Sun, Oct 18, 2026

Hot Chili Challenge 8 Mile Trail Run, 5K & Kids Fun Run

Andover, NJ

Registration openAnnual since at least 2017

8 Miles5K

Entry is $40 now and rises to $50 after Oct 4, 2026, so registering before then saves $10.

About the Hot Chili Challenge 8 Mile Trail Run, 5K & Kids Fun Run

The race runs through Hillside Park on trail, with both a longer trail distance and a shorter option for those who want something less demanding underfoot. The park setting keeps things shaded and natural, and the course feels removed from roads and pavement. The race benefits a free mammography program, so there is a charitable pull behind the entry fee.

After you finish, there is chili waiting, including a vegetarian option, along with grilled hotdogs and fresh fruit. The post-race spread is the social center of the morning, and it gives the event a gathering feel that lingers past the finish line.

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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

103finishers

20:35winner

32:39median

56:28cutoff

Top 3: OLIVIA HERZENBERG (20:35) · Mark Fagersten (20:40) · SHANNON JULIAN (20:48)

8 Miles · 2025 results

55finishers

1:05:54winner

1:27:24median

1:59:07cutoff

Top 3: NICHOLAS SAVIOLI (1:05:54) · DAVID LACOUTURE (1:08:07) · WILLIAM ROACH (1:08:04)

The Hot Chili Challenge 8 Mile Trail Run, 5K & Kids Fun Run has been held every year since at least 2017. 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

8 Miles10/18/2026 10:00$40

5K10/18/2026 10:20$40

Hot Chili Challenge Kids Fun Run10/18/2026 10:30$10

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

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Common Questions About the Hot Chili Challenge 8 Mile Trail Run, 5K & Kids Fun Run

Will I finish last at the Hot Chili Challenge 8 Mile Trail Run, 5K & Kids Fun Run?

Almost certainly not. Half the 5K field finished slower than 32:39, and the last recorded finisher came in around 56:28, so there is a long tail of runners behind the middle of the pack. Most fields are far slower than people expect.

Is the Hot Chili Challenge 8 Mile Trail Run, 5K & Kids Fun Run a good first 5K?

It is a small race (103 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 Hot Chili Challenge 8 Mile Trail Run, 5K & Kids Fun Run?

The 5K winner ran 20:35 while the median finisher took 32:39. That spread points to a mixed field, with a competitive front and a big recreational middle.