Sun, Sep 20, 2026

Gateway to Yosemite 5k/10k

Merced, CA

Registration openAnnual since at least 2023

5K10K1K

About the Gateway to Yosemite 5k/10k

The course runs through Fahrens Park, winding along trails in a disc golf course and dog park before heading out to a neighboring park for the longer distance turnaround. The terrain has a natural, open feel rather than a road-race one, and the park is roomy enough that spectators spread out comfortably along the way.

Race proceeds benefit a new tortoise enclosure at a local zoo that doubles as a wildlife education center. It is a tangible local cause, and the animals it supports are on-site at a place many Merced families already know.

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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.

5K · 2025 results

212finishers

19:05winner

39:05median

1:14:17cutoff

Top 3: Zak Ellison (19:05) · Javier Ambriz (19:09) · Andy Wan (20:03)

10K · 2025 results

70finishers

34:52winner

1:00:54median

1:36:53cutoff

Top 3: Anthony Cortes (34:52) · Francisco Rodriguez (39:44) · Elijah Welch (40:34)

The Gateway to Yosemite 5k/10k has been held every year since at least 2023. 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

5K9/20/2026 08:00$35

10K9/20/2026 08:00$40

1K9/20/2026 08:00$15

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 Gateway to Yosemite 5k/10k

Will I finish last at the Gateway to Yosemite 5k/10k?

Almost certainly not. Half the 5K field finished slower than 39:05, and the last recorded finisher came in around 1:14:17, so there is a long tail of runners behind the middle of the pack. Most fields are far slower than people expect.

Is the Gateway to Yosemite 5k/10k a good first 5K?

A field of 212 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 Gateway to Yosemite 5k/10k?

The 5K winner ran 19:05 while the median finisher took 39:05. That spread points to a broad, mostly recreational field rather than a race dominated by club runners.