North Carolina · Race calendar
Upcoming running races in and near Winston-Salem, North Carolina - 5Ks, 10Ks, half marathons and more, with dates, pricing, finish-time stats, start-line maps, and local run clubs to train with.
33 upcoming races · 23 with finish-time stats
Winston-Salem has made room for runners in a way you notice quickly. Salem Lake's 7-mile crushed-gravel loop anchors the long-run calendar for a big slice of the local running community, while the Salem Creek Greenway ties Old Salem to the lake trail and the Reynolda Village area gives the north side its own reliable loop. Group runs and post-run stops cluster around Bailey Park and Wise Man Brewery downtown.
The seasonal reality here is classic inland North Carolina: summers run hot and humid, which makes the fall race calendar feel like a reward. Most everyday miles in Winston-Salem happen on paved paths and greenways, with the lake trail offering the main change of texture for anyone who wants to get off the pavement before race day.
By the numbers
The Winston-Salem races that stand out on the numbers: the biggest field, and the longest unbroken run of editions.
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 Sep 10, 2026.
Across the 29 Winston-Salem 5K editions on RunSesh with published results - walkers and charity entrants included - the median finish time was 34:08, with the last finisher typically crossing at 1:01:42. Fields here tend to be small: the median field size is 53. A smaller race means fewer runners to disappear into, but it also means the atmosphere is relaxed and nobody is paying close attention to your clock.
Across the 12 half marathon editions on RunSesh with published results, the median finish time was 2:02:33, the median winning time was 1:41:13, and the last finisher typically came in at 2:54:22. The median field size was 10, so these are genuinely small, low-key events - closer to a group training run than a big race morning.
Fall is by far the most active stretch, with 17 races between September and November, and September alone has 6. If your training block lands in summer, there are still 8 races to choose from. January is the quietest month with just 1 race, so if you are building toward a spring goal, plan accordingly.
For most races here, yes. 19 of the 35 races have a price increase already scheduled, so registering early is the straightforward way to pay less. Entry fees run from $5 to $110, with a typical entry sitting at $30. The $5 races are a real outlier - if budget matters, those are worth a close look as soon as your calendar is set.
Several races offer 5K, 10K, and half marathon distances on the same day. Eagle 5K, 10K, & 13.1M at Winston-Salem, NC (29), Christmas 5K/10K/Half Marathon in July - Winston Salem, Ninja 5K, 10K, & 13.1M at Winston-Salem, NC (32), Ninja 5K, 10K, & 13.1M at Winston-Salem, NC (33), and Medal Madness 5K, 10K, & 13.1M all do this. Hobby Trails To You! pairs a 5K with a 10K on trail.
Yes, one race around Winston-Salem gets you off the pavement: 1 is a trail race. Surfaces are not always published, so it is worth checking a specific race before you register.
