Sat, Apr 17, 2027

Catamount Climb Half Marathon & 5K

Cullowhee, NC

Opens Aug 1, 2026Annual since at least 2016

5KHalf Marathon

Entry is $25 now and rises to $35 after Feb 28, 2027, so registering before then saves $10.

About the Catamount Climb Half Marathon & 5K

The course runs through a university campus along a river, with moderate hills winding through the heart of campus. The shorter distance stays entirely on campus, while the half marathon heads out into the surrounding area before looping back to finish where it started. The terrain is not flat, so expect some work.

Packet pickup runs the afternoon before the race and again on race morning, both at the campus recreation center. Parking on race day uses campus lots, and the course map points out which ones are closest to the start and finish.

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Finish-Time Stats

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

5K · 2026 results

316finishers

17:06winner

38:32median

1:45:13cutoff

Top 3: Jacob Campbell (17:06) · Alexander Ruge (17:07) · Jesse Cook (18:10)

13.1 Miles · 2026 results

133finishers

1:21:13winner

2:10:29median

3:27:00cutoff

Top 3: Daniel Sayblack (1:21:13) · Baptiste Perdrix (1:21:34) · Kallup McCoy II (1:22:22)

The Catamount Climb Half Marathon & 5K has been held every year since at least 2016. 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

5K4/17/2027 08:30$25

13.1 Miles4/17/2027 08:00$45

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 Catamount Climb Half Marathon & 5K

Will I finish last at the Catamount Climb Half Marathon & 5K?

Almost certainly not. Half the 5K field finished slower than 38:32, and the last recorded finisher came in around 1:45:13, so there is a long tail of runners behind the middle of the pack. Most fields are far slower than people expect.

Is the Catamount Climb Half Marathon & 5K a good first 5K?

A field of 316 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 Catamount Climb Half Marathon & 5K?

The 5K winner ran 17:06 while the median finisher took 38:32. That spread points to a broad, mostly recreational field rather than a race dominated by club runners.