Sat, Oct 17, 2026

Gold Rush 5K

Dahlonega, GA

Registration openAnnual since at least 2013

Entry is $25 now and rises to $35 after Oct 16, 2026, so registering before then saves $10.

About the Gold Rush 5K

The course runs through Dahlonega's Town Square during the Gold Rush Festival, so the streets are lined with festival crowds rather than just race spectators. It is a road course, certified and measured, starting and finishing in front of Memorial Hall on the University of North Georgia campus. Fall color in the surrounding mountains tends to be near peak.

Packet pickup the day before is at the Lumpkin County Board of Education office. Race-morning pickup and registration open early at Memorial Hall's gymnasium. After the finish, there are snacks, fruit, and sports drinks on hand.

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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

204finishers

19:02winner

33:13median

1:11:20cutoff

Top 3: JESUS RAMIREZ (19:02) · Cohen Busby (19:08) · Jason Schott (19:50)

The Gold Rush 5K has been held every year since at least 2013. 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

5K10/17/2026 08:00$30

5K10/17/2026 08:00$25

Virtual 5K10/17/2026 08:00$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.

Plan Your Trip

Where to Stay

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Common Questions About the Gold Rush 5K

Will I finish last at the Gold Rush 5K?

Almost certainly not. Half the 5K field finished slower than 33:13, and the last recorded finisher came in around 1:11:20, so there is a long tail of runners behind the middle of the pack. Most fields are far slower than people expect.

Is the Gold Rush 5K a good first 5K?

A field of 204 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 Gold Rush 5K?

The 5K winner ran 19:02 while the median finisher took 33:13. That spread points to a mixed field, with a competitive front and a big recreational middle.