Sat, Oct 24, 2026

Nightmare In Elmwood 5k

Columbia, SC

Registration openAnnual since at least 2022

5K1 Mile

About the Nightmare In Elmwood 5k

The course runs through the Elmwood Park neighborhood, starting and finishing behind Palmetto Life Church on Bryan Street. It is a Halloween-themed race, so most people show up in costume, and prizes go to the most creative outfits. Strollers and leashed dogs are welcome on the course.

Packet pickup is the evening before at The War Mouth on Franklin Street, where the bar runs Halloween drink specials if you want to stay a bit. Several parking lots are within easy reach of the start, including the grass and paved lots at Palmetto Life Church and a school lot on Elmwood Avenue. Race-morning pickup opens near the start line.

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Finish-Time Stats

Going by the 2025 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 · 2025 results

507finishers

17:25winner

36:42median

1:09:41cutoff

Top 3: Marc Kushinka (17:25) · Ryan Schaffer (17:38) · Demetris McCray (17:49)

The Nightmare In Elmwood 5k has been held every year since at least 2022. 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 Jul 27, 2026.

Distances & Start Times

5K10/24/2026 10:00$35

1 Mile10/24/2026 09:30$20

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

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Common Questions About the Nightmare In Elmwood 5k

Will I finish last at the Nightmare In Elmwood 5k?

Almost certainly not. Half the 5K field finished slower than 36:42, and the last recorded finisher came in around 1:09:41, so there is a long tail of runners behind the middle of the pack. Most fields are far slower than people expect.

Is the Nightmare In Elmwood 5k a good first 5K?

A field of 507 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 Nightmare In Elmwood 5k?

The 5K winner ran 17:25 while the median finisher took 36:42. That spread points to a broad, mostly recreational field rather than a race dominated by club runners.