Sat, Sep 19, 2026

Rock the Beat 5k

CHESAPEAKE, VA

Registration openAnnual since at least 2022

5K1 Mile

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

About the Rock the Beat 5k

The course runs along the Dismal Swamp Canal Trail, a flat path through quiet natural surroundings that works well for a steady effort. It benefits Mended Little Hearts of Coastal Virginia, a local chapter supporting families of children born with heart defects, so the crowd skews toward young kids and their parents rather than a purely racing crowd.

Packet pickup happens the evening before at a local farmers market, which is a pleasant alternative to race-morning chaos. There is a short kids' distance in addition to the main race, so families with small children often make a morning of it.

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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

61finishers

20:35winner

35:31median

58:06cutoff

Top 3: Bryan Gurnee (20:35) · Taylor Shipley (21:19) · Courtney Whitby (22:21)

1 Miles · 2025 results

56finishers

6:57winner

12:07median

22:11cutoff

Top 3: T. Hentschel (6:57) · B. Looney (6:57) · P. Lewis (7:02)

The Rock the Beat 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

5K9/19/2026 08:30$35

1 Mile9/19/2026 08:45$25

5K9/19/2026 08:45$40

Kids 1 Mile - Virtual9/19/2026 08:45$30

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 Rock the Beat 5k

Will I finish last at the Rock the Beat 5k?

Almost certainly not. Half the 5K field finished slower than 35:31, and the last recorded finisher came in around 58:06, so there is a long tail of runners behind the middle of the pack. Most fields are far slower than people expect.

Is the Rock the Beat 5k a good first 5K?

It is a small race (61 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 Rock the Beat 5k?

The 5K winner ran 20:35 while the median finisher took 35:31. That spread points to a mixed field, with a competitive front and a big recreational middle.