Sat, Feb 6, 2027

Ripley's Penguin Dash Run/Walk

Myrtle Beach, SC

Registration openAnnual since at least 2023

5K1 Mile50 Yards

Entry is $25 now and rises to $30 after Nov 1, 2026, so registering before then saves $5.

About the Ripley's Penguin Dash Run/Walk

The course starts and finishes outside Ripley's Aquarium, winding through the Broadway at the Beach outdoor shopping and dining complex. Costumes are common, and the atmosphere leans more toward a celebration than a race. Proceeds support penguin conservation through a South African coastal birds foundation.

A free penguin-themed waddle takes place at the aquarium later that same morning, open to all ages who register online in advance. The aquarium's own characters, Norman and Sharkee, are part of the morning, and there is a chance the penguins themselves make an appearance.

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Ripley's Penguin Dash Run/Walk 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

327finishers

17:22winner

38:49median

1:08:23cutoff

Top 3: Mark Andrews (17:22) · Matt Feagin (18:07) · Craig Wahl (19:20)

The Ripley's Penguin Dash Run/Walk has been held every year since at least 2023. 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 Oct 25, 2026.

Distances & Start Times

3.1 Miles2/6/2027 08:00$35

1 Mile2/6/2027 08:05$25

50 Yards2/6/2027 09:05Free

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.

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Where to Stay

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Common Questions About the Ripley's Penguin Dash Run/Walk

Will I finish last at the Ripley's Penguin Dash Run/Walk?

Almost certainly not. Half the 3.1 Miles field finished slower than 38:49, and the last recorded finisher came in around 1:08:23, so there is a long tail of runners behind the middle of the pack. Most fields are far slower than people expect.

Is the Ripley's Penguin Dash Run/Walk a good first 3.1 Miles?

A field of 327 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.

How competitive is the Ripley's Penguin Dash Run/Walk?

The 3.1 Miles winner ran 17:22 while the median finisher took 38:49. That spread points to a broad, mostly recreational field rather than a race dominated by club runners.