Sat, May 22, 2027

Bucket Run 5K

Waterford, MI

Opens Dec 3, 2026Annual since at least 2017

Entry is $30 now and rises to $35 after Apr 3, 2027, so registering before then saves $5.

About the Bucket Run 5K

The Bucket Run is a certified course starting and finishing at a warehouse on Airport Road. The route is officially measured and marked, so you are running a true distance. The race benefits an organization that provides relief to communities after natural disasters, which gives the morning a clear sense of purpose.

Check-in opens on race morning at the warehouse before the start. No pre-race pickup is mentioned, so plan to arrive with a bit of time to spare before the gun goes off.

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Bucket Run 5K 2026 Results

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.

5K Results · 2026

90finishers

17:51winner

37:52median

1:03:15cutoff

Top 3: Matthew Austin (17:51) · Brandon Hahn (17:52) · Doug Miles (19:43)

The Bucket Run 5K has been held every year since at least 2017. 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 Oct 25, 2026.

Distances & Start Times

5K5/22/2027 08:30$30

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.

Not sure what to aim for? The 5K pace chart lists the pace for every finish time.

Plan Your Trip

Where to Stay

Traveling for this race? The map shows hotels and rentals in and around Waterford — pan or zoom to compare what's nearby.

The map is provided by Stay22. If you book through it, RunSesh may earn a commission at no extra cost to you — it never affects the races we list.

Common Questions About the Bucket Run 5K

Will I finish last at the Bucket Run 5K?

Almost certainly not. Half the 5K field finished slower than 37:52, and the last recorded finisher came in around 1:03:15, so there is a long tail of runners behind the middle of the pack. Most fields are far slower than people expect.

Is the Bucket Run 5K a good first 5K?

It is a small race (90 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 Bucket Run 5K?

The 5K winner ran 17:51 while the median finisher took 37:52. That spread points to a broad, mostly recreational field rather than a race dominated by club runners.

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