Galena 5k Stair Challenge

🏃‍♂️ Galena 5K Stair Challenge

The Galena 5K Stair Challenge is now hosted by The Galena Area EMS District, The Galena Police Department and The Galena Fire Department. This event honors the heroes of 9/11 and our local first responders past and present.

Non competitive run/walk/climb-1Lap. Competitive 7 Lap professionally timed with various divisions by age and gender.

👟 1-Lap Fun Run/Walk

• Start time: 9:00 a.m.
• Fee: $30 (covers event T-shirt, water, refreshments)
• Registration: Race Day in person registration closes at 7:00 am
• Timing: Mass start: not timed

🏆 5K 7-Lap Stair Challenge Race

• Start time: 9:15 a.m.
• Fee: $35: $30 for active-duty first responders (covers event T-shirt, water, refreshments)
• Registration: Race Day in person registration closes at 7:00 am
• Participants: Maximum of 200 athletes accepted
• Timing: Chip timing

Waves will be formed (first five registered, first wave: next five registered, second wave, etc.). Waves will start every minute. Participants will be notified of their wave start time via email prior to the race date.

Course closes at 12:00 noon.

🏅 Team Challenge

The top three individual fundraisers will receive special prizes!

💰 Pledge Challenge

• Encouragement: All participants are encouraged to raise at least $50 in donations to support Galena-based first responders.
• Sharing: Share your unique URL to family and friends and invite them to donate to your registration or team.
• Fundraisers: The top three individual fundraisers will receive special prizes!
• Submission: Submit pledge sheet(s) and money at Packet Pickup to be eligible for fundraiser prizes.

👕 Event T-shirt Sizes

• Youth: small, medium, large
• Adult: small, medium, large, extra-large, 1X, 2X

🎉 Age Groups

Male and Female categories: 14 and under, 15-19, 20-24, 25-29, 30-34, 35-39, 40-44, 45-49, 50-54, 55-59, 60-64, 65-69, 70+

🗓️ Race Registration

Race Registration will be online only beginning May 5, 2025. Maximum of 200 timed participants (no limit to fun run/walk participants). Registrations will CLOSE when race filled or at midnight on September 12, whichever comes first.

Registrations after August 22, 2025 will NOT be guaranteed a T-shirt.

📍 Event Staging Areas

Green Street Plaza near City Hall and Post Office/Custom House.

📦 Packet Pickup

• Friday: at the DeSoto House Hotel from 4 to 6 p.m.
• Saturday: morning Green Street Plaza and the Post Office/Custom House from 6:30 to 7:45 a.m.

- 8:30 a.m. Saturday: Opening Ceremony

- Finishers Refreshment area

- Award Ceremony at 11:45 a.m.

Starting Line at Bench Street staging area.

Volunteers will queue waves here in numerical order after escorting them from Green Street Plaza. Lap Notification/Finish Line on Bench Street. Bib numbers will trigger a visual record of each participant’s lap number. Lap 7 finishers recovery area with water.

For more information, visit the Galena 5K Stair Challenge webpage.