Sat, Aug 1, 2026

National Watermelon Day Run

Hartford, WI

Registration openAnnual since at least 2017
Half Marathon10K5K0.6 Miles

Entry is $42.50 now and rises to $50 after Jul 31, 2026, so registering before then saves $7.50.

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About the National Watermelon Day Run

The course runs through shaded trails, which makes a difference on what is typically a hot summer day. The route stays close to nature throughout, and the tree cover is the main reason to appreciate the setting. Several distance options mean you can go short or push further depending on what you are after.

Watermelon is waiting at the finish, cold and plentiful. It is the whole point of the theme, and on a warm summer morning it lands exactly right.

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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.

3.1 Miles · 2025 results

221finishers
25:39winner
45:14median
1:16:53cutoff

Top 3: Jakob Toerpe (25:39) · Ben Blattner (25:47) · Nolan Brill (26:10)

6.2 Miles · 2025 results

167finishers
41:02winner
1:03:56median
2:20:32cutoff

Top 3: Bennett Brightman (41:02) · Andrew McGuire (41:40) · Adam Siegel (44:10)

13.1 Miles · 2025 results

128finishers
1:25:04winner
2:17:02median
3:20:57cutoff

Top 3: Tony Provenzano (1:25:04) · Joe Huber III (1:26:29) · Nolan Baumhardt (1:26:29)

The National Watermelon Day Run has been held every year since at least 2017. 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 3.1 Miles 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

13.1 Miles8/1/2026 08:00$55
13.1 Miles8/1/2026 07:00$60
6.2 Miles8/1/2026 08:00$43
3.1 Miles8/1/2026 08:00$43
3.1 Miles8/1/2026 08:00$43
3.1 Miles8/1/2026 08:00$43
6.2 Miles8/1/2026 08:00$43
0.6 Miles8/1/2026 07:45Free

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 National Watermelon Day Run

Will I finish last at the National Watermelon Day Run?

Almost certainly not. Half the 3.1 Miles field finished slower than 45:14, and the last recorded finisher came in around 1:16:53, so there is a long tail of runners behind the middle of the pack. Most fields are far slower than people expect.

Is the National Watermelon Day Run a good first 3.1 Miles?

A field of 221 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 3.1 Miles, that spread matters more than the winner's time.

How competitive is the National Watermelon Day Run?

The 3.1 Miles winner ran 25:39 while the median finisher took 45:14. That spread points to a mixed field, with a competitive front and a big recreational middle.

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