Sat, Oct 31, 2026

Frightening 4k

Anchorage, AK

Registration openAnnual since at least 2015

Entry is $37 now and rises to $42 after Sep 18, 2026, so registering before then saves $5.

About the Frightening 4k

The course runs out from a softball complex along the Campbell Creek Trail, turning toward Lake Otis and back. The theme is worked into the route itself: there is a tunnel to run through, shaded forested sections, and a haunted culvert along the way. Costumes are part of the deal, and most people show up dressed for it.

Bib pickup happens at a local running store in the evenings before race day, with a race-morning option at the start. The rolling start window gives you a span of time to head out rather than a single gun, so it moves at whatever pace the morning calls for.

Free race emails

Get the Weekly RunSesh

In for this one or still deciding, keep race season near Anchorage 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, and the spread of finish times is wide, so this is a mostly recreational race rather than one for club runners.

4K · 2025 results

857finishers

12:29winner

31:26median

1:06:30cutoff

Top 3: Josean Olivieri (12:29) · Kelly Varney (13:30) · Gordon Piltz (13:34)

The Frightening 4k has been held every year since at least 2015. 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 4K 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

4K10/31/2026 11:00$37

4K10/31/2026 00:00$37

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 Anchorage — 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 Frightening 4k

Will I finish last at the Frightening 4k?

Almost certainly not. Half the 4K field finished slower than 31:26, and the last recorded finisher came in around 1:06:30, so there is a long tail of runners behind the middle of the pack. Most fields are far slower than people expect.

Is the Frightening 4k a good first 4K?

With 857 finishers there are runners at every pace, so you are never out on your own. There is no qualifying time, and the finish-time spread above shows how varied the field really is. If it is your first 4K, that spread matters more than the winner's time.

How competitive is the Frightening 4k?

The 4K winner ran 12:29 while the median finisher took 31:26. That spread points to a broad, mostly recreational field rather than a race dominated by club runners.