Lake Bluff PTO Pumpkin Chase

 We are on CARA's 2026 Runner's Choice Race Circuit Again!

Lake Bluff PTO Pumpkin Chase 5K and 1 Mile Fun Run is on Saturday October 24, 2026. The 5K starts @ 8AM and the Fun Run starts @ 9:15AM. Our 5K course is a certified course (USATF- IL-14092-JW) that travels along the beautiful tree lined streets of east Lake Bluff down to the bluff overlooking the shores of Lake Michigan. Don't forget to bring the kids as the 1 Mile Fun Run begins shortly after the 5K and is a family favorite with K-8th grade bragging rights on the line. Stick around for post race refreshments, camaraderie, and awards after each race!

**ONLY REGISTRATIONS MADE BY MONDAY, OCTOBER 5, 2026 ARE GUARANTEED A T-SHIRT**

2024 Race Results

2023 Race Results

2022 Race Results

2021 Race Results

 2020 - No results due to Covid 19 

 2019 Race Results

2018 Race Results
 
2017 Race Results

2016 Race Results
 
2015 Race Results

2014 Race Results

2013 Race Results

 2012 Race Results

Location
 31 E. Sheridan Place Lake Bluff, IL 60044
 

Features

T-shirt (**ONLY REGISTRATIONS MADE BY TUESDAY, OCTOBER 5, 2026 ARE GUARANTEED A T-SHIRT**)
USATF Certified 5K Course (IL-25005NM)
CARA Runner’s Choice Race Circuit Race
Bib Chip Timing
Food & Drinks 

Awards for multiple age groups: top male/female in 14 & under, 15-19, 20-24, 25-29, 30-34, 35-39, 40-44, 45-49, 50-54, 55-59, 60-64, 65-69, 70-74, 75-79, 80-84, 85 and up. NOTE: Top 3 Male/Female/Non- Binary Overall Winners are based off of gun time while all others are based on chip time
   

Parking and Transportation
The start/finish line is ¼ mile from the Metra Train station in Lake Bluff for runners traveling to the race via train (departs Clybourn at 6:43 am arriving in LB at 7:42 am). The train station has ample parking available for participants who want to drive to the race. We highly encourage carpooling as we expect a large number of participants at this year’s race. Additional parking can be found on the streets near the start line: Witchwood Ave and Vincent Court. Please do not park on E. Sheridan Place, E. Prospect Ave or Evanston as these roads are on the race course.

Packet Pickup
Friday October 23, 2026 4:00 PM – 7:00 PM at The Lake Bluff Middle School main entrance vestibule (31 E. Sheridan Place Lake Bluff, IL) & 
Saturday, October 24, 2026 6:45 AM until race time at The Lake Bluff Middle School main entrance vestibule (31 E. Sheridan Place Lake Bluff, IL)

***Friends and/or family members may collect your packet for you. Just send them with a copy of your confirmation email.

Course Information
The Pumpkin Chase course is one of the most beautiful 5K's in the Chicagoland area.  Our course begins and ends next to the Lake Bluff Middle School in East Lake Bluff.  Traveling by historic homes, densely wooded ravines and the sparkling shores of Lake Michigan.  Our course will not disappoint!

Please note that a 15 minute mile pace or faster is encouraged for the Lake Bluff PTO Pumpkin Chase. A 15 min. mile pace is roughly four miles per hour, equivalent to a very brisk walk. If you fall below this pace, the race organizers can no longer guarantee course support. Aid Stations, medical support, and road closures will begin to become unavailable to participants. The local police or race organizers will ask you to move up onto the sidewalk.  We will try to accommodate all participants, but we need to re-open the roads by 10:30am.

Visit the Course Maps Page for maps of each race.

Bathrooms - There will be 3 "Porta Potties" in the Lake Bluff Middle school back/east parking lot.   Lake Bluff Middle generously allows racers to use bathrooms inside the Middle School.  There will only be access to bathrooms in the school THROUGH THE BACK DOOR LABLED 4.  Additional bathrooms are available at Artesian Park

Please DO NO LOITER in the school.  You will not be able to walk through the school or use the school as a warming hut.  Please dress appropriately to be outside.

Start Line Staging
We are expecting record numbers for each race so please let faster runners get to the front of the start line. We do allow participants with strollers/baby joggers but ask that those runners go to the back and keep clear of the other runners while on the course. We will begin start line staging 20 minutes prior to each race.

Safety

Due to the fact a portion of this race is run on streets shared with traffic (Moffett Road will not be closed entirely), all runners need to exercise caution & stay to the right as much as possible. Please note that the 5K course will be closed after 9 AM and participants still on the course at 9 AM need to finish using available sidewalks. In the case of inclement weather that poses a serious risk to participants, the Lake Bluff Pumpkin Chase reserves the right to cancel the event. NO DOGS allowed on course. Service Animals are allowed, of course. No bikes, except for those participants needing to use a hand cycle.

Timing
The Lake Bluff PTO Pumpkin Chase will be using Bib disposable chip system. Each participant will receive a B-Tag attached to their race bib when they pick up their race materials at packet pickup.

In order to receive an accurate time, please confirm your bib is…

Clearly visible on the front of your torso
Unaltered and unmodified (Do not fold or wrinkle)
Pinned in all four corners
Not covered (jackets, runner belts, water bottles, etc.)

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED:

If you would prefer to volunteer for the race, please use this sign up genius link. https://www.signupgenius.com/go/60B0C48A4AE23A7FE3-55770632-lbpto

We couldn't run the race without our awesome volunteers 

The start/finish line is ¼ mile from the Metra Train station in Lake Bluff for runners traveling to the race via train. There  is a train that leaves the Clybourn station in the city @ 6:43 am arriving in Lake Bluff at 7:42 am on Saturday morning. The train station has ample parking available for participants who want to drive to the race. We highly encourage carpooling as we expect a large number of participants at this year’s race.

Additional parking can be found in the west parking lot of Lake Bluff Middle School as well as the streets near the start line: Witchwood Ave and Vincent Court.

There will be no parking in the East/Back lot of the Middle School.  

Please do not park on E. Sheridan Place, E. Prospect Ave or Evanston as these roads are on the race course.