Fri, Jan 1, 2027

First Day 5K

Whitinsville, MA

Registration openAnnual since at least 2025

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

About the First Day 5K

The course starts with a downhill run along Main Street before threading through Memorial Square and out along Linwood Avenue. The route swings through a high school parking lot, then continues out to a mill building before turning straight back to the finish at Memorial Square. Roads are closed, and the out-and-back layout means you pass the aid station a few times.

Check-in on race morning is at the Gray Barn, with a short walk uphill to the start line from there. The evening before, the Gray Barn also hosts early bib pickup. After the race, pizza and a beer ticket bring everyone back to the same spot for the awards ceremony.

Free race emails

Get the Weekly RunSesh

Get races near Whitinsville in your inbox. Every Monday we send the races coming up, and every Thursday we send the ones happening that weekend.

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

First Day 5K 2026 Results

Going by the 2026 results, this is a small, friendly field, and the field is fairly quick, so expect a competitive front.

5K Results · 2026

58finishers

19:05winner

27:39median

1:00:16cutoff

Top 3: Jacob Zapatka (19:05) · Jedidiah Marshall (20:35) · Ethan Doyon (21:05)

The First Day 5K has been held every year since at least 2025. 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 Oct 18, 2026.

Distances & Start Times

5K1/1/2027 11:00$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.

Not sure what to aim for? The 5K pace chart lists the pace for every finish time.

Plan Your Trip

Where to Stay

Traveling for this race? The map shows hotels and rentals in and around Whitinsville — 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 First Day 5K

Will I finish last at the First Day 5K?

Almost certainly not. Half the 5K field finished slower than 27:39, and the last recorded finisher came in around 1:00:16, so there is a long tail of runners behind the middle of the pack. Most fields are far slower than people expect.

Is the First Day 5K a good first 5K?

It is a small race (58 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 First Day 5K?

The 5K winner ran 19:05 while the median finisher took 27:39. That spread points to a relatively quick field, so expect a competitive front end.

Browse the Race Calendar

New Year's 5Ks and Races in Massachusetts 5K Races in January 5K Races in Massachusetts in January Winter 5K Races

Want more races like this delivered straight to your inbox?