Interplanetary 5K

Interplanetary 5K is a family event in Peoria, Illinois, open to all ages, and the 2027 edition falls on April 3. Three formats are offered: the 5K (3.1 miles) at 9:00 a.m., a 1-mile fitness walk at 9:05 a.m., and a kids' fun run at 9:35 a.m. The courses follow the Riverfront Trail and showcase the central Illinois community's scale model of the solar system, passing representations of the Sun, Mercury, Venus, Earth, and Mars. Everything starts and finishes at the Gateway Building on a flat, scenic route.

A flat trail 5K on a paved riverfront path is about as forgiving as the distance gets, which makes it a sound choice for a first race or a personal best attempt alike. There are refreshments afterward and awards for the kids' run, and registration includes a t-shirt option. Because the three starts are spaced out over half an hour, a family can split across formats and still regroup at the finish. Little specific training is needed; consistent easy running with an occasional faster mile is enough for 3.1 miles.