Sat, Nov 21, 2026

GCCA Annual Run For the Beads 5k

Biloxi, MS

Registration openAnnual since at least 2025

5K0.25 Miles1 Mile

About the GCCA Annual Run For the Beads 5k

This is a Gulf Coast Carnival Association race, which means beads are part of the atmosphere. The 5K shares its course with a short kids' dash and a beer mile that follows afterward, giving the morning a loose, block-party feel without being precious about it. Awards go to top finishers by gender and to top teams.

The beer mile runs after the 5K wraps up, and non-alcoholic options are available for it. The Gulf Coast Running Club puts this on alongside the carnival association, so club members run at a lower entry price. Late registration is open the morning of the race.

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Finish-Time Stats

Going by the 2025 results, this is a small, friendly field, with a competitive front end and a big recreational middle.

5K · 2025 results

86finishers

17:10winner

28:41median

49:43cutoff

Top 3: Jeff Rafach (17:10) · Gavin Spiers (17:29) · Norman Zellers (18:40)

1 Miles · 2025 results

8finishers

6:48winner

10:05median

15:36cutoff

Top 3: Jacob Plocher (6:48) · Grant Williams (7:46) · Phillip Price (9:49)

The GCCA Annual Run For the Beads 5k has been held every year since at least 2025. 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 Sep 10, 2026.

Distances & Start Times

5K11/21/2026 09:00$22

0.25 Miles11/21/2026 08:45$15

1 Mile11/21/2026 10:00$25

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Common Questions About the GCCA Annual Run For the Beads 5k

Will I finish last at the GCCA Annual Run For the Beads 5k?

Almost certainly not. Half the 5K field finished slower than 28:41, and the last recorded finisher came in around 49:43, so there is a long tail of runners behind the middle of the pack. Most fields are far slower than people expect.

Is the GCCA Annual Run For the Beads 5k a good first 5K?

It is a small race (86 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 GCCA Annual Run For the Beads 5k?

The 5K winner ran 17:10 while the median finisher took 28:41. That spread points to a mixed field, with a competitive front and a big recreational middle.