Mon, Jan 18, 2027

Chasing the Dream 5K -MLK Day Celebration

Orlando, FL

Registration openAnnual since at least 2019

Entry is $20 now and rises to $25 after Dec 9, 2026, so registering before then saves $5.

About the Chasing the Dream 5K -MLK Day Celebration

The course runs a couple of laps through Blue Jacket Park, finishing in the opposite direction from the start. Volunteers and signs keep you on track throughout. The race is tied to MLK Day and benefits a youth center in Orlando that runs programs for kids in a high-needs neighborhood, so the morning carries a bit more weight than most local races.

Race-day packet pickup opens early, before a brief warm-up and then the start. Parking is available at the park off General Rees Avenue and on nearby streets. The organizers suggest carpooling and arriving with time to spare. Food donations for the youth center are welcome at the event.

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Finish-Time Stats

Going by the 2025 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.

3.1 Miles · 2025 results

148finishers

17:47winner

33:53median

1:06:59cutoff

Top 3: Michael Cole (17:47) · Spencer Pelfrey (17:55) · Seth Funderburg (18:39)

The Chasing the Dream 5K -MLK Day Celebration has been held every year since at least 2019. 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 Miles1/18/2027 07:30$25

3.1 Miles1/18/2027 07:30$20

3.1 Miles1/18/2027 07:30$40

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 Chasing the Dream 5K -MLK Day Celebration

Will I finish last at the Chasing the Dream 5K -MLK Day Celebration?

Almost certainly not. Half the 3.1 Miles field finished slower than 33:53, and the last recorded finisher came in around 1:06:59, so there is a long tail of runners behind the middle of the pack. Most fields are far slower than people expect.

Is the Chasing the Dream 5K -MLK Day Celebration a good first 3.1 Miles?

It is a small race (148 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 3.1 Miles, that spread matters more than the winner's time.

How competitive is the Chasing the Dream 5K -MLK Day Celebration?

The 3.1 Miles winner ran 17:47 while the median finisher took 33:53. That spread points to a broad, mostly recreational field rather than a race dominated by club runners.

Where can I train for the Chasing the Dream 5K -MLK Day Celebration?

Join a local run club. Orlando Runners Club, Home State Run Club, Park Brewing Run Club and others in Orlando welcome runners of all paces, and a weekly group run is the most reliable way to hold a training block together.