Sun, Mar 28, 2027

Central Park 5k

Denver, CO

Registration openAnnual since at least 2020

Entry is $25 now and rises to $30 after Aug 1, 2026, so registering before then saves $5.

About the Central Park 5k

The course runs a clockwise loop and a half around Central Park on mostly concrete with a short stretch of hard-packed dirt. It is flat throughout, which makes it a good morning for anyone chasing a fast time. The park setting keeps things open and visible, and portable restrooms are at the start and finish rather than out on the course.

Parking is free in the lots around the park. There is no water out on the course, but water and light snacks are at the finish. If you bring donations for the race's foster care charity partner, you can drop them at the tent before you run and enter a raffle for prizes afterward.

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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.

3.1 Miles · 2026 results

294finishers

16:50winner

31:45median

1:00:11cutoff

Top 3: Everett Johnson (16:50) · Jonathan Scheiner (17:04) · Austin Puckett (17:10)

The Central Park 5k 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 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 Miles3/28/2027 09:00$25

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 Central Park 5k

Will I finish last at the Central Park 5k?

Almost certainly not. Half the 3.1 Miles field finished slower than 31:45, and the last recorded finisher came in around 1:00:11, so there is a long tail of runners behind the middle of the pack. Most fields are far slower than people expect.

Is the Central Park 5k a good first 3.1 Miles?

A field of 294 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 Central Park 5k?

The 3.1 Miles winner ran 16:50 while the median finisher took 31:45. That spread points to a mixed field, with a competitive front and a big recreational middle.

Where can I train for the Central Park 5k?

Join a local run club. Rocky Mountain Road Runners, Colorado Harriers, Revolution Running and others in Denver welcome runners of all paces, and a weekly group run is the most reliable way to hold a training block together.