Sat, Mar 13, 2027

Dempsey Dash 5K and 1k Fun Run

Gainesville, GA

Opens Nov 13, 2026Annual since at least 2017

Entry is $10 now and rises to $15 after Mar 12, 2027, so registering before then saves $5.

About the Dempsey Dash 5K and 1k Fun Run

The Dempsey Dash runs through the Brenau University campus in Gainesville, honoring the memory of a longtime university administrator known for his bow ties and sharp suits. The race benefits a scholarship fund established in his name, so the entry fees go somewhere concrete. The bowtie theme carries through the event, and it gives the morning a distinct personality that most campus races lack.

Packet pickup and check-in happen race morning at the start, so there is no separate trip the day before to worry about.

Free race emails

Get the Weekly RunSesh

In for this one or still deciding, keep race season near Gainesville on your radar: a Monday look ahead and a Thursday rundown of the weekend's races.

Two helpful emails per week. No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.

Finish-Time Stats

Going by the 2026 results, this is a big 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

4,433finishers

17:33winner

34:14median

59:02cutoff

Top 3: Tyler Talik (17:33) · Tyler Talik (17:33) · Tyler Talik (17:33)

The Dempsey Dash 5K and 1k Fun Run has been held every year since at least 2017. 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

5K3/13/2027 09:00$30

5K3/13/2027 09:00$10

5K3/13/2027 09:00$15

5K (Phantom Runner/Shirt Purchase Only3/13/2027 09:00$20

1K Fun Run (Friends, Family & Community)3/13/2027 09:00$15

1K Fun Run (Brenau students and employees)3/13/2027 09:00$15

1K Fun Run (Children under 10)3/13/2027 09:00$10

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

Traveling for this race? The map shows hotels and rentals in and around Gainesville — pan or zoom to compare what's nearby.

The map is provided by Stay22. If you book through it, RunSesh may earn a commission at no extra cost to you — it never affects the races we list.

Common Questions About the Dempsey Dash 5K and 1k Fun Run

Will I finish last at the Dempsey Dash 5K and 1k Fun Run?

Almost certainly not. Half the 5K field finished slower than 34:14, and the last recorded finisher came in around 59:02, so there is a long tail of runners behind the middle of the pack. Most fields are far slower than people expect.

Is the Dempsey Dash 5K and 1k Fun Run a good first 5K?

With 4,433 finishers there are runners at every pace, so you are never out on your own. 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 Dempsey Dash 5K and 1k Fun Run?

The 5K winner ran 17:33 while the median finisher took 34:14. That spread points to a broad, mostly recreational field rather than a race dominated by club runners.