Mon, Sep 7, 2026

Cleveland Oktoberfest 5K Bier Run

Berea, OH

Registration openAnnual since at least 2021

5K1 Mile

Entry is $35 now and rises to $40 after Sep 6, 2026, so registering before then saves $5.

About the Cleveland Oktoberfest 5K Bier Run

The race starts and finishes at the county fairgrounds in Berea, with festival grounds right there when you cross the finish line. Entry to the Oktoberfest festival is included with registration, so there is no awkward transition between the race and the rest of the morning. Dachshund races are part of the day, which tells you something about the atmosphere.

Packet pickup runs the evening before at a local running store in Cleveland, which is worth knowing if you want to skip the race-morning lines. On race day, parking comes in through the Eastland Road gate. Dogs are welcome on the festival grounds, though the organizers are candid that dachshunds will yap at anything that moves.

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Finish-Time Stats

Going by the 2025 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.

3.1 Miles · 2025 results

661finishers

16:33winner

31:42median

1:04:21cutoff

Top 3: Joseph Kelly (16:33) · Jason Zangmeister (17:06) · Jonathan Zappala (17:49)

The Cleveland Oktoberfest 5K Bier Run has been held every year since at least 2021. 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 Miles9/7/2026 11:00$35

1 Mile9/7/2026 11:00$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.

Plan Your Trip

Where to Stay

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Common Questions About the Cleveland Oktoberfest 5K Bier Run

Will I finish last at the Cleveland Oktoberfest 5K Bier Run?

Almost certainly not. Half the 3.1 Miles field finished slower than 31:42, and the last recorded finisher came in around 1:04:21, so there is a long tail of runners behind the middle of the pack. Most fields are far slower than people expect.

Is the Cleveland Oktoberfest 5K Bier Run a good first 3.1 Miles?

A field of 661 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 Cleveland Oktoberfest 5K Bier Run?

The 3.1 Miles winner ran 16:33 while the median finisher took 31:42. That spread points to a broad, mostly recreational field rather than a race dominated by club runners.