Sat, Oct 10, 2026

Bit of Hope Ranch 5K Trail Run, 2K Walk, & Half-Pint Run

Gastonia, NC

Registration openAnnual since at least 2020

5K2K400m

Entry is $30 now and rises to $35 after Aug 27, 2026, so registering before then saves $5.

About the Bit of Hope Ranch 5K Trail Run, 2K Walk, & Half-Pint Run

The course runs through a horse ranch in southern Gaston County, covering open pasture and trail terrain across a working property. That setting is the whole point: you are out among the horses, not threading through a park or a subdivision. The route is certified, so the distance is measured, but the surface underfoot is trail, not pavement.

Packet pickup happens race morning at the ranch itself, starting well before the first wave goes off. Walk-up registration is open the same morning. The children's run goes first, then the trail run, then walkers follow behind.

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Finish-Time Stats

Going by the 2025 results, this is a small, friendly field, with a competitive front end and a big recreational middle.

5K · 2025 results

75finishers

21:45winner

37:33median

57:48cutoff

Top 3: Mark Trompeter (21:45) · Thomas McLean (22:42) · Wesley Gurley (24:10)

The Bit of Hope Ranch 5K Trail Run, 2K Walk, & Half-Pint Run has been held every year since at least 2020. 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

5K10/10/2026 09:00$30

5K10/10/2026 00:01$20

2K10/10/2026 09:05$30

400m10/10/2026 08:30$15

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.

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Common Questions About the Bit of Hope Ranch 5K Trail Run, 2K Walk, & Half-Pint Run

Will I finish last at the Bit of Hope Ranch 5K Trail Run, 2K Walk, & Half-Pint Run?

Almost certainly not. Half the 5K field finished slower than 37:33, and the last recorded finisher came in around 57:48, so there is a long tail of runners behind the middle of the pack. Most fields are far slower than people expect.

Is the Bit of Hope Ranch 5K Trail Run, 2K Walk, & Half-Pint Run a good first 5K?

It is a small race (75 finishers), which is friendlier and less intimidating than a big-city event, though the field thins out. 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 Bit of Hope Ranch 5K Trail Run, 2K Walk, & Half-Pint Run?

The 5K winner ran 21:45 while the median finisher took 37:33. That spread points to a mixed field, with a competitive front and a big recreational middle.