Sat, Sep 19, 2026

Empower Sports Thru The Zoo 5k and 1mile

Cleveland, OH

Registration openAnnual since at least 2021

5K1 Mile

Entry is $30 now and rises to $35 after Jul 31, 2026, so registering before then saves $5.

About the Empower Sports Thru The Zoo 5k and 1mile

The course runs through the Cleveland Metroparks Zoo, which means the backdrop is animals and exhibit paths rather than roads or a park loop. There is a shorter distance option alongside the full route, so people show up across a wide range of intentions for the morning. Note that four-legged companions have to stay home.

After finishing, runners gather at the Palava Hut inside the zoo for awards, food, and an open bar. Supporters need to buy zoo admission tickets in advance through the zoo's website, since the box office stays closed and walk-up tickets are not available on race day.

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Finish-Time Stats

Going by the 2025 results, this is a small, friendly field, with a competitive front end and a big recreational middle.

5K · 2025 results

219finishers

18:05winner

32:17median

1:09:23cutoff

Top 3: Michael Houdek (18:05) · Janet Ault (18:13) · Danielle Honaker (18:24)

The Empower Sports Thru The Zoo 5k and 1mile 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 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

5K9/19/2026 08:30$30

1 Mile9/19/2026 08:30$30

Supporter Pass9/19/2026 08:30$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

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Common Questions About the Empower Sports Thru The Zoo 5k and 1mile

Will I finish last at the Empower Sports Thru The Zoo 5k and 1mile?

Almost certainly not. Half the 5K field finished slower than 32:17, and the last recorded finisher came in around 1:09:23, so there is a long tail of runners behind the middle of the pack. Most fields are far slower than people expect.

Is the Empower Sports Thru The Zoo 5k and 1mile a good first 5K?

A field of 219 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 Empower Sports Thru The Zoo 5k and 1mile?

The 5K winner ran 18:05 while the median finisher took 32:17. That spread points to a mixed field, with a competitive front and a big recreational middle.