Fri, Aug 14, 2026

5K on the Beach

Rockaway Park, NY

Registration openAnnual since at least 2022

About the 5K on the Beach

The course runs along the Rockaway Boardwalk, right at the water's edge. It is a road surface, flat and fast, and the ocean is there the whole time. Runners go out in waves based on goal pace, so the field tends to stay sorted rather than bottlenecked at the start. After the race, the water is open for a swim.

The after-party is part of the plan, not an afterthought. The race runs in the evening, so the energy is more end-of-week than early-morning. The boardwalk setting means the crowd around you is a mix of racers and beachgoers, which gives it a different feel than a park course.

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Finish-Time Stats

Going by the 2025 results, this is a decent-sized field, with a competitive front end and a big recreational middle.

5K · 2025 results

636finishers

14:42winner

22:49median

45:09cutoff

Top 3: Matt Leach (14:42) · Ryan Archer (14:48) · Andy Kent (14:51)

The 5K on the Beach has been held every year since at least 2022. That is as far back as RunSignup's records for this race go, so it may well be older.

Where Would You Finish?

Enter a finish time to see where it lands against the most recent 5K results.

Median

See how your time stacks up nationally →

How we calculate these stats: RunSesh calculates these figures from the most recent published results of past editions, sourced from RunSignup. We show aggregates only: field size, winning and median times, and the cutoff. We never publish individual finisher tables. Last updated Jul 27, 2026.

Distances & Start Times

5K8/14/2026 18:30$50

5K8/14/2026 19:05$50

5K8/14/2026 19:30$50

Going for a Time?

Set a goal and get a pace band: every mile split on a card sized for your phone lock screen, so race morning needs no math.

Plan Your Trip

Where to Stay

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Common Questions About the 5K on the Beach

Will I finish last at the 5K on the Beach?

Almost certainly not. Half the 5K field finished slower than 22:49, and the last recorded finisher came in around 45:09, so there is a long tail of runners behind the middle of the pack. Most fields are far slower than people expect.

Is the 5K on the Beach a good first 5K?

A field of 636 is big enough that you will have company at your pace without feeling lost in a crowd. There is no qualifying time, and the finish-time spread above shows how varied the field really is. If it is your first 5K, that spread matters more than the winner's time.

How competitive is the 5K on the Beach?

The 5K winner ran 14:42 while the median finisher took 22:49. That spread points to a mixed field, with a competitive front and a big recreational middle.