Sat, Jun 19, 2027

BEAT THE BRIDGE 5K CHALLENGE

Matteson, IL

Registration openAnnual since at least 2025

Entry is $25 now and rises to $35 after Aug 13, 2026, so registering before then saves $10.

About the BEAT THE BRIDGE 5K CHALLENGE

The course runs through the village of Matteson on a certified route. It is flat enough that strollers and wheelchairs are part of the normal field, and the crowd includes everyone from serious runners to people out for a walk. The race raises money for scholarships supporting students at Historically Black Colleges and Universities, so the energy at the finish reflects that weight behind it.

After the race, there are food vendors, live entertainment, and wellness activities on site. The post-race area is set up as a genuine gathering, not just a place to collect your things and leave.

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Finish-Time Stats

Going by the 2026 results, this is a small, friendly field, and the spread of finish times is wide, so this is a mostly recreational race rather than one for club runners.

3.1 Miles · 2026 results

290finishers

15:08winner

49:08median

1:37:50cutoff

Top 3: Jeremiah Mitchell (22:57) · Wesley Wiley (23:21) · Darion Evans (24:28)

The BEAT THE BRIDGE 5K CHALLENGE has been held every year since at least 2025. 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 3.1 Miles 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

3.1 Miles6/19/2027 08:00$25

3.1 Miles6/19/2027 08:00$35

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 BEAT THE BRIDGE 5K CHALLENGE

Will I finish last at the BEAT THE BRIDGE 5K CHALLENGE?

Almost certainly not. Half the 3.1 Miles field finished slower than 49:08, and the last recorded finisher came in around 1:37:50, so there is a long tail of runners behind the middle of the pack. Most fields are far slower than people expect.

Is the BEAT THE BRIDGE 5K CHALLENGE a good first 3.1 Miles?

A field of 290 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 3.1 Miles, that spread matters more than the winner's time.

How competitive is the BEAT THE BRIDGE 5K CHALLENGE?

The 3.1 Miles winner ran 15:08 while the median finisher took 49:08. That spread points to a broad, mostly recreational field rather than a race dominated by club runners.