2026 Chili Chase

About the Event

The 2026 Chili Chase returns to Palo Alto, California on July 4th. The race benefits the Gunn Cross Country and track teams, offering a fun family event that runs through Fairmeadow neighborhood in Palo Alto around Mitchell Park.
Race morning brings cool temperatures with an average of 21.7°C, but it can feel much warmer given the high humidity at 61.8%. Participants will start their journey from Cubberly Community Center on Middlefield Road and head to Mitchell Park where the race begins. Expect hard and dry surface conditions under a UV index that's very high, making sun protection essential.
The course layout is well-defined with notable features such as turns through Fairmeadow neighborhood and laps around Mitchell Park. The start and finish are at Mitchell Park, offering spectators an easy view for families to cheer on runners. There will be no elevation changes noted in the race details provided, ensuring a straightforward run that's perfect for all levels of participants.
The weather is expected to feel like 21.7°C with minimal rainfall risk, making it ideal conditions for running. The humidity at 61.8% could make it slightly more challenging, but overall, runners can expect a comfortable race day atmosphere.

Adult 5K Limited spots available
5K • Start: 10:00:00 • Fee: $34.09

Under 21 5K Limited spots available
5K • Start: 10:00:00 • Fee: $28.74

5K
Registration for the event opens on June 4th and closes by July 2nd to guarantee a t-shirt; after that date until June 30th, there may still be a few extra shirts available. The registration URL is https://raceroster.com/events/2026/130657/2026-chili-chase.
Bibs can be picked up on July 4th from Cubberly Community Center at 4000 Middlefield Rd, Palo Alto between the hours of 8 AM and 9:30 AM. Bring a form of ID to verify your registration status.
The race will start in Mitchell Park with age requirements not specified but likely aimed at adults and under-21 participants given the distances offered. Parking is available at Cubberly Community Center, and an alternative parking spot can be found near JLS.
This event matters locally as it supports Gunn Cross Country and track teams while offering a fun family day in Palo Alto's beautiful Fairmeadow neighborhood.

Races Offered

Adult 5K Limited spots available

Jul 04, 2026

straighten

Distance — 5K

terrain

Type — Others

timer

10:00

sell

$34.09

Under 21 5K Limited spots available

Jul 04, 2026

straighten

Distance — 5K

terrain

Type — Others

timer

10:00

sell

$28.74

Weather History

These values represent the 3-year monthly averages for July in Palo Alto.

thermostat Temperature

14.6° / 28.7°

wb_sunny Feels like

14.1° / 27.4°

light_mode Avg sunshine hours

13h 23m

water_drop Avg rainfall

—

ac_unit Avg snowfall

—

air Avg wind speed

6.7 km/h (Light breeze)

opacity Sweat loss rate

High

terrain Course conditions

Hard and dry surface

sunny Max UV Index

Very High (8.0)

humidity_mid Humidity

61.8%

wb_twilight Sunrise

06:00

nightlight Sunset

20:27

About Palo Alto

Learn more about the host city, Palo Alto.

Palo Alto is a bustling suburb in Santa Clara County south of the city of San Francisco. It is adjacent to Stanford University and home to hundreds of Silicon Valley technology companies, ranging from VMware and Hewlett-Packard to tiny startups operating in garages.