Sun, Sep 27, 2026

52nd ANNUAL FALLING LEAVES ROAD RACE

Utica, NY

Registration open52nd annual

5K14K1K

Entry is $40 now and rises to $50 after Sep 12, 2026, so registering before then saves $10.

About the 52nd ANNUAL FALLING LEAVES ROAD RACE

The shorter course opens with a gentle uphill before leveling off, then essentially reverses itself back to the finish. The longer course shares that opening stretch, then branches off toward a park, climbing through switchbacks on park roads before a long descent back down into the city streets. The two routes give runners a real choice between something manageable and something that earns its miles.

Packet pickup the day before is at a running store, with a second option race morning at the DoubleTree by Hilton. The hotel is also where finishers gather for awards afterward, and day-of registration is available there until shortly before the start.

Free race emails

Get the Weekly RunSesh

In for this one or still deciding, keep race season near Utica 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 2025 results, this is a decent-sized field, with a competitive front end and a big recreational middle.

5K · 2025 results

529finishers

17:56winner

31:17median

56:38cutoff

Top 3: Frank Calhoun (17:56) · W. Filarey (18:39) · Nicholas Ashton (19:03)

14K · 2025 results

287finishers

46:44winner

1:20:07median

2:24:11cutoff

Top 3: Jordon Hoffman (46:44) · James Withers (47:14) · Nick Jeror (53:14)

The 52nd ANNUAL FALLING LEAVES ROAD RACE is in its 52nd year.

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

5K9/27/2026 09:00$40

14K9/27/2026 09:00$40

1K9/27/2026 08:15Free

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 Utica — 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 52nd ANNUAL FALLING LEAVES ROAD RACE

Will I finish last at the 52nd ANNUAL FALLING LEAVES ROAD RACE?

Almost certainly not. Half the 5K field finished slower than 31:17, and the last recorded finisher came in around 56:38, so there is a long tail of runners behind the middle of the pack. Most fields are far slower than people expect.

Is the 52nd ANNUAL FALLING LEAVES ROAD RACE a good first 5K?

A field of 529 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 52nd ANNUAL FALLING LEAVES ROAD RACE?

The 5K winner ran 17:56 while the median finisher took 31:17. That spread points to a mixed field, with a competitive front and a big recreational middle.