World Race for Hope
About this race
**Registration Opens November 1st**
World Race for Hope 5k for a Healthier & More Sustainable Future
Waste-Free Dayton presents the 20th Annual World Race for Hope 5k, which takes place on New Year's Day in person, and throughout January 2026 virtually, to raise awareness of living more sustainably and caring for our community. There are two registration options, the in-person 5k in Troy, Ohio on January 1st, and a virtual race that you can do anywhere, anytime during the month of January.
World Race for Hope Troy 5k
Chip timing is back! After a free, no frills race the last few years, with the transfer of this race to Waste-Free Dayton from Free To Run Foundation, we decided to make it a formal event again this year by having official chip timing by Speedy Feet. The start and finish will be at the Gazebo on the river levee bike path by Hobart Arena, with the course going out and back on the bike path along the river.
Early Registration, November 1st - December 1st: $20
Normal Registration, December 2nd - December 26th: $25
Late Registration, December 27th - January 1st: $30
Starting location: The Gazebo on the Great Miami River levee (across the river from downtown Troy). Park in the Hobart Arena parking lot (255 Adams St., Troy, OH 45373).
Our Zero-Waste Initiative
Consistent with Waste-Free Dayton's mission, we are striving to make this race zero waste or as close as possible.
- Bring your own reusable water bottle.
- We are not offering shirts. 92 million tons of clothing end up in landfills each year, and if you participate in races frequently, you already have enough shirts that you don't wear. We are looking at some other kind of giveaway for the event, something more sustainable and useful.
- We will compost any food waste from the post-race treats (e.g. banana peels and other fruit scraps).
Giveaways
TBD
Virtual Race for Hope
If you don't reside in the Dayton area, or you would rather support the cause by running wherever you are at, inside on a treadmill or track or outside on your own schedule, you can select the free Virtual 5k option. You will complete your virtual 5k anytime during the month of January. We encourage you to share the race with your friends and family, and even post a picture during or after your virtual race on social media and upload your photos on this site. Tag Waste-Free Dayton on Facebook and/or Instagram
Pick your distance
Running
5k Run / Walk - Troy
This is the in-person, chip-timed 5k run or walk taking place on the bike path in Troy along the Great Miami River.
Virtual 5k
Complete your virtual 5k wherever you are, inside or outside, on pavement, trails, track or treadmill, anytime during the month of January.
Typical race-day weather
Based on 12 years of Open-Meteo archive data for this event's race dates in Troy, plus the 3 days either side.
The sun rises at 7:58 AM and sets at 5:22 PM local time (EST) in Troy on January 1, 2027 — 9h 23m 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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Results — World Race for Hope
Other races near Troy
Different organizers, within 40 miles, in the next three months
Holiday Lights Fun Run - Miami County Park District
Ezra J. Hartke 5K/10K Race for Hope
Tipp Turkey Trot
Holly Jolly 5k & 10k Run
🏃 Plan Your Next Race in Troy
Find upcoming events by distance:
- Troy 5K Races 7 races
- Troy Running Calendar 2026 10 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, 15 Troy events
Spotted something wrong? Tell us and we'll fix it.