More than 9,000 participants filled Humboldt Park for the inaugural Diplo’s Run Club Chicago 5K, blending a morning run with music festival fun
CHICAGO – October 4, 2026 – On a picture-perfect fall morning, Diplo’s Run Club made its Chicago debut Saturday at Humboldt Park, bringing more than 9,000 participants together for equal parts running and raving.
Clear blue skies and ideal temperatures set the scene as Grammy-winning DJ and producer Diplo joined runners for a timed 5K before taking over the DJ booth and headlining the finish-line festival.
In partnership with ECHOES, a geolocated audio platform and mobile app, runners could unlock an exclusive high-energy mix featuring unreleased Diplo music available only along the 5K course.
“Big up, Chicago. Thanks for having me. You guys are awesome,” Diplo said after crossing the finish line. “It was a good turnout. And yeah, it’s a Bears jersey today because I lost a bet on the Eagles. Go Chicago Bears.”
At the start, Diplo was joined by local youth from Urban Warriors Running Club, part of the Good Sports community supported through Diplo’s Run Club’s nonprofit partnership with PLUS1.
Then came the running.
Brady Snelson, 28, a Milwaukee native who lives in downtown Chicago, won the men’s division in his first race of the year after spending much of the summer injured.
“It felt good to finally go for it, and I definitely didn’t expect to win,” Snelson said after finishing in 16:25. “The vibe was super fun. The DJ at the start line was getting everybody ready, and then Diplo showed up.”
Chicago’s Kate Shikani, 31, won the women’s division in 19:14 and called it her “ultimate running experience.”
“Being able to pass Diplo was cool, but being able to listen to him afterward is even cooler,” Shikani said.
Reese Meredith, the top nonbinary finisher in 27:15, reached another milestone: Saturday’s 5K was the longest race Meredith had ever completed.
“This is the furthest race I’ve ever run, so to finish at the top of my category is kind of incredible,” Meredith said.
But unlike most 5Ks, the finish line was only the beginning.
The first-place finishers joined Diplo on stage as the morning shifted from road race to outdoor concert.
“That was a once-in-a-lifetime experience,” Snelson said. “I’ve run a lot of races and won a lot of races, but this tops everything I’ve ever done.”
For Shikani, the view from the stage was just as memorable.
“Looking out at that crowd from the DJ booth and seeing what Diplo sees was pretty incredible,” she said.
Chicago was the third stop of Diplo’s Run Club’s 2026-27 season, following Denver and Philadelphia. The tour continues later this month in San Francisco and New York before heading to Los Angeles, San Diego and Phoenix, followed by Mexico City for the series’ international debut.
But for one nearly perfect Saturday morning in Humboldt Park, the formula was simple: run first, rave afterward. For complete results, photos and more, visit DiplosRunClub.com.