Sun, Nov 29, 2026

Navesink Challenge 12k & 5k

Middletown, NJ

Registration openAnnual since at least 2016

12K5K

Entry is $36 now and rises to $37 after Jul 31, 2026, so registering before then saves $1.

About the Navesink Challenge 12k & 5k

The Navesink Challenge runs over Thanksgiving weekend, put on by the Jersey Shore Running Club. The course is in Middletown, and the township prohibits strollers, bikes, and dogs on the route, so expect a clean field of runners.

Packet pickup runs across several windows before race morning, including an evening slot at Birdsmouth Brewing and options at a Little League clubhouse in Bodman Park on Market Street in Red Bank. The post-race party returns to Birdsmouth Brewing, where runners and volunteers get a complimentary beer, and there are raffle prizes and team award recognition.

Free race emails

Get the Weekly RunSesh

In for this one or still deciding, keep race season near Middletown on your radar: a Monday look ahead and a Thursday rundown of the weekend's races.

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

Finish-Time Stats

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

12K · 2025 results

536finishers

39:30winner

1:07:50median

1:48:26cutoff

Top 3: Brian Hill (39:30) · Troy Hill (39:55) · Mark Viggiano (41:23)

5K · 2025 results

431finishers

17:01winner

33:55median

1:21:44cutoff

Top 3: Tim McInerney (17:01) · John Conley (18:40) · Bryce Conley (18:49)

The Navesink Challenge 12k & 5k has been held every year since at least 2016. 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 12K 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

12K11/29/2026 10:00$36

5K11/29/2026 10:10$36

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

Traveling for this race? The map shows hotels and rentals in and around Middletown — 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 Navesink Challenge 12k & 5k

Will I finish last at the Navesink Challenge 12k & 5k?

Almost certainly not. Half the 12K field finished slower than 1:07:50, and the last recorded finisher came in around 1:48:26, so there is a long tail of runners behind the middle of the pack. Most fields are far slower than people expect.

Is the Navesink Challenge 12k & 5k a good first 12K?

A field of 536 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 12K, that spread matters more than the winner's time.

How competitive is the Navesink Challenge 12k & 5k?

The 12K winner ran 39:30 while the median finisher took 1:07:50. That spread points to a mixed field, with a competitive front and a big recreational middle.