Sat, Oct 3, 2026

10th Annual KJ's 5K for Mental Health and Animal Rescue

Akron, OH

Registration open10th annual

Entry is $25 now and rises to $30 after Aug 31, 2026, so registering before then saves $5.

About the 10th Annual KJ's 5K for Mental Health and Animal Rescue

The race runs through Portage Lakes State Park, so expect trees, open water views, and natural terrain underfoot rather than city pavement. The cause behind it is specific: proceeds go toward suicide prevention through a local behavioral health organization and several animal rescue charities, and there is a remembrance ceremony after the run wraps up.

The start area is at the park, with check-in opening before the gun. Teams are encouraged, and there are awards for the largest, fastest, and most spirited groups alongside the overall individual podium spots. A virtual option lets people complete the distance on their own schedule, anywhere they choose.

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Finish-Time Stats

Going by the 2025 results, this is a small, friendly field, and the spread of finish times is wide, so this is a mostly recreational race rather than one for club runners.

5K · 2025 results

175finishers

21:20winner

59:30median

1:18:20cutoff

Top 3: Alysia Rogers (21:20) · Aaron Cook (22:55) · Jackson Bahry (24:01)

The 10th Annual KJ's 5K for Mental Health and Animal Rescue is in its 10th year.

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

5K10/3/2026 09:00$25

5K10/3/2026 09:00$30

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Common Questions About the 10th Annual KJ's 5K for Mental Health and Animal Rescue

Will I finish last at the 10th Annual KJ's 5K for Mental Health and Animal Rescue?

Almost certainly not. Half the 5K field finished slower than 59:30, and the last recorded finisher came in around 1:18:20, so there is a long tail of runners behind the middle of the pack. Most fields are far slower than people expect.

Is the 10th Annual KJ's 5K for Mental Health and Animal Rescue a good first 5K?

It is a small race (175 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 10th Annual KJ's 5K for Mental Health and Animal Rescue?

The 5K winner ran 21:20 while the median finisher took 59:30. That spread points to a broad, mostly recreational field rather than a race dominated by club runners.