Sat, Oct 24, 2026

Helping Hands Half Marathon / 5K

Muscle Shoals, AL

Registration openAnnual since at least 2023

Half Marathon5K

Entry is $35 now and rises to $40 after Aug 16, 2026, so registering before then saves $5.

About the Helping Hands Half Marathon / 5K

The course runs along open roadways out of a corporate campus on the edge of Muscle Shoals, with aid stations spread across the route and portable restrooms alongside park facilities at several points. Both distances share the same general area, so the start and finish stay close together. Dogs are not permitted on course, and strollers are discouraged given the open-road routing.

Packet pickup is available the evening before at the race venue, with a second window early on race morning before the half marathon goes off. The two distances start a few minutes apart, and awards follow each finish in sequence once the last runners in that distance come through.

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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.

13.1 Miles · 2025 results

258finishers

1:13:46winner

2:09:21median

3:38:31cutoff

Top 3: Stephen Otey (1:13:46) · Chris Graves (1:25:06) · Nick Huckaby (1:25:57)

5K · 2025 results

160finishers

22:42winner

33:21median

1:06:26cutoff

Top 3: Seth Hill (22:42) · L. Tucker (23:17) · Chris Linkous (23:18)

The Helping Hands Half Marathon / 5K 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 13.1 Miles 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

13.1 Miles10/24/2026 07:00$70

5K10/24/2026 07:10$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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Where to Stay

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Common Questions About the Helping Hands Half Marathon / 5K

Will I finish last at the Helping Hands Half Marathon / 5K?

Almost certainly not. Half the 13.1 Miles field finished slower than 2:09:21, and the last recorded finisher came in around 3:38:31, so there is a long tail of runners behind the middle of the pack. Most fields are far slower than people expect.

Is the Helping Hands Half Marathon / 5K a good first 13.1 Miles?

A field of 258 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 13.1 Miles, that spread matters more than the winner's time.

How competitive is the Helping Hands Half Marathon / 5K?

The 13.1 Miles winner ran 1:13:46 while the median finisher took 2:09:21. That spread points to a mixed field, with a competitive front and a big recreational middle.