Beat the Bird 5K & 10K

Beat the Bird 5K & 10K is held in Columbus, Georgia, on November 21, 2026, at Hardaway High School as part of the Holiday Classic Series. Both the 10K (6.2 miles) and the 5K (3.1 miles) start together at 8:00 AM on courses that combine road and rail-trail sections. Awards go to the top three men and women, the fastest masters runners, and age-group medalists, every finisher receives a medal, and registering early guarantees you an event shirt. The web address points to the Columbus Road Runners as the club behind the series.

The shared start gives you a real choice on the day: the 5K is the option for a hard, short effort or a first race, while the 10K rewards runners who have built a few weeks of steady mileage and want a longer test before the holidays. For the 10K, aim for a six-to-eight-week block with one weekly session of tempo running around 15 to 20 minutes and a long run of 6 to 8 miles. The mixed surface means you should pick shoes that handle both pavement and firmer paths, and keep your early pace honest since the second half is where the 10K is decided.