Cosley Zoo Run for the Animals
About this race
The Cosley Zoo Run for the Animals 5K/10K & Kids 1/2 Mile is hosted by the Cosley Foundation to support Cosley Zoo's exhibit development projects, public programs and conservation projects.
Date: Saturday, June 6, 2026
Time: 7:30A
Distance: 5K, 10K & Kids 1/2 Mile
Location: Downtown Wheaton
5K Race Registration: $35 early-bird pricing through 4/29, $40 beginning 4/30 through 6/5, and $45 on race day (6/6)
10K Race Registration: $40 early-bird pricing through 4/29, $45 beginning 4/30 through 6/5 and $50 on race day (6/6)
Kids 1/2 Mile Race Registration: $20 (ages 4-10) through 6/5, $25 on race day (6/6)
If you register for the 10K, you can opt to switch your registration to the 5K by emailing jackerman@wheatonparks.org. No refunds will be issued to switch from the 10K to the 5K. If you register for the 5K and opt to switch your registration to a 10K, you will be charged an additional $5 fee.
Please note that if you sign up for the virtual race, you are opting not to participate in person on June 6.
FEATURED IN 2026
- Course Record Award: Are you motivated to beat the Cosley Run for the Animals course records? Beat one of the course records below for your chance to win a free race registration for the 2027 event, a Dick Pond gift card, and bragging rights! Data was pulled from 1998 - present.
- 5K Male | 15:08 (2010)
- 5K Female | 17:42 (2025)
- 10K Male | 30:15 (2015)
- 10K Female | 37:10 (2005)
- Sub 7:00min/mi Corral: If you anticipate running a pace of 7:00min/mi or less, there will be a designated corral to ensure the race begins safely. Runners who begin in this corral will have a yellow bib. Only runners with yellow bibs will be able to start in this area.
- VOLUNTEER INCENTIVE: Volunteer with us! All volunteers will get a t-shirt, breakfast, and a Cream of Wheaton drink voucher.
Packet Pick-Up:
- Thursday, June 4 | 10A-7P | Central Athletic Complex (500 S. Naperville Rd, Wheaton, IL 60187)
- Saturday, June 6 | 6:30 - 7:15A | Memorial Park (225 Karlskoga Ave., Wheaton, IL 60187)
Pick your distance
Running
5K - Race
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5K - Virtual Race
Can't make it to the in-person race? Run virtually!
10K - Race
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10K - Virtual Race
Can't make it to the in-person race? Run virtually!
Kids 1/2 Mile - Race
Join us on race day!
Typical race-day weather
Based on 8 years of Open-Meteo archive data for this event's race dates in Wheaton, plus the 3 days either side.
The sun rises at 5:17 AM and sets at 8:24 PM local time (CDT) in Wheaton on June 6, 2026 — 15h 06m 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
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2026 results — Cosley Zoo Run for the Animals
1,314 finishers across 2 distances · leading places in the 5K - Race
| Place | Name | Time | Pace |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Matthew Beckerman | 15:23 | 4:58 /mi |
| 2 | Judah Clark | 16:46 | 5:25 /mi |
| 3 | GABE PRAAMSMA | 16:47 | 5:25 /mi |
| 4 | Jack Sanders | 17:11 | 5:32 /mi |
| 5 | Pat Austin | 17:48 | 5:44 /mi |
Every finisher is on the results page, filterable by distance, gender and age group.
All results by year
Other races near Wheaton
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Hot Cider Hustle - Wheaton 8 Mile Run & 5K Run/Walk
Turkey Day 5K (Danada - Naperville)
🏃 Plan Your Next Race in Wheaton
Find upcoming events by distance:
- Wheaton 5K Races 9 races
- 10K Run Events in Wheaton 4 races
- Wheaton Half Marathons 2 races
- Wheaton Running Calendar 2026 11 races
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, 11 Wheaton events
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