color Glow Run—Sept. 25

As the solar units, this 5K course lights up the night time with glowing gear, energetic music, and colourful powder stations for runners and walkers to cross by. Prizes are awarded for prime race finishers, most inventive costumes, and greatest glow, so that you higher escape your neon apparel and glow-in-the-dark equipment for this one. New this yr is Glow-Fest, a family-friendly start- and finish-line competition with meals vans, reside music, and youngsters’ actions. Ely, northernlights5kglowrun.itsyourrace.com

Dead Run—Oct. 3

Typically, you’d wish to run away from zombies, however in Lake City’s first annual Dead Run, you’re considered one of them! Dress in your greatest undead garb—assume zombie, mummy, ghoul, or every other deceased creature—then run (or stumble) your method by this 5K the place it’s OK to be useless in your ft. Lake City, visitlakecity.org

Hot Cider Hustle—Oct. 17–18

Whether you select to run the 5K, 10K, or half marathon, the journey is a lot sweeter figuring out sizzling apple cider and caramel apples await you on the end line. Racers have two places to select from, each with scenic views: Bloomington’s observe loops round Normandale Lake, whereas Rochester’s follows the Bear Creek Trail. Bloomington (Oct. 17); Rochester (Oct. 18), mnruns.com     

Gray Ghost Run—Oct. 24

Forget grey geese! In this 40-plus-year Anoka Halloween custom, members should outrun a grey ghost—actually. Since runners precede the Grande Day Parade that’s a part of the city’s annual Halloween celebration, laggards that get “caught” by a grey ghost cardboard cutout are requested to hurry up or take away themselves from the roadway. Anoka, minnesotarunningseries.com 

Haunted Halfie—Oct. 31

New this yr, the Haunted Halfie options Halloween-themed cheer zones, costume contests, music, and extra alongside half marathon, 5K, group relay, and “little monsters” 1K programs. The enjoyable doesn’t come to a (useless) cease after you cross the end line—proceed the festivities with pumpkin carving and complimentary sizzling cocoa and apple cider. Rochester, hauntedhalfie.com

This article initially appeared within the September 2026 situation of Mpls.St.Paul Magazine.

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