Sun, Sep 27, 2026

HENRY VILAS ZOO - RUN WILD 2026

Madison, WI

Registration openAnnual since at least 2019

5K10K1 Mile

About the HENRY VILAS ZOO - RUN WILD 2026

The course starts just outside the zoo's south gate and runs through the surrounding park area. Both distance options are available, along with a kids' fun run that starts from the north gate. The race raises money for wildlife conservation in Kenya, with a share of every entry going toward protecting black rhinos and Grevy's zebra.

Packet pickup opens at the zoo's guest services building well before race day and continues through the days leading up to it, with race-morning pickup also available.

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Finish-Time Stats

Going by the 2025 results, this is a decent-sized field, with a competitive front end and a big recreational middle.

5K · 2025 results

486finishers

18:51winner

33:43median

1:06:28cutoff

Top 3: Peter Zakrevski (18:51) · Ramiro Lopez (19:05) · Lucas Aplin (20:08)

10K · 2025 results

349finishers

31:50winner

59:15median

1:48:56cutoff

Top 3: Aaron Olson (31:50) · Samuel Dean (35:02) · Max Campos (36:29)

The HENRY VILAS ZOO - RUN WILD 2026 has been held every year since at least 2019. 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

5K9/27/2026 08:15$43

10K9/27/2026 08:00$43

1 Mile9/27/2026 09:30$30

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Common Questions About the HENRY VILAS ZOO - RUN WILD 2026

Will I finish last at the HENRY VILAS ZOO - RUN WILD 2026?

Almost certainly not. Half the 5K field finished slower than 33:43, and the last recorded finisher came in around 1:06:28, so there is a long tail of runners behind the middle of the pack. Most fields are far slower than people expect.

Is the HENRY VILAS ZOO - RUN WILD 2026 a good first 5K?

A field of 486 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 HENRY VILAS ZOO - RUN WILD 2026?

The 5K winner ran 18:51 while the median finisher took 33:43. That spread points to a mixed field, with a competitive front and a big recreational middle.