Sat, Sep 26, 2026

OktoberfestGR Bier Stein 5K and 8K

Grand Rapids, MI

Registration openAnnual since at least 2025
5K8K
Register · From $30

About the OktoberfestGR Bier Stein 5K and 8K

The race runs through Riverside Park, tracing paths alongside the river, cutting through the middle of the park, and passing a Veterans home before looping through a wooded section with a bridge over a creek. The courses share most of their route, with the longer distance adding an out-and-back stretch along a wide riverside path before rejoining the shared finish near the Oktoberfest venue.

Packet pickup happens at two times: the evening before inside the Oktoberfest event at the park, or on race morning, also inside the festival. The organizers are clear that morning pickup closes promptly, so arriving early matters. Post-race, the festival is right there, with beer and wine on offer after you finish.

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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.

3.1 Miles · 2025 results

422finishers
15:21winner
31:30median
1:02:09cutoff

Top 3: Sam Baustert (15:21) · Colin Herrmann (15:41) · Jayden VanMaurick (16:35)

The OktoberfestGR Bier Stein 5K and 8K has been held every year since at least 2025. 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

3.1 Miles9/26/2026 11:00$35
8K9/26/2026 10:45$30

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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Where to Stay

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Common Questions About the OktoberfestGR Bier Stein 5K and 8K

Will I finish last at the OktoberfestGR Bier Stein 5K and 8K?

Almost certainly not. Half the 3.1 Miles field finished slower than 31:30, and the last recorded finisher came in around 1:02:09, so there is a long tail of runners behind the middle of the pack. Most fields are far slower than people expect.

Is the OktoberfestGR Bier Stein 5K and 8K a good first 3.1 Miles?

A field of 422 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 OktoberfestGR Bier Stein 5K and 8K?

The 3.1 Miles winner ran 15:21 while the median finisher took 31:30. That spread points to a broad, mostly recreational field rather than a race dominated by club runners.

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