Troy's 10th Annual Frightful 5K drew 571 finishers Sunday, Oct. 25, as runners and walkers took on a fog-blanketed course along Big Beaver Road.
Mayor Ethan Baker celebrated the turnout on X, calling it a record year for the event and writing that "the fog added a special and spooky touch to this year's Frightful 5K!"
He thanked the "record number of runners and walkers" for participating in the city's annual Halloween-season race.
Published race statistics show 571 finishers in the 2026 5K, compared with 509 in 2025. The overall winner, Ben Hill, completed the course in 15:42, followed by Wyatt Bovensiep in 16:52 and Grant Juth in 17:57.
The event also featured the Pumpkin 1K, a shorter run open to participants of all ages.
A decade of Halloween running
The USATF-certified 5K course started and finished at Troy Community Center, 3179 Livernois Road, according to the event's official RunSignUp page.
Participants headed onto Big Beaver Road and through the Civic Center Campus before looping back to the community center.
The 5K began at 8:30 a.m., followed by the Pumpkin 1K in separate heats beginning at 9:30 a.m.
The Troy Recreation Department had announced that the 5K sold out before race day, with limited Pumpkin 1K registration remaining.
Spooky, creative and funny costumes were encouraged. Race registration included a shirt, drawstring bag with goodies and a finisher's medal, according to Troy Parks and Recreation.
The Pumpkin 1K used staggered starts five minutes apart, with each heat limited to 60 participants to help manage crowding.
The Frightful 5K is organized by the City of Troy's Parks and Recreation Department and has become an annual Halloween-season event for local runners, walkers and families.
The 10th anniversary brought another year of community participation, with the mayor celebrating the turnout and thanking residents for supporting the city.
