Sat, Aug 21, 2027

38th Annual Julie Diener 5K & Fun Run

Rainbow City, AL

Opens Jul 1, 202738th annual

5K1 Mile

About the 38th 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.

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38th Annual Julie Diener 5K & Fun Run 2026 Results

Going by the 2026 results, this is a small, friendly field, and the field is fairly quick, so expect a competitive front.

5K Results · 2026

86finishers

17:24winner

26:03median

49:48cutoff

Top 3: Chase Hall (17:24) · Connor Christopher (17:36) · Keegan Sherrell (17:53)

The 38th Annual Julie Diener 5K & Fun Run is in its 38th 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 Oct 25, 2026.

Distances & Start Times

3.1 Miles8/21/2027 08:00$30

3.1 Miles8/21/2027 08:00$10

1 Mile8/21/2027 09:00$5

38th Annual Julie Diener SHIRT ONLY8/21/2027 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.

Not sure what to aim for? The 5K pace chart lists the pace for every finish time.

Plan Your Trip

Where to Stay

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Common Questions About the 38th Annual Julie Diener 5K & Fun Run

Will I finish last at the 38th Annual Julie Diener 5K & Fun Run?

Almost certainly not. Half the 3.1 Miles field finished slower than 26:03, and the last recorded finisher came in around 49:48, so there is a long tail of runners behind the middle of the pack. Most fields are far slower than people expect.

Is the 38th Annual Julie Diener 5K & Fun Run a good first 3.1 Miles?

It is a small race (86 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 38th Annual Julie Diener 5K & Fun Run?

The 3.1 Miles winner ran 17:24 while the median finisher took 26:03. That spread points to a relatively quick field, so expect a competitive front end.

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