2026 KU Vets Day 5K

Join us on Saturday, November 15, for the annual KU Vets Day 5K, a community event honoring the service and sacrifice of veterans while celebrating the important role military-affiliated students, alumni, faculty, staff, and community members play at the University of Kansas and beyond.

This year's race holds special significance as we commemorate the 40th anniversary of the University of Kansas Vietnam War Memorial, dedicated in 1986 as the first on-campus Vietnam memorial in the United States. The memorial stands as a lasting tribute to Jayhawks who served and sacrificed during the Vietnam War and reflects KU's longstanding commitment to honoring veterans and preserving their legacy for future generations.

The race will begin and end at the Jayhawk Welcome Center, bringing together runners, walkers, veterans, military families, students, alumni, and community supporters for a morning of remembrance and camaraderie. 

Proceeds from the event support veteran-focused programs and initiatives that strengthen the military-affiliated community at KU. 

The KU Vets Day 5K is proudly presented by the KU Veterans Alumni Network and the KU Alumni Association and supports veteran programs provided by KU Veterans Alumni Network and KU Student Veterans of America. 

A finisher's medal will be given to participants, regardless of your finish time. 

Note: If we get close to running out of medals, we will update this page. 

Participants receive a t-shirt while supplies last. Oct. 20 is the last day to guarantee shirt sizes.

If you do not see your shirt size available, it means we have run out of that size.

Participants can pick up their packets, which include the race bib with timing chip and t-shirt, at the following times/locations:

Friday, Nov. 7
Noon-5 p.m.
345 Summerfield Hall (1300 Sunnyside Avenue), Lawrence

Saturday, Nov. 8
Noon-5 p.m.
Ad Astra Running Company, 835 Massachusetts Street, Lawrence

Sunday, Nov. 9
7:30-8:30 a.m.
(race site) Jayhawk Welcome Center (1266 Oread Ave., Lawerence, KS 66044)

You may pick up packets for friends/family, but please be sure to coordinate with them so everyone knows who's picking up what!

Free parking options:

Spencer Museum of Art lot 91, 1301 Miss. St. 
Memorial Stadium lots 92, 94, 1101 Miss. St.
Available street parking along Miss. St. 

Paid Parking will be available in the Mississippi/Union Parking Garage just north of the Kansas Union.  

OREAD AVENUE WILL BE CLOSED FOR THE DURATION OF THE EVENT*

Please enter the parking garage via Mississippi Street, as that will be the only entrance and exit point. 

DOWNLOAD THE PARKING APP HERE

Use a mobile app to conveniently pay for parking in yellow lots, parking garages, and at long-term meters in select parking lots. Look for a Parking.com sign with a zone number. When paying with a mobile app, enter the zone number posted on the sign and your license plate information.

Mobile pay allows you to add time remotely by phone instead of having to return to the lot to manually pay for more time. You can also choose to receive text message alerts when your time is about to expire

The hourly cost is $2.25 for the first hour and $2.00 for each additional hour. These rates do not include the per-transaction fee charged by app provider. The transaction fee is displayed during the check out process before payment is finalized.

Payment made via parking app is non-refundable.

First and second place finishers, by gender, will have the option to pick up awards immediately following the 5K. Age groups are broken down by:

• Overall
• Overall master's
• Age groups in 5-year increments except ages 1-10 and 80+