From big races to Saturday morning group runs—find 10k events and connect with the local endurance sports community.
This program is designed to help walkers, walk-runners, and runners who want to traverse the 5K, 5-Mile, or 10K distance, whether they have previously done their selected distance or not. There is no obligation to register for any race, and if you choose to register for one, that is a payment to the race.
The program targets three groups' goals:
walkers who want to gradually increase the amount of mileage they do so that they can complete a 5K, 5-Mile, or 10K
walk-runners who want to increase the speed of their walk-run to shorten their 5K, 5-Mile, or 10K times
those who want to train to run a 5K, 5-Mile, or 10K without walking
All "Ready for" programs take participants from where they are to their chosen distances and cover at least six weeks, with many coached in-person workouts (including 5K, 5-Mile, and10K practice for the participants' chosen training distances), a practice of at least 70% of their specific distance, a comprehensive training plan (tweaked midway, if needed, as the participants progress), and a private training group on Facebook.
When:
Tuesdays and Thursdays either at 8 a.m. for morning only sessions or 6 p.m. for traditional weeknight/weekend morning sessions.
Saturdays, 8 a.m. for both sessions
Where:
Most workouts are at Greece Canal Park, Millennium Lodge, at 241 Elmgrove Rd., Rochester, NY 14626 until too dark for the park (it closes at dusk). When GCP is closed, sessions typically move to nearby Henpeck Park, Cherry Creek Ln, and Canal Ponds Park.
What:
Tuesdays are hill workouts. Thursdays are speed workouts. Saturdays are long distance workouts.
Why choose Ready for 5K/5-Mile/10K for your training?
No minimum pace requirement.
No previous experience required for 5K; experience may be required for 5-Mile and 10K, if the session is a shorter one.
Small program size means Vickey gets to know you well enough to lightly tailor a program to your goals and needs.
Vickey is an experienced walker and runner who has raced a wide range of paces and distances, so she can relate to a variety of issues and concerns.
You choose which 5K/5-Mile/10K to participate in, if you want to do an official 5K/5-Mile/10K at all.
It's cost effective and provides personalization and individual attention in a small group setting where the coach gets to know each participant.
All participants are welcome from people just starting to walk for fitness to those who have been racing for years.
Official Lilac 5k & 10k Training Program presented by Fleet Feet
Begins Wednesday March 25, 2026
Join us and have your best Lilac Yet!
Join our social training groups with our experienced coach who will guide you through every step along the way with the support and camaraderie of Fleet Feet!
Choose from the following programs:
Lilac 5k - This program is perfect for those who already can run 1-3 miles without stopping but want to get stronger for race day,
Lilac 10k - This program is perfect for those who already run 4-8 miles without stopping but want to improve their Lilac 10k performance
Program start / End date: Wednesday March 25, 2026, to race day on Sunday May 17, 2026
Goal Event: Fairlife! Lilac 5k & 10k presented by Fleet Feet
The 2026 Fairlife Lilac Run 5K & 10K presented by Fleet Feet will take place on the FINAL day of the Lilac Festival at Highland Park. Both in-person and virtual race experiences will be offered! Join us for the 47th annual race on Sunday, May 17th for the in person Fairlife Lilac Run 5K, 10K presented by Fleet Feet and Tim Hortons Timbits Trot! Choose to run or walk in one, two (Double Dash) or all three events (Double Dash + Tim Hortons Timbits Trot)! If you register for the Double Dash and participate in both the 5K & 10K you will get receive a Lilac item and a custom medal slider. Register by April 30th to be guaranteed a t-shirt!
Time:
5K begins at 8:00AM (all 5K participants need to be done by 9:20AM)
10K begins at 9:30AM (all 10K participants need to be done by 11:20AM)
Tim Hortons Timbits Trot begins at 11:30AM
Location:
Packet Pick Up Details:
Location: Fleet Feet @ The Armory - 155 Culver Road Rochester 14620
Times: Thursday May, 14 from 10am-7pm, Friday, May 15 from 10am - 7pm and Saturday, May 16 from 10am - 4pm.
Awards:
Male & Female Overall Winners in the 5K & 10K will win a pair of Karhu shoes to be redeemed at Fleet Feet
Age Group Awards will be given in the following age increments: 14 and under, 15-19, 20-24, 25-29, 30-34, 35-39, 40-44, 45-49, 50-54, 55-59, 60-64, 65-69,70-74, 75-79 and 80+
1st place will win a pair of Goodr sunglasses
2nd and 3rd place a store voucher to Fleet Feet
Post party will include music, post race food including chocolate milk provided by Fairlife! Treat your body after the fun with FREE Normatec recovery sessions available provided by Fleet Feet.
Keep the celebration going Monday after the race, May 18th, with Medal Monday at Fleet Feet the Armory from 11am - 6pm . Stop in to get your medal engraved with your finish line time for FREE! What a fun keepsake!
What is the Tim Hortons Timbits Trot? Who doesn't love donuts!?!? Participate in the trot which is a 1 mile fun run down Highland Ave. Run a half mile, get Tim Hortons timbits and run back. The perfect fun run to do with the family!
Training Program: Train for success with Fleet Feet! Their experienced coach will guide you through every step along the way with the support and camaraderie of Fleet Feet! Choose from:
Lilac 5k - This program is perfect for those who already can run 1-3 miles without stopping but want to get stronger for race day,
Lilac 10k - This program is perfect for those who already run 4-8 miles without stopping but want to improve their Lilac 10k performance
Learn more and how to register here! Program begins March 25th!
Camp Sunshine is the non-profit of choice this year. Consider a donation with your registration to support their fully accessible residential summer camp that has met the needs of children and young adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities and city youth for over 100 years.
Harborfest 5K & 10K | Saturday, June 20, 2026
Ontario Beach Park | Charlotte, NY
5K 7:45am
10K 9:00am
The Harborfest Festival is summertime, lakeside festival at Ontario Beach Park, celebrating over 200 years of the historic lighthouse and Monroe County. Among the many activities available that weekend join us for the Harborfest 5K and 10K. The courses take in the northern portion of the popular Genesee River Trail, the Marina and finishes beachside. The 10k traverses the beautiful Genesee River boardwalk at Turning Point Park
*Please Note: If you are signed up for the combo, you must be finished with the 5K before the 10K begins at 9AM
By registering for this event, you are acknowledging that the date, time, location, and distance of the race may be changed, switched to virtual, or canceled at any time as deemed necessary by the Race Directors due to circumstances beyond their control. In the event that any of these scenarios happens or any other, there will be no refunds, transfers, or deferrals allowed unless otherwise stated.
Obatron Productions' exercise arm, Obatron Fitness, is proud to offer the fourth year of our race series, West of the River Series! Enter the whole series or choose individual races. Walker and mobility-impaired friendly. Diet sensitive. Training available.
Keep scrolling for an overview of options and more information! If you're on a phone, that might take a bit. When you're ready to register, click the grouping for what you want: Individual Races or the Series (series registration ends when June Jaunt registration ends). Otherwise, click the "Race Info" tab to see all options at once.
2026 Updates and Information
We have youth pricing for those aged 19 and under.
Barbecue Bash Quarters Marathon Distance has replaced June Jaunt as a Rochester Runner of the Year race.
Barbecue Bash Quarters is certified! This means those who are looking for an autumn race to attempt a Boston Marathon qualifying time can use their 2026 time for their 2028 BM application.
Anyone who is an Obatron Racing Team prior to registration and on race day gets a discount off each individual race, the series, or the races (individually or as a series) with training.
Each race will have very modest awards, which must be claimed BEFORE leaving. None will be held. They will be ready no earlier than 45 minutes after the start of each race and will be later for longer races. Watch event messages for details closer to each race. See "Awards" below for more information.
Training available at https://runsignup.com/Race/NY/Rochester/WestOfTheRiverTraining. (Registration will open by March 10.)
Special Component of Barbecue Bash Quarters
You can choose to run 1, 2, 3, or all 4 quarters of a marathon (6.55 to 26.2 miles) for Barbecue Bash Quarters (BBQ), formerly Barbecue Bash Half. What's more is that you can adjust down during the race if you need to, so if you started out with the idea of getting a marathon done and it's just not in the cards that day, you will not DNF your race; instead, you'll be bumped down to the last quarter you did finish. On the flipside, you can't decide to upgrade while on the course; that has to be done by the end of packet pick-up on race day so you can pay the appropriate difference in cost and so that Hourglass Works can re-map your timing chip attached to your bib. Accompanying friends for an entire lap after you've finished your race is discouraged for various reasons, including difficulty in accurately conveying to authorities and volunteers how many racers are left. There are no early starts. If you need a race with even more generous cutoffs than ours, we have some suggestions.
When to Race and Related Details
June Jaunt, 5K
Race Date/Time/Location: Sunday, June 21 (Father's Day), 8:45 a.m. at Studio 22, 67 Old Hojack Lane, Hilton, New York 14468.
Shirt Cutoff: Register on or before June 2
Cutoff Time: 1 hour, 15 minutes (8:45 am. to 10 a.m.) with a pace of 24:12 per mile or faster
Course: https://www.mapmyrun.com/routes/view/5556356155/
Packet Pick-up
Day 1: June 20, 2:30-4:30 p.m. @ Greece Canal Park, Millennium Lodge Parking Lot (RD's Car or Picnic Table, depending on weather) (Strongly recommended, plus you get bonus raffle tickets)
Day 2: June 21, 8:00-8:30 a.m. @ Studio 22
Awards/Prizes: 9:30 a.m. or later
The Potato Run, 10K
Race Date/Time/Location: Sunday, September 6, 8:30 a.m. at Greece Canal Park (GCP), Towpath Shelter (near the Canal Path) 241 Elmgrove Rd., Rochester, NY 14626
Shirt Cutoff: Register on or before August 18
Cutoff Time: 2 hours, 15 minutes (8:30 a.m. to 10:45 a.m.) with a pace of 21:46 per mile or faster
Course: https://www.mapmyrun.com/routes/view/6225550420
Packet Pick-up
Day 1: GCP, Millennium Lodge Parking Lot (exact location TBD), September 5, 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. (Strongly recommended, plus you get bonus raffle tickets)
Day 2: RACE DAY! September 6, 7:45 a.m. to 8:15 a.m., GCP, Towpath Shelter
Awards/Prizes: 9:15 or later
Barbecue Bash Quarters, 1/4, 2/4 (Half Marathon), 3/4, or 4/4 (Full) Marathon
Race Date/Time/Location: Sunday, November 1 (Daylight Savings Time Ends), All start at 7:30 a.m. at Spencerport Depot and Canal Museum (SD&CM), 16 East Ave, Spencerport, NY 14559
Shirt Cutoff: Register on or before October 10
Cutoff Time: 7:30 hours (7:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.) for all options. 1 Quarter Pace: 1:08:42; 2 Quarters Pace: 34:19; 3 Quarters Pace: 22:54; 4 Quarters Pace: 17:11
Course: https://www.mapmyrun.com/routes/view/5811055855 (Route slightly modified from past years to make certification easier and the path smoother.)
Packet Pick-up
Day 1: October 31, 2:00 p.m. to 4:30 p.m., SD&CM, Top Floor (Strongly recommended, plus you get bonus raffle tickets)
Day 2: November 1, 6:45 a.m. to 7:20 a.m., SD&CM, Top Floor (This is our busiest race; do not wait until race day if you can help it.)
Awards/Prizes: 8:30 a.m. or later (No formal ceremony; rolling announcements due to complex nature of this race - four distances simultaneously being completed.)
Race Gift Giveaways: Again, this year we are giving away shirts with entries. The sizing cutoffs are listed above. If you miss the shirt cutoff, if time and supplies allow, you may be given a substitute race gift. Due to the high cost of shirt production, we do not order extras at this time. If you check in on-site after the race is over, we may have shirts from people who don't show up.
Series Information
Registration for or upgrading to the whole series should be done before June Jaunt occurs. If you do all three races, but do not register for the series, we cannot guarantee you will get the gift due to administrative logistics of tracking participants.
When you register for the series, there's only one spot for choosing a giveaway cut/size, so that will be applicable only to the first race, June Jaunt. You will see questions for your cut/size preference for the other two races in a separate question section along with other registration questions to help us shape the race. When it's closer to the race time, the RD will transfer you to each individual race. If you miss the giveaway cutoff, you are not guaranteed a shirt for June Jaunt. If time and supplies allow, those who miss the shirt may be given a substitute race gift.
What You Get
pacers and/or lead bikes for select races and paces as available, including a final finisher escort (on foot or bike) for whoever is the last person on the course
medal on race day
technical race shirts, if registered in time, and an alternate gift if time and supplies allow, if not
food-themed kits appropriate to each race
amenity kits appropriate to the season of each race
series participants get a preparation and recovery kit with their June Jaunt packet pick-up (late conversions will get theirs while supplies last)
opportunities to earn more swag and chances to win random prizes on race day
personalized bib for Barbecue Bash Quarters, if registered by giveaway (shirt) cutoff
chance to make a donation to our Charity Partners for any of three food-related charities on the west side of Monroe County
20% discount on any order at Foot Kinetics (see sponsors)
RoadID discount (see sponsors)
connectivity to other racers via the Obatron Fitness Conversation Space Facebook group
Sundae & Frozen Fruit Bar for June Jaunt, Salt Potato Bar for The Potato Run, and Barbecue Bar for Barbecue Bash Quarters
generous cutoff times (June Jaunt: 1 hr., 15 min., The Potato Run: 2 hr., 15 min., Barbecue Bash Quarters: 7 hrs., 30 minutes)
Other
You might have surmised there is an emphasis on food! I grew up hungry until I could earn money myself to buy food, and while my company, Obatron Fitness, isn't a non-profit, each race will include three charitable components: 1) fundraising drive via registration for each host town's food program for those in need; 2) a food drive for the same organization on race day; and 3) a portion of proceeds after expenses are covered will be donated to the organization.
Discount Offers & Referrals
Entering the series rather than individual races gets you pricing equal to or less than the total of the individual race fees (depending upon when you register), a lower RunSignUp fee than the sum of the fees when registering separately, and a series gift. The training offered through the series registration page is at a much-reduced price from when we train folks for races other than our own. If you are a member of GRTC or Obatron Race Team, you get a discount at checkout for that. Additionally, you may earn back some of your registration by having other racers use your personal referral link, generated after you register. See the "Referrals" section for more information.
Race Awards & Raffle Prizes
We provide modest awards for the first-place finishers in each gender designation for overall placements and in age groups (AG). Our age group awards are meant to be fun tokens of acknowledgement and in the spirit of the races. We've had keychains, seasonings, and phone holders, among other prizes, in the past. Winners of Race Prizes or Raffles must be present or have someone as their proxy to claim their awards at the race day presentation or they are forfeited, likely being raffled off to volunteers at the end. There will be a modest prize for the series winner sent December or later, after the whole series concludes, if there are at least ten series participants.
Additional Details
We will post additional details as they occur. Any changes will be updated here, on the Obatron Fitness Facebook page, in our Facebook group, and communicated through RunSignUp messaging. Please note, as the pandemic has proven, life is unpredictable! It is possible that changes in time and location could occur for reasons beyond our control. Keep an eye on your email for race communications to ensure you know all you need to know about the race(s).
Training
Training is available. See https://runsignup.com/Race/NY/Rochester/WestOfTheRiverTraining details.
Rochester Road Runners launched in the summer of 2014 as a free, pressure-free alternative to costly running store groups and rigid local clubs. Founded by Bill, a runner who believed Rochester deserved better, the crew now brings together around 30 members, from marathon regulars to total beginners. Built on the belief that running should be accessible to everyone, driven by camaraderie, and fun first, Rochester Road Runners welcomes all paces and experience levels. Three runs a week, all free, all rooted in Rochester: Wednesday evenings at Tryon City Tavern, Saturday mornings with a long run option, and Thursday training workouts. No fees, no expectations, no pressure, just genuine community.