Sat, Dec 12, 2026

Lights & Sirens Race for Hope for Special Olympics North Carolina

Concord, NC

Registration openAnnual since at least 2025

5K1.5 Miles

Entry is $20 now and rises to $25 after Nov 30, 2026, so registering before then saves $5.

About the Lights & Sirens Race for Hope for Special Olympics North Carolina

The course runs on the Charlotte Motor Speedway track itself, which is a rarer setting than most local road races. The surface is smooth banked asphalt, and the route takes you around the infield and along the oval where stock cars run. There are distance options, including a shorter untimed route suited to walkers and families alongside the main race.

Packet pickup starts race morning in the infield area. Parking is inside the track, entering through one of the tunnels, with directional signs from Special Olympics North Carolina guiding you in. The start area has the feel of a pit lane morning, open and a little surreal if you have only ever watched the track from the stands.

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Finish-Time Stats

Going by the 2025 results, this is a small, friendly field, with a competitive front end and a big recreational middle.

5K · 2025 results

266finishers

17:02winner

30:16median

59:36cutoff

Top 3: Nathaniel Ingram (17:02) · Parker Swicegood (17:12) · Nicolas Hammann (17:49)

The Lights & Sirens Race for Hope for Special Olympics North Carolina 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 Jul 27, 2026.

Distances & Start Times

5K12/12/2026 10:00$25

1.5 Miles12/12/2026 10:00$20

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

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Common Questions About the Lights & Sirens Race for Hope for Special Olympics North Carolina

Will I finish last at the Lights & Sirens Race for Hope for Special Olympics North Carolina?

Almost certainly not. Half the 5K field finished slower than 30:16, and the last recorded finisher came in around 59:36, so there is a long tail of runners behind the middle of the pack. Most fields are far slower than people expect.

Is the Lights & Sirens Race for Hope for Special Olympics North Carolina a good first 5K?

A field of 266 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 Lights & Sirens Race for Hope for Special Olympics North Carolina?

The 5K winner ran 17:02 while the median finisher took 30:16. That spread points to a mixed field, with a competitive front and a big recreational middle.