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. 

Non competitive run/walk/climb-1Lap
Competitive 7 Lap professionally timed with various divisions by age and gender.

Registration for this event is online only!

1-Lap Fun Run/Walk 

• Start time 9:00 a.m.
• Fee: NEW!  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

• Start time 9:15 a.m.
• Fee: NEW! 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 T-shirt Sizes (performance fabric)

Youth: small, medium, large

Adult: small, medium, large, extra-large, 1X, 2X

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+

Race Registration will be 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

Event Staging Areas:

Green Street Plaza near City Hall and Post Office/Custom House

Packet pickup:

NEW! 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.

-          8:15 a.m. Saturday: 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

Join fellow runners on September 12, 2026 for the Galena 5k Stair Challenge. It's a fantastic 5K featuring a flat and fast course in Galena.