Sat, Sep 12, 2026

Galena 5k Stair Challenge

Galena, IL

Registration openAnnual since at least 2019

About the Galena 5k Stair Challenge

The course is built around a historic staircase in downtown Galena, and the competitive option sends runners up it repeatedly. The surrounding streets are tight and hilly the way old river towns tend to be, so even the approach has character. The non-competitive option covers a single climb, while the timed wave format spaces out the faster field across the full stair loop.

Staging is at Green Street Plaza, near City Hall. Packet pickup runs the evening before at the local EMS station on Summit Street, with race-morning pickup available at the plaza and the Post Office building. There is an opening ceremony before the start, and an awards ceremony at the plaza after the last runners finish. Food and vendor tents are on site during and after the race.

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Finish-Time Stats

Going by the 2025 results, this is a small, friendly field, and the spread of finish times is wide, so this is a mostly recreational race rather than one for club runners.

· 2025 results

95finishers

22:28winner

46:01median

1:23:18cutoff

Top 3: Justin Stewart (22:28) · A. Edwards (25:19) · Cory Hensley (26:31)

The Galena 5k Stair Challenge has been held every year since at least 2019. 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 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

1 Lap Fun Run/Walk9/12/2026 09:00$40

5K9/12/2026 09:15$45

5K9/12/2026 09:15$35

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.

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Common Questions About the Galena 5k Stair Challenge

Will I finish last at the Galena 5k Stair Challenge?

Almost certainly not. Half the race field finished slower than 46:01, and the last recorded finisher came in around 1:23:18, so there is a long tail of runners behind the middle of the pack. Most fields are far slower than people expect.

Is the Galena 5k Stair Challenge a good first race?

It is a small race (95 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 race, that spread matters more than the winner's time.

How competitive is the Galena 5k Stair Challenge?

The race winner ran 22:28 while the median finisher took 46:01. That spread points to a broad, mostly recreational field rather than a race dominated by club runners.