Sun, Sep 27, 2026

Fight the Flame 5k and 1k Family Roll & Stroll

Charlotte, NC

Registration openAnnual since at least 2017

5K1K

Entry is $35 now and rises to $40 after Sep 15, 2026, so registering before then saves $5.

About the Fight the Flame 5k and 1k Family Roll & Stroll

The course runs through McAlpine Creek Park, which gives the route a natural, park setting feel. Dogs on leashes are welcome, and the shorter distance is billed as a family roll and stroll, so expect strollers and kids alongside runners. The race is built around CRPS, a chronic pain condition, and that purpose shapes the atmosphere on course.

Packet pickup happens the afternoon before at a location in Matthews, with race-morning pickup available at the park before the start.

Free race emails

Get the Weekly RunSesh

In for this one or still deciding, keep race season near Charlotte 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 small, friendly field, with a competitive front end and a big recreational middle.

5K · 2025 results

158finishers

18:42winner

32:12median

1:07:07cutoff

Top 3: Blackwell, Andrew (18:42) · Ramos, Rafael (19:09) · Priest, Joshua (19:22)

The Fight the Flame 5k and 1k Family Roll & Stroll 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

5K9/27/2026 09:00$35

1K9/27/2026 09:00$30

Virtual Walker9/27/2026 09:00$20

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 Charlotte — 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 Fight the Flame 5k and 1k Family Roll & Stroll

Will I finish last at the Fight the Flame 5k and 1k Family Roll & Stroll?

Almost certainly not. Half the 5K field finished slower than 32:12, and the last recorded finisher came in around 1:07:07, so there is a long tail of runners behind the middle of the pack. Most fields are far slower than people expect.

Is the Fight the Flame 5k and 1k Family Roll & Stroll a good first 5K?

It is a small race (158 finishers), which is friendlier and less intimidating than a big-city event, though the field thins out. 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 Fight the Flame 5k and 1k Family Roll & Stroll?

The 5K winner ran 18:42 while the median finisher took 32:12. That spread points to a mixed field, with a competitive front and a big recreational middle.

Where can I train for the Fight the Flame 5k and 1k Family Roll & Stroll?

Join a local run club. Charlotte Running Club, Mad Miles Run Club, RunBots and others in Charlotte welcome runners of all paces, and a weekly group run is the most reliable way to hold a training block together.