The Galena 5K Stair Challenge
Join us in beautiful, historic Galena IL for The Galena 5K Stair Challenge! 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 on the 25th anniversary of this tragic event and celebrates our local first responders past and present Bring the family! The Galena Generals, Jo Daviess County Mounted Patrol, Area First Responder demonstrations, food and treat vendors will join us at Green Street Plaza during and after the event.
Options:
- Non-competitive run/walk/climb - 1 Lap: Starts at 9:00 a.m. Fees: April Early Bird $30, May $35, June and July $40, August to event $40. (T-shirt and medal included!) Race Day in-person registration closes at 9:00 am. Mass start; not timed.
- 5K 7-Lap Stair Challenge Race and Active Duty First Responders: Starts at 9:15 a.m. Fees: April Early Bird $30 for Active First Responders and 7-Lap Runners (includes T-shirt and medal!). May $35 for Active First Responders and 7-Lap Runners. June to Event $45 for 7-Lap Runners. Race Day in-person registration closes at 9:00 am. Maximum of 200 athletes accepted. 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.
Fundraiser Challenge
All participants are encouraged to raise at least $50 in donations to support Galena-based first responders. Share your unique URL to family and friends and invite them to donate to your registration or team. The top three individual fundraisers will receive special prizes!
Event Details
- T-shirt Sizes: Youth: small, medium, large. Adult: small, medium, large, extra-large, 1X, 2X (performance fabric).
- Age Groups (Male and Female): 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+.
- Registration: Online only beginning March 20, 2026. Maximum of 200 timed participants (no limit to fun run/walk participants). Registrations will CLOSE when race filled or at midnight on September 11, whichever comes first. Registrations after August 31, 2026 will NOT be guaranteed a T-shirt.
- Staging Areas: Green Street Plaza near City Hall and Post Office/Custom House.
- Packet Pickup: Friday, September 11, 2026 from 4pm to 7pm at the Galena Area Emergency Medical Services District Station, 217 Summit Street, Galena, Illinois. Saturday morning Green Street Plaza and the Post Office/Custom House from 8:00 am to 9:00 a.m.
- Saturday Schedule: 8:15 a.m. - Opening Ceremony. Closing and Medal Ceremony following race at Green Street Square. Award Ceremony at race conclusion.
- 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.