ITASCA OKTOBERFAST 5K
SEPTEMBER, 2023 at 9AM CT, DATE TBC
Grove Street, Itasca, IL
SEE YOU AGAIN IN 2023!
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Your #1 Running Race in Illinois
Itasca Oktoberfast 5K
Race Registration
The registration for the Itasca Runners Club Oktoberfast 5K remains open until the night before the race, or until the race is fully sold out (whichever occurs first). You can register for the race on our REGISTER page.
Please note that there is no race-day registration available and the race is limited to 750 participants so don't delay with registering!
Packet Pickup
For 2022, the Itasca Runners Club Oktoberfast 5K is supported by Xtra Mile Running. Early race-packet pick-up is available from their store in Schaumburg for those who are registered before the end of day on September 6th.
For registrations made from September 7th onwards, packet pick-up is restricted to race day only.
Xtra Mile Running
31 W Schaumburg Rd, Schaumburg, IL 60194
(847) 252-9155
Packet Pick Up: (If Registered Before 10PM September 6)
- Thursday, September 8, 12PM-7PM
- Friday, September 9, 12PM-6PM
Race participants qualify for a 10% discount for purchase made during Packet Pick Up at Xtra Mile Running!
Race day packet pick-up is available from 7:00 to 8:30 AM.
This is a chip-timed race so when you receive your race-bib, ensure it has a chip attached - no chip, no time, no exceptions.
Race Day
For those still needing their race packet, race-day packet pick-up is available from 7:00 to 8:30 AM.
After then it's straightforward. Be at the start line on West Grove Street just before 9:00 AM for the pre-race ceremony. Grove Street is just west of the former Starbucks on Irving Park Road. Runners, head toward the front. Line up by pace. Walkers, follow the runners please.
The gun then sounds, and we're off for three point one miles of fast-paced action.
Post Race Awards
Once you have crossed the finish line, checked your race-time, and caught your breath, head over to Usher Park which is just on the right for the post-race party.
Here, the post-race party includes a raffle, awards ceremony, beer and brats! (Beer will be distributed to runners 21 years of age and older only. Please bring ID!)
The Itasca Runners Club Oktoberfast 5K awards the top three men and women finishers regardless of age.
In addition to the top finishers' medals, the top three in the following age categories also receive race medals for the top male and female finishers. Fastest top three male and top three female overall are determined by gun time, with all other categories based on chip time.
- 9 and under;
- 10-14; 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; 85-89;
- 90 and over
Fun Race Facts
2019 - Five Time Winner and New Female Record!
Brett Lustgarten makes it FIVE wins! Adding to his earlier wins in 2013, 2014, 2015, and 2017, Brett wins again in 15:25 (that's 4:58 pace). Kelsey Seller sets a new female course record, finishing in 16:59 (that's 5:28 pace) beating the previous record by 23 seconds!
2018 - Male and Female Course Records Smashed!
The 2018 race was run by over 600 runners in almost ideal conditions - cloudy, mid 60's, breezy, but maybe still a little too humid - and this led to extremely fast times with two male runners breaking the course record, and three female runners breaking the female course record. New course records were established - 15:07 (Male; Alejandro Garcia) and 17:22 (Female; Kristin Johnson).
2018 - Race Recognized by CARA
The Itasca Oktoberfast 5K is awarded a place on the CARA (Chicago Area Runners Association) Runners' Choice Circuit for 2018. This circuit includes many of Chicagoland’s most well organized and well-appreciated races and CARA members can enjoy a discount on race registration fees.
2017 - Scorching Temperatures
The 2017 race was run with temperatures in the mid-90's - the hottest recorded race of any of the nine Oktoberfast races since the inaugural event in 2009.
2017 - Four Time Race Winner
Brett Lustgarten wins in 15:59 making him the race's only back-to-back and four time winner. Brett's other victories came in 2015 (16:04), 2014 (15:59), and 2013 (16:00).
2016 - New Male Course Record!
Brendan McDonnell wins the male race in a blistering 15:35 setting a new course record, and breaking the previous best by fourteen seconds!
2011 - New Female Course Record!
Jean Marinangeli knocks forty seconds off the female course record by finishing in 18:35, a female course record that has now stood for six years.
2009 - The Inaugural Race
October 3, 2009 saw the first running of the Itasca Oktoberfast 5K. Stephen Ellenbecker - a regular with the Itasca Running Club - went into the record books as the first male winner finishing in 16:33, and Sanya Syrstad the winning female in 19:18.