Sat, Apr 17, 2027

OWLS Fort Macon 5K Trail Run

Atlantic Beach, NC

Registration openAnnual since at least 2024

About the OWLS Fort Macon 5K Trail Run

The course runs through Fort Macon on cross-country-style terrain, moving between shaded woods and open sun. Footbridges break up the route, and water surrounds you on multiple sides, with the inlet, the sound, and the open ocean all visible at different points. The trail has moderate elevation, so there is some up and down, but nothing sustained.

The race benefits OWLS Wildlife Center, a nonprofit focused on rescuing and rehabilitating native wildlife. Packet pickup runs the evening before at the OWLS facility in Newport, which is worth a visit on its own given what the organization does. Race-morning options were not spelled out, so picking up the night before is the safer plan.

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Finish-Time Stats

Going by the 2026 results, this is a small, friendly field, with a competitive front end and a big recreational middle.

5K · 2026 results

107finishers

21:04winner

35:23median

1:23:17cutoff

Top 3: Johnathon Johnson (21:04) · Tina Morrison (21:51) · Sarah Siegle (23:18)

The OWLS Fort Macon 5K Trail Run has been held every year since at least 2024. 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

5K4/17/2027 09:00$40

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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Common Questions About the OWLS Fort Macon 5K Trail Run

Will I finish last at the OWLS Fort Macon 5K Trail Run?

Almost certainly not. Half the 5K field finished slower than 35:23, and the last recorded finisher came in around 1:23:17, so there is a long tail of runners behind the middle of the pack. Most fields are far slower than people expect.

Is the OWLS Fort Macon 5K Trail Run a good first 5K?

It is a small race (107 finishers), which is friendlier and less intimidating than a big-city event, though the field thins out. 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 OWLS Fort Macon 5K Trail Run?

The 5K winner ran 21:04 while the median finisher took 35:23. That spread points to a mixed field, with a competitive front and a big recreational middle.