El Toro Chargers 5K
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32nd Annual El Toro Chargers 4th of July 5K
The event takes place in Lake Forest, CA at Chinook Drive and Lake Forest Drive on July 4, 2026. The course and the city's Independence Day parade run through tree-lined streets of the community. Proceeds support El Toro High School cross country and track and field programs through the Parent Student Teacher Organization.
Event options include:
- 5K
- Kids 1K (ages 10 and under)
- Virtual entry
Registration is offered in several windows with different fees. Earlybird pricing runs March 1 through June 14: students $20, non-students $40, kids $20. Latebird pricing runs June 15 through July 3: students $20, non-students $50, kids $20. Online or in-person registration on July 4 applies different fees: students $25, non-students $60, kids $25. Virtual entries are available with student and non-student pricing. Group or family registration is offered for two to eight people with standard fees.
Packet pick up is available at Road Runner Sports in Laguna Hills on July 3; packets picked up that day enter a raffle for a $100 gift card and generate a donation from Road Runner Sports. On July 4 there is an on-site packet option that requests a small donation. Parking is available in the Ralph's shopping center; suggested race-day routes include El Toro Road and Bake Parkway. Street closures on July 4 affect Lake Forest Drive and Ridge Route Drive between Jeronimo Road and Serrano Road.
Awards include participation medals for all entrants, plaques for the top three finishers per age group and gender, and plaques plus $50 Road Runner Sports gift cards for the top three overall finishers in each gender. Visit the organization's website for the most recent information.
