Sat, Jan 16, 2027

Light the Darkness 5K

Cocoa Beach, FL

Registration openAnnual since at least 2024

Entry is $30 now and rises to $35 after Dec 15, 2026, so registering before then saves $5.

About the Light the Darkness 5K

The course runs out and back along the beach at Lori Wilson Park, starting on the sand as the sun goes down. Because it is an evening race, runners are encouraged to wear headlamps, neon, and lit-up gear, and there are prizes for the best glow. The beach surface and the dark make this feel different from a typical road race morning.

Packet pickup and registration open in the late afternoon on race day at the park's south entrance. Afterward, there is a race village with vendors, a food truck, music, and a raffle. Overflow parking is available at a nearby fitness center if the park lots fill up.

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Light the Darkness 5K 2026 Results

Going by the 2026 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 Results · 2026

265finishers

20:34winner

49:32median

1:12:57cutoff

Top 3: Lee Kolias (20:34) · Noah Sabol (22:16) · Calla Gilbertson (22:35)

The Light the Darkness 5K has been held every year since at least 2024. 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 Nov 12, 2026.

Distances & Start Times

5K1/16/2027 17:30$30

5K1/16/2027 17:30$40

Vendor1/16/2027 15:45$50

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 Light the Darkness 5K

Will I finish last at the Light the Darkness 5K?

Almost certainly not. Half the 5K field finished slower than 49:32, and the last recorded finisher came in around 1:12:57, so there is a long tail of runners behind the middle of the pack. Most fields are far slower than people expect.

Is the Light the Darkness 5K a good first 5K?

A field of 265 is big enough that you will have company at your pace without feeling lost in a crowd. 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 Light the Darkness 5K?

The 5K winner ran 20:34 while the median finisher took 49:32. That spread points to a broad, mostly recreational field rather than a race dominated by club runners.