Sun, Nov 22, 2026

Merry Fitness 5k

Jacksonville, NC

Registration openAnnual since at least 2019

Entry is $35 now and rises to $45 after Nov 9, 2026, so registering before then saves $10.

About the Merry Fitness 5k

The course runs through a Christmas Town setup at ELJ Farms, with lights and holiday decorations along the route. It is an evening race, so you are running in the dark with the lights around you rather than in daylight. The proceeds go toward scholarship opportunities for local kids to participate in a youth running program.

Packet pickup is offered the evening before at a local restaurant on Gum Branch Road, with a shorter window on race day at the farm itself. The organizers suggest picking up early to avoid a rush before the start.

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Merry Fitness 5k 2025 Results

Going by the 2025 results, this is a decent-sized field, with a competitive front end and a big recreational middle.

5K Results · 2025

597finishers

18:31winner

34:32median

1:14:55cutoff

Top 3: Reagan Clifton (18:31) · Isabell Maxwell (19:34) · Anthony Cercone (20:05)

The Merry Fitness 5k 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 Oct 25, 2026.

Distances & Start Times

5K11/22/2026 17:00$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

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Common Questions About the Merry Fitness 5k

Will I finish last at the Merry Fitness 5k?

Almost certainly not. Half the 5K field finished slower than 34:32, and the last recorded finisher came in around 1:14:55, so there is a long tail of runners behind the middle of the pack. Most fields are far slower than people expect.

Is the Merry Fitness 5k a good first 5K?

A field of 597 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 Merry Fitness 5k?

The 5K winner ran 18:31 while the median finisher took 34:32. That spread points to a mixed field, with a competitive front and a big recreational middle.