Sat, May 8, 2027

Melissa's Race to Battle Brain Cancer

Sanford, FL

Opens Nov 22, 2026Annual since at least 2019

Entry is $35 now and rises to $40 after Dec 31, 2026, so registering before then saves $5.

About the Melissa's Race to Battle Brain Cancer

The course runs through Civic Center Park in Sanford, and the race is built around brain cancer research as its central purpose. Awards go deep into age groups, and both overall and masters competitors have their own categories, so there is real racing happening alongside everyone else out on the course.

Packet pickup runs on the two evenings before race day at a local brewery, Deviant Wolfe Brewing in Sanford, with a final option at the registration tent in the park on race morning. The opening ceremony features a national anthem, and a butterfly release closes things out after the finish.

Free race emails

Get the Weekly RunSesh

Get races near Sanford in your inbox. Every Monday we send the races coming up, and every Thursday we send the ones happening that weekend.

Two helpful emails per week. No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.

Melissa's Race to Battle Brain Cancer 2026 Results

Going by the 2026 results, this is a decent-sized 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

858finishers

18:25winner

41:16median

1:11:37cutoff

Top 3: Cade Vazquez (18:25) · Victor Hung (18:32) · Cole Brooks (18:46)

The Melissa's Race to Battle Brain Cancer has been held every year since at least 2019. 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

5K5/8/2027 07:00$35

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

Traveling for this race? The map shows hotels and rentals in and around Sanford — pan or zoom to compare what's nearby.

The map is provided by Stay22. If you book through it, RunSesh may earn a commission at no extra cost to you — it never affects the races we list.

Common Questions About the Melissa's Race to Battle Brain Cancer

Will I finish last at the Melissa's Race to Battle Brain Cancer?

Almost certainly not. Half the 5K field finished slower than 41:16, and the last recorded finisher came in around 1:11:37, so there is a long tail of runners behind the middle of the pack. Most fields are far slower than people expect.

Is the Melissa's Race to Battle Brain Cancer a good first 5K?

With 858 finishers there are runners at every pace, so you are never out on your own. 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 Melissa's Race to Battle Brain Cancer?

The 5K winner ran 18:25 while the median finisher took 41:16. That spread points to a broad, mostly recreational field rather than a race dominated by club runners.

Browse the Race Calendar

5K Races in May 5K Races in Florida in May Spring 5K Races

Want more races like this delivered straight to your inbox?