Sat, Jan 23, 2027

Polar Bear Plunge 5K

Copperas Cove, TX

Registration openAnnual since at least 2020

Entry is $25 now and rises to $35 after Jan 12, 2027, so registering before then saves $10.

About the Polar Bear Plunge 5K

The course runs several loops around Copperas Cove City Park, starting and finishing near the park pool. It is a park run in winter, so expect bare trees and cool air rather than shade. The route is short enough to feel fast, and the park setting keeps it simple and contained.

Bib pickup runs a couple of days before the race at the Copperas Cove Civic Center, with same-morning pickup also available. After the race, raffle prizes are drawn while results are tallied, and runners can take a plunge into the pool for the Polar Bear Plunge itself, belly flop included.

Free race emails

Get the Weekly RunSesh

Get races near Copperas Cove in your inbox. Every Monday we send the races coming up, and every Thursday we send the ones happening that weekend.

Two helpful emails per week. No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.

Polar Bear Plunge 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

350finishers

16:34winner

35:27median

1:17:05cutoff

Top 3: Jeremiah Calderon (16:34) · Anthony Carter (18:28) · Damari Patterson (19:02)

The Polar Bear Plunge 5K has been held every year since at least 2020. 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 Oct 25, 2026.

Distances & Start Times

5K1/23/2027 08:30$25

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 Copperas Cove — pan or zoom to compare what's nearby.

The map is provided by Stay22. If you book through it, RunSesh may earn a commission at no extra cost to you — it never affects the races we list.

Common Questions About the Polar Bear Plunge 5K

Will I finish last at the Polar Bear Plunge 5K?

Almost certainly not. Half the 5K field finished slower than 35:27, and the last recorded finisher came in around 1:17:05, so there is a long tail of runners behind the middle of the pack. Most fields are far slower than people expect.

Is the Polar Bear Plunge 5K a good first 5K?

A field of 350 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 Polar Bear Plunge 5K?

The 5K winner ran 16:34 while the median finisher took 35:27. That spread points to a broad, mostly recreational field rather than a race dominated by club runners.

Browse the Race Calendar

5K Races in January 5K Races in Texas in January Winter 5K Races

Want more races like this delivered straight to your inbox?