Salute to Service 5K & 1 Miler

Salute to Service 5K & 1 Miler takes place in Suffolk, Virginia, on November 7, 2026. The 5K run and a 5K race walk both go off at 8:00 a.m., and the Kid's Mile follows at 9:15 a.m. Everything happens on a flat, fast course in downtown Suffolk. The event is put on by the Tidewater Striders and the city's parks and recreation department in tribute to those who have served in the military. Finishers get a shirt and a medal, plus refreshments and an after-party with food and music.

Flat downtown pavement and an 8:00 a.m. gun make this a reasonable place to chase a 5K personal best. Awards cover the overall winners and age groups, and a military team competition runs alongside the individual results. Six weeks of steady running with one weekly interval session, plus a proper warm-up before a cool November start, is enough preparation.