Sat, Mar 13, 2027

Gator Steps for Lung Disease 5K

Gainesville, FL

Opens Dec 11, 2026Annual since at least 2024

Entry is $40 now and rises to $45 after Mar 12, 2027, so registering before then saves $5.

About the Gator Steps for Lung Disease 5K

The course starts and finishes at the UF Cancer and Genetics Research Complex, so the surroundings are firmly on a university medical campus. The route is a walk-run, meaning the field includes people dealing with lung disease alongside runners, which gives the morning a different feel than a typical road race. The event benefits pulmonary research and patient support directly through the organizing medical division.

Beyond the race itself, the morning hosts speakers and local vendors open to everyone, including people who are not running. Entry to the broader event is free, with the race registration carrying a separate fee. Packet pickup opens well before the start, so there is time to settle in before the gun.

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Gator Steps for Lung Disease 5K 2026 Results

Going by the 2026 results, this is a small, friendly field, with a competitive front end and a big recreational middle.

5K Results · 2026

128finishers

21:56winner

39:56median

1:23:12cutoff

Top 3: Laura Jones (21:56) · Darren Ng (22:47) · Zheng Cao (23:23)

The Gator Steps for Lung Disease 5K has been held every year since at least 2024. 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 Nov 12, 2026.

Distances & Start Times

5K3/13/2027 08:00$40

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

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Common Questions About the Gator Steps for Lung Disease 5K

Will I finish last at the Gator Steps for Lung Disease 5K?

Almost certainly not. Half the 5K field finished slower than 39:56, and the last recorded finisher came in around 1:23:12, so there is a long tail of runners behind the middle of the pack. Most fields are far slower than people expect.

Is the Gator Steps for Lung Disease 5K a good first 5K?

It is a small race (128 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 Gator Steps for Lung Disease 5K?

The 5K winner ran 21:56 while the median finisher took 39:56. That spread points to a mixed field, with a competitive front and a big recreational middle.