Sat, May 22, 2027

Race for the Red 5K

Grand Rapids, MI

Opens Nov 22, 2026Annual since at least 2026

Entry is $40 now and rises to $45 after Feb 22, 2027, so registering before then saves $5.

About the Race for the Red 5K

The course runs along paved paths through Riverside Park, near the baseball fields. It stays flat throughout, with a few rough patches worth watching underfoot. One of the more distinctive elements is the Turnout Challenge, where firefighters can run the whole thing in full gear, coat and pants, which draws its own crowd and its own award.

Packet pickup happens next to the start line on race morning, beside the bathhouse, with plenty of time before the gun. Parking is available in the park lot and along Monroe Avenue. After the race, a food truck sets up on site, and free donuts are out while supplies last.

Free race emails

Get the Weekly RunSesh

In for this one or still deciding, keep race season near Grand Rapids on your radar: a Monday look ahead and a Thursday rundown of the weekend's races.

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

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

221finishers

19:11winner

34:20median

1:08:06cutoff

Top 3: Jalen Bel (19:11) · Connor ODonohue (19:15) · Elijah Quigley (19:46)

The Race for the Red 5K has been held every year since at least 2026. 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

5K5/22/2027 09:30$40

5K5/22/2027 01:00$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.

Plan Your Trip

Where to Stay

Traveling for this race? The map shows hotels and rentals in and around Grand Rapids — 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 Race for the Red 5K

Will I finish last at the Race for the Red 5K?

Almost certainly not. Half the 5K field finished slower than 34:20, and the last recorded finisher came in around 1:08:06, so there is a long tail of runners behind the middle of the pack. Most fields are far slower than people expect.

Is the Race for the Red 5K a good first 5K?

A field of 221 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 Race for the Red 5K?

The 5K winner ran 19:11 while the median finisher took 34:20. That spread points to a mixed field, with a competitive front and a big recreational middle.