Sun, Aug 23, 2026

Race the Planes 5K

Anchorage, AK

Registration openAnnual since at least 2022

Entry is $35 now and rises to $40 after Jul 31, 2026, so registering before then saves $5.

About the Race the Planes 5K

The course runs alongside Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport, so planes take off and land overhead while you run. It is an unusual backdrop for a road race, and it makes the route feel distinct from a typical park loop. The race raises money for cancer patients who need travel assistance to reach treatment.

Parking is on a gravel pad along Point Woronzof Road, past Point Woronzof Park. Bib pickup is offered the evening before at a running store in downtown Anchorage, with a second pickup window at the start area on 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.

5K · 2025 results

102finishers

19:35winner

31:48median

1:08:38cutoff

Top 3: Rich Suddock (19:35) · Dan Harmeling (19:57) · Pat Duffy (20:26)

The Race the Planes 5K 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 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

5K8/23/2026 10:00$35

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

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Common Questions About the Race the Planes 5K

Will I finish last at the Race the Planes 5K?

Almost certainly not. Half the 5K field finished slower than 31:48, and the last recorded finisher came in around 1:08:38, 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 the Planes 5K a good first 5K?

It is a small race (102 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 Race the Planes 5K?

The 5K winner ran 19:35 while the median finisher took 31:48. That spread points to a mixed field, with a competitive front and a big recreational middle.