Sat, Apr 24, 2027

Catch Me If You Can 5k

Plant City, FL

Opens Dec 1, 2026Annual since at least 2026

About the Catch Me If You Can 5k

The race starts and finishes at the Police Headquarters in Plant City, with a looping course that brings you back past the start before you are done. The gimmick is real: runners get a head start, and then police officers chase them down. There is also a separate pursuit involving the Mayor, which tends to draw a crowd. Post-race, someone brings donuts, which fits.

Water is out on the course and again at the finish. The awards go deep, with separate categories for law enforcement finishers alongside the standard age groups.

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Finish-Time Stats

Going by the 2026 results, this is a small, friendly field, with a competitive front end and a big recreational middle.

5K · 2026 results

215finishers

18:28winner

34:59median

1:02:45cutoff

Top 3: Keith Alam (18:28) · Taj Copeland (20:35) · Ryan Bontrager (20:48)

The Catch Me If You Can 5k has been held every year since at least 2026. 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

5K4/24/2027 07:00$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.

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Where to Stay

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Common Questions About the Catch Me If You Can 5k

Will I finish last at the Catch Me If You Can 5k?

Almost certainly not. Half the 5K field finished slower than 34:59, and the last recorded finisher came in around 1:02:45, so there is a long tail of runners behind the middle of the pack. Most fields are far slower than people expect.

Is the Catch Me If You Can 5k a good first 5K?

A field of 215 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 Catch Me If You Can 5k?

The 5K winner ran 18:28 while the median finisher took 34:59. That spread points to a mixed field, with a competitive front and a big recreational middle.