Albany Move'n'Groove
About this race
Run, walk, or stroll a 5K in a flat loop course circling Albany CA's Memorial Park and Albany High School while listening to live music from multiple bands in the fifth annual Move'n'Groove on Sunday May 31, 2026!
The action kicks off with the kids-only 0.5 mile race for kids 10 years old and under in a mass start at 9:45am. The 5K starts in waves after the kids race, with the first wave (fastest runners) starting at 10:15am.
This musical festival and fitness event will feature bands representing an eclectic array of diverse musical genres positioned around the course during the races playing till Noon. On-site food vendors may be present — stay tuned for news!
Registration is only required for those competing in the 5K or kids race. There is no fee required to attend the event to watch the bands, enjoy the live music, or rec skate on the streets after the race! This fun community event is funded in part through the City of Albany's unique Sugar-Sweetened Beverage Tax. Fiscal sponsorship is provided by the Albany Community Foundation.
Key Dates & Prices
- Kids race: $5 thru Apr 30, then $10
- 5K Early Bird 🐤: Feb 1–28 = $10
- 5K Regular Bird: Mar 1 – Apr 30 = $15
- 5K Late Bird 🐦: May 1 – May 28 = $20
Thursday 28 May 2026 is the last day for online registration. A limited number of slots may be available for sign ups at our packet pickup.
Packet pickup will be on the Saturday before the event at Road Runner Sports in Berkeley, Noon-3pm.
T-Shirts will be available for purchase separately through April 30 for an additional $15. Indicate your T-shirt preference during online registration. A limited number of shirts may be available for purchase at the event and/or packet pickup.
Summary of features for 2026:
- Event takes place at the end of May instead of late April (less chance of 🌧️).
- Three (or four) live bands playing around the race course till Noon.
- Event ends at Noon — no afternoon band.
- T-shirt available for purchase separately through April 30.
- Races will start on Portland Ave at Pomona, instead of on Thousand Oaks Blvd as in past years.
- Food vendors (pending)
- Pre-event training sessions by IBX Fitness (details pending)
Event Schedule
Kids 10 and under go first at 9:45AM and complete one loop around the block (0.5 mi) instead of 6 loops for the 5K. All kids will line up on the street at the starting line for a mass start without waves. Faster/older kids should line up near the front of the pack.
After the kids race, the 5K runners/walkers/strollers/para athletes will line up starting at 10:00AM into corrals corresponding to their starting wave based on expected pace as entered in the registration form, and also indicated on their bib. The first (fastest) wave starts at 10:15AM with subsequent waves leaving every 2 minutes thereafter. The 5K consists of 6 complete loops of the course — participants are responsible for keeping track of their own lap count!
There will not be a separate roller/inline skating division for the 5K, but attendees are welcome to skate or scooter recreationally on the streets & sidewalks to enjoy the bands after most of the 5K participants have finished (starting around 10:45am) and until the bands stop playing (Noon). The streets & sidewalks are smooth, so you can 🛼 or scooter to the music after the 5K! Be mindful of pedestrians, and no electric scooters – human powered only!
About the course
The 5K course is fast and nearly flat and will be closed to traffic and free of parked cars during the event. Here's a course map and a Strava segment for the course which includes an elevation profile. Participants are responsible for keeping track of their own lap count (6 total). Course distance is not USATF certified, but the distance is quite close to a true 5K based on GPS (a little longer, 5.25K). Chip timing will ensure accurate results for all participants. Pavement is free of potholes and generally in great shape. Note that roads are slightly cambered (sloping down near the sides), which can cause knee/ankle pain. Running or walking in the center of the street will alleviate that problem.
Event Website
See the main website for additional event details and FAQ: MOVEnGROOVE.org
Pick your distance
Running
5K Run or Walk
5K Stroller
Only human-powered, road-worthy, single or double child strollers or wheelchairs are allowed. Strollers will start with the runners & walkers in their pace-appropriate wave.
Half-Mile Kids Race (10 & under)
Wheelchair
5K Para Athlete
All types of para athletes are welcome to compete. Wheelchairs should be road-worthy and propelled by the athlete. If someone else has to push, sign up for the "5K Stroller" event instead. Para athletes will start with the other runners & walkers in their pace-appropriate wave.
Typical race-day weather
Based on 5 years of Open-Meteo archive data for this event's race dates in Albany, plus the 3 days either side.
The sun rises at 5:48 AM and sets at 8:25 PM local time (PDT) in Albany on May 31, 2026 — 14h 36m of daylight.
Course
No course map published yet.
The organizer hasn't released a route for this event, and we don't publish guesses. If you're the organizer, send us a GPX file and we'll draw the profile.
Reviews
Done this event?
If you've participated in this event, share your experience with other runners
2026 results — Albany Move'n'Groove
242 finishers across 3 distances · leading places in the 5K Run or Walk
| Place | Name | Time | Pace |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sam Kelly | 17:36 | 5:25 /mi |
| 2 | Darren Taggart | 19:28 | 5:59 /mi |
| 3 | Wayne Song | 20:02 | 6:10 /mi |
| 4 | Daniel Lau | 20:28 | 6:18 /mi |
| 5 | Z. Shah | 21:07 | 6:30 /mi |
Every finisher is on the results page, filterable by distance, gender and age group.
All results by year
Other races near Albany
Different organizers, within 40 miles, in the next three months
Bearathlon
Reservoir Dogs
Nitro Turkey
Oakland Turkey Trot
Where this page comes from. Race details were last updated on . We re-check listings regularly and again in the week before race day.
- Entries, prices, waves and inclusions — the event's official registration page
- Temperature and humidity — Copernicus ERA5 reanalysis via Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0)
- Elevation and terrain relief — Copernicus DEM GLO-90, ESA (CC BY 4.0)
- Comparisons and counts — Race Discovery calendar, 2 Albany events
Spotted something wrong? Tell us and we'll fix it.