Fri, Jul 16, 2027

Night Light 5k

Springfield, MO

Registration closedAnnual since at least 2023

5K1 Mile

Entry is $35 now and rises to $40 after May 4, 2027, so registering before then saves $5.

About the Night Light 5k

This is a nighttime race, and the course is built around that. Runners pass through glowing arches, encounter oversized shark and kraken props along the way, and move through on-course music and pump-up stations. Cold sparks, confetti, and fog mark the start. The whole thing is designed to feel more like a lit-up obstacle corridor than a road race.

Pickup the day before is at Fleet Feet Springfield, with a second window at the event site before the start. Post-race, there is cotton candy and snow cones in the finish area.

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Night Light 5k 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

534finishers

17:12winner

35:31median

1:03:51cutoff

Top 3: Mason Gaines (17:12) · Ethan Dodd (17:31) · Dustin Nance (18:36)

1 Miles Results · 2026

41finishers

6:53winner

16:45median

40:01cutoff

Top 3: W. Budler (6:53) · Emma Kraus (8:24) · Ashlee Jackson (8:34)

The Night Light 5k has been held every year since at least 2023. 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 Oct 23, 2026.

Distances & Start Times

3.1 Miles7/16/2027 20:30$35

1 Mile7/16/2027 20:35$30

Virtual Run7/16/2027 20:30$50

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 Springfield — pan or zoom to compare what's nearby.

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Common Questions About the Night Light 5k

Will I finish last at the Night Light 5k?

Almost certainly not. Half the 3.1 Miles field finished slower than 35:31, and the last recorded finisher came in around 1:03:51, so there is a long tail of runners behind the middle of the pack. Most fields are far slower than people expect.

Is the Night Light 5k a good first 3.1 Miles?

A field of 534 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 Night Light 5k?

The 3.1 Miles winner ran 17:12 while the median finisher took 35:31. That spread points to a broad, mostly recreational field rather than a race dominated by club runners.

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