Flannel 5 K Run

Flannel 5 K Run is held at Beutter Park in Mishawaka, Indiana on December 12, 2026, and pairs a 5K starting at 9:05 a.m. with a one-mile run at 8:45 a.m. Both take runners along the scenic Riverwalk. The event is chip timed, every finisher receives a medal, and awards go to the top male and female runners in each race. Race shirts are available to purchase separately. There's also a charity partnership behind the day, collecting new or gently used coats, hats and gloves for the South Bend Center for the Homeless.

The staggered start times make it realistic to do both: run the mile at 8:45 as a genuine effort, jog easily, then race the 5K twenty minutes later. That double is a good way to sharpen speed if you're heading into a spring season. If you'd rather pick one, the mile is the fastest, most intense option and the 5K is the more familiar test. Either way, four weeks of three or four runs a week with one faster session is enough to prepare.