Sat, Sep 12, 2026

Polka Pace Race

Havana, IL

Registration openAnnual since at least 2022

5K1 Mile

About the Polka Pace Race

The course runs through downtown Havana on certified roads, dipping into Riverfront Park before winding back along historic brick streets to Main Street. It is a genuine neighborhood tour where you feel the texture of an older town underfoot. The route is flat enough to move quickly but interesting enough that you are looking around.

Packet pickup happens race morning on Main Street, so there is no separate trip the day before. After you finish, breakfast is available for purchase nearby. The race is part of Havana's Oktoberfest weekend, so the streets around the finish area have more going on than a typical race morning.

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Finish-Time Stats

Going by the 2025 results, this is a small, friendly field, with a competitive front end and a big recreational middle.

3.1 Miles · 2025 results

132finishers

19:49winner

32:26median

58:28cutoff

Top 3: Justin Batterton (19:49) · Dusty Day (20:32) · Allen Staton (21:10)

The Polka Pace Race 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 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 Miles9/12/2026 08:00$30

1 Mile9/12/2026 09:00$15

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

Traveling for this race? The map shows hotels and rentals in and around Havana — pan or zoom to compare what's nearby.

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Common Questions About the Polka Pace Race

Will I finish last at the Polka Pace Race?

Almost certainly not. Half the 3.1 Miles field finished slower than 32:26, and the last recorded finisher came in around 58:28, so there is a long tail of runners behind the middle of the pack. Most fields are far slower than people expect.

Is the Polka Pace Race a good first 3.1 Miles?

It is a small race (132 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 3.1 Miles, that spread matters more than the winner's time.

How competitive is the Polka Pace Race?

The 3.1 Miles winner ran 19:49 while the median finisher took 32:26. That spread points to a mixed field, with a competitive front and a big recreational middle.