Fri, Nov 27, 2026

Fantasy 5K

Howell, MI

Registration openAnnual since at least 2023

5K1 Mile

Entry is $30 now and rises to $35 after Oct 16, 2026, so registering before then saves $5.

About the Fantasy 5K

The course runs along Grand River Avenue through downtown Howell, on the same stretch where the Fantasy of Lights parade follows shortly after. It is an evening race, so you are running at night through a lit downtown corridor. Both distance options share the same route, with the shorter one turning back earlier.

Packet pickup and race-day registration both happen at the First Presbyterian Church on Grand River, which also serves as the start and finish. There is pizza from Hungry Howie's at the finish line. Awards go to top overall, masters, and grandmasters finishers in the main distance.

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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

560finishers

16:21winner

31:00median

57:05cutoff

Top 3: Tyler Partridge (16:21) · Grant Ehlert (16:32) · Gavin Wiersma (16:33)

1 Miles · 2025 results

63finishers

7:32winner

12:29median

25:34cutoff

Top 3: Alex Williams (7:32) · Darren Sparks (7:35) · J. Braceros (7:36)

The Fantasy 5K has been held every year since at least 2023. 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

5K11/27/2026 18:00$30

1 Mile11/27/2026 18:05$30

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 Fantasy 5K

Will I finish last at the Fantasy 5K?

Almost certainly not. Half the 5K field finished slower than 31:00, and the last recorded finisher came in around 57:05, so there is a long tail of runners behind the middle of the pack. Most fields are far slower than people expect.

Is the Fantasy 5K a good first 5K?

A field of 560 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 Fantasy 5K?

The 5K winner ran 16:21 while the median finisher took 31:00. That spread points to a mixed field, with a competitive front and a big recreational middle.