Going Bananas Run - Rochester - Going Bananas Run - Rochester
External Event
Distance
3 mi
Pace
All paces
Terrain
Road
Difficulty
All Levels
About this run
Get Ready to Go Bananas, Rochester! This isn’t your normal 5K. Actually, it’s not even a 5K. The Going Bananas Run Rochester is a roughly three-mile fun run where hundreds of people take over the trails of Rochester dressed head to toe as bananas. Yes, bananas. Run it. Walk it. Bring the kids. Get a group of friends together. Try to win the whole thing. We really don’t care how you do it. The whole point is to have a ridiculously fun time while raising money for a great local cause. 🍌 Your Banana Suit Is Included Every registration comes with your very own banana suit to wear during the run and take home afterward. You’ll also get entry into the Gorilla Challenge and access to the post-race celebration. We’ll have serious runners at the front, walkers in the back, families, friend groups, coworkers, and plenty of people who signed up mostly because running through Rochester dressed as a banana sounded too funny to pass up. 🦍 Can You Beat the Gorilla? Here’s where things get interesting. All of the bananas start first. Two minutes later, we release the Gorilla. Then it’s a race to the finish. Cross the finish line before the Gorilla catches you and you’ll earn the coveted “I Beat the Gorilla” finisher prize. Get caught? No big deal. The Gorilla Challenge is completely optional and mostly exists to make the run more fun. It also helps us raise even more money for a local nonprofit, so the faster you run, the more good we can do. 🎉 Stick Around After the Run Crossing the finish line doesn’t mean you have to head home. Stick around for food and drinks, sponsor activities, awards, photos, and a few hundred people standing around Rochester in banana suits wondering how this became their Saturday. So grab your friends. Bring the family. Convince your coworkers. Build a banana squad. Try to beat the Gorilla. Help us raise some money. Have a great time. And if you need one more reason to sign up... When else are you going to get the chance to run through Rochester dressed as a banana? 🍌 Going Bananas Run - Rochester Run bananas. Beat the Gorilla. Give back. Want more fun? Join one of our other 2 locations to get the full Banana experience Twin Cities - May 8th | Rochester - May 22nd | Duluth - June 5th
Typical conditions
For events around May 2027 in Rochester, MN, United States: Typical spring conditions in this region — mornings can still be cool; confirm start-time guidance on the official page.
How to prepare
Most runners can prepare for a 5K with a few weeks of easy runs and one short faster session per week. Focus on consistency, not volume, and rest the day before race day.
Beginner's guide to your first 5KGetting there
This event is listed in Rochester, MN, United States. Confirm the exact start venue, parking, and transit options on the official registration page.
Registration is handled by the official event organizer
Know a local group? Host a community run in Rochester





