The Fleet Feet New Year's Day Dash

The Fleet Feet New Year's Day Dash is held in Middleton, Wisconsin, on January 1, 2027, and gives you two ways to start the year on foot. The 5 Mile Run goes off at 10:00 a.m., and the 2 Mile Run/Walk follows at 10:05 a.m., so runners and walkers share the same morning. Everyone gathers afterward for awards, free drinks and giveaways.

This is a road event built around resolutions more than results, and both distances are short enough to race without a long buildup. If you want the 5-miler to be a real effort, four to six weeks of steady mileage with one weekly tempo run will get you there. The 2-mile option doubles as a walk with family or an easy way back into training after the holidays, and the five-minute gap between starts keeps the whole morning quick.