2026 Meatballs on the Run 5K

Sun, May 24, 2026, 9:00 AM CDT

First-Year Event· Help them grow

Location: Benld, IL; 305 N Main St, 62009
Featured distance: 5K
Type: RUN

At a glance

Run, walk, or jog through Benld before rewarding yourself with free festival spaghetti at the 72nd Annual Italian-American Days.

Fun
Quirky
Festive

Join the inaugural Meatballs on the Run 5K, a delightful addition to the 72nd Annual Benld Italian-American Days. This event welcomes all paces, from competitive runners to casual walkers, inviting everyone to enjoy a morning of movement before indulging in the festival's culinary delights. Celebrate community and culture, and earn your post-race reward of free festival spaghetti. It’s a perfect blend of cardio and carbs, marking the start of a potential new Benld tradition.

What to expect

Experience the first-ever Meatballs on the Run 5K, welcoming all paces.
Enjoy a festive atmosphere as part of the Benld Italian-American Days.
Receive an official event t-shirt and a plate of free festival spaghetti.

Standout details

Inaugural 5K event
Part of Italian-American Days
Free festival spaghetti
Official event t-shirt

Perks & features

Shirt

From the public listing — confirm on the official site.

Auto-drafted from the public listing — confirm details on the official event page before signing up.

Vibe Check

Steady Effort

Mixed surface + rolling terrain, warm-day exposure

Rolling area
Warm season

Based on terrain, weather, and distance data.

The course

Mixed
Rolling
Timed race

From the organizer

🏃‍♂️🍝 Introducing the INAUGURAL 2026 Meatballs on the Run 5K! 🍝🏃‍♀️

Proudly sponsored by the Gillespie Cross Country Boosters

For the first time ever during the 72nd Annual Benld Italian-American Days , we’re adding a little cardio before the carbs!

Date: Sunday, May 24, 2026 Start Time: 9:00 AM Location: Benld City Park Join us for the inaugural Meatballs on the Run 5K , whether you’re a competitive runner, casual jogger, or firmly in the “I’m walking and that’s final” category — everyone is welcome!

Why run? It’s simple:

👉 Get your workout in. 👉 Feel accomplished. 👉 Then reward yourself with a plate of FREE festival spaghetti later that morning. We call that elite-level carb strategy. 💪🍝

Registration Fee: $35 Includes: Official event t-shirt (proof you earned your noodles!) 👕 Be part of year one of what might just become Benld’s newest tradition. Come for the run, stay for the sauce, and celebrate 72 years of community and culture!

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