Sat, Oct 31, 2026

Last Fright 5K 2026

Salem, VA

Registration openAnnual since at least 2025

5K1 Mile

About the Last Fright 5K 2026

The course runs on the grounds of a high school, and the race benefits that school's cross country team directly. It falls on Halloween morning, so expect costumes at the start line. There are distance options for serious runners and for families with younger kids. The pace of the crowd skews casual, but age-group awards go to the top finishers in the main race.

The start and finish are both on the school property. Younger finishers get a treat bag at the finish line. The race raises money for the host school's cross country program, so the volunteers and the energy around the finish tend to reflect that.

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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.

5K · 2025 results

9finishers

20:04winner

29:15median

42:56cutoff

Top 3: Nick Smith (20:04) · C. Compton (23:40) · Aaron Smith (25:41)

The Last Fright 5K 2026 has been held every year since at least 2025. 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 Sep 10, 2026.

Distances & Start Times

5K10/31/2026 08:00$20

1 Mile10/31/2026 08:00$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.

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Common Questions About the Last Fright 5K 2026

Will I finish last at the Last Fright 5K 2026?

Almost certainly not. Half the 5K field finished slower than 29:15, and the last recorded finisher came in around 42:56, so there is a long tail of runners behind the middle of the pack. Most fields are far slower than people expect.

Is the Last Fright 5K 2026 a good first 5K?

It is a small race (9 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 Last Fright 5K 2026?

The 5K winner ran 20:04 while the median finisher took 29:15. That spread points to a relatively quick field, so expect a competitive front end.