Sat, Aug 22, 2026

37th Annual Julie Diener 5K & Fun Run

Rainbow City, AL

Registration open37th annual

5K1 Mile

About the 37th Annual Julie Diener 5K & Fun Run

This race honors a Southside High School cross country runner who passed away decades ago, and the Southside wrestling team puts it on each year as their main fundraiser. That history gives the morning a specific weight. The course runs through Rainbow City, and the fun run follows after the main race wraps up.

Packet pickup and race-day registration both open at City Hall on Rainbow Drive before the gun goes off. Awards go to top overall finishers and to age group placers across a wide range of brackets, so faster runners and age groupers both have something to run toward.

Free race emails

Get the Weekly RunSesh

In for this one or still deciding, keep race season near Rainbow City on your radar: a Monday look ahead and a Thursday rundown of the weekend's races.

Two helpful emails per week. No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.

Finish-Time Stats

Going by the 2025 results, this is a small, friendly field, and the field is fairly quick, so expect a competitive front.

3.1 Miles · 2025 results

106finishers

17:25winner

26:00median

50:13cutoff

Top 3: Tanner Griggs (17:25) · Levi Kay (18:19) · Colt Mikle (18:23)

The 37th Annual Julie Diener 5K & Fun Run is in its 37th year.

Where Would You Finish?

Enter a finish time to see where it lands against the most recent 3.1 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

3.1 Miles8/22/2026 08:00$25

3.1 Miles8/22/2026 08:00$10

1 Mile8/22/2026 09:00$5

37th Annual Julie Diener SHIRT ONLY8/22/2026 09:00$15

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

Traveling for this race? The map shows hotels and rentals in and around Rainbow City — pan or zoom to compare what's nearby.

The map is provided by Stay22. If you book through it, RunSesh may earn a commission at no extra cost to you — it never affects the races we list.

Common Questions About the 37th Annual Julie Diener 5K & Fun Run

Will I finish last at the 37th Annual Julie Diener 5K & Fun Run?

Almost certainly not. Half the 3.1 Miles field finished slower than 26:00, and the last recorded finisher came in around 50:13, so there is a long tail of runners behind the middle of the pack. Most fields are far slower than people expect.

Is the 37th Annual Julie Diener 5K & Fun Run a good first 3.1 Miles?

It is a small race (106 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 3.1 Miles, that spread matters more than the winner's time.

How competitive is the 37th Annual Julie Diener 5K & Fun Run?

The 3.1 Miles winner ran 17:25 while the median finisher took 26:00. That spread points to a relatively quick field, so expect a competitive front end.