Sat, Oct 31, 2026

Friends of the National Arboretum Fall 5K

Washington, DC

Registration openAnnual since at least 2022
5K
Register · From $45

About the Friends of the National Arboretum Fall 5K

The course winds through the U.S. National Arboretum, moving past garden collections deep in fall color, over rolling tree-lined hills, and along streams that drain toward the Anacostia. All roads inside the grounds are closed to traffic for the race, so the whole route feels open. Dogs on short leashes and strollers are both allowed.

Packet pickup happens race morning at the Capitol Columns, which is also the start line. Several parking lots are spread across the grounds, each a short walk from the start. There is no race-day registration, so you need to sort your entry ahead of time.

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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

510finishers
19:34winner
35:44median
1:25:09cutoff

Top 3: Jasper Bowman (19:34) · Ryan Heenan (20:02) · Joseph Owens (20:17)

The Friends of the National Arboretum Fall 5K has been held every year since at least 2022. 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

5K10/31/2026 08:30$45
5K10/31/2026 08:00$35

Going for a Time?

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Common Questions About the Friends of the National Arboretum Fall 5K

Will I finish last at the Friends of the National Arboretum Fall 5K?

Almost certainly not. Half the 5K field finished slower than 35:44, and the last recorded finisher came in around 1:25:09, so there is a long tail of runners behind the middle of the pack. Most fields are far slower than people expect.

Is the Friends of the National Arboretum Fall 5K a good first 5K?

A field of 510 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 Friends of the National Arboretum Fall 5K?

The 5K winner ran 19:34 while the median finisher took 35:44. That spread points to a mixed field, with a competitive front and a big recreational middle.

Where can I train for the Friends of the National Arboretum Fall 5K?

Join a local run club. District Running Collective, Every Person Run Club, DC Road Runners and others in Washington welcome runners of all paces, and a weekly group run is the most reliable way to hold a training block together.

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