The course runs through Fort Fisher, a coastal area with the kind of scenery you get when the route sits close to the water. Several distance options make it work for seasoned runners and those just getting out for a walk-jog morning alike. The event benefits the NC Aquarium at Fort Fisher, with proceeds going toward ocean and aquatic conservation efforts.
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Going by the 2026 results, this is a small, friendly field, and the spread of finish times is wide, so this is a mostly recreational race rather than one for club runners.
Top 3: Trey Helms (18:38) · Tyler Carroll (18:57) · Anya Turner (19:40)
The Race for the Planet has been held every year since at least 2019. That is as far back as RunSignup's records for this race go, so it may well be older.
Enter a finish time to see where it lands against the most recent 3.1 Miles results.
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 Nov 12, 2026.
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Not sure what to aim for? The 5K pace chart lists the pace for every finish time.
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Almost certainly not. Half the 3.1 Miles field finished slower than 35:58, and the last recorded finisher came in around 1:02:57, so there is a long tail of runners behind the middle of the pack. Most fields are far slower than people expect.
A field of 291 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.
The 3.1 Miles winner ran 18:38 while the median finisher took 35:58. That spread points to a broad, mostly recreational field rather than a race dominated by club runners.
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