Sat, Sep 26, 2026

Rome Sweet Home 5K

Topeka, KS

Registration openAnnual since at least 2022

About the Rome Sweet Home 5K

The course starts outside Johnny's Tavern, loops around the back of Wheatfield Village, then picks up the Shunga Trail at Fairlawn Road. From there it is a straight out-and-back on the trail to a water station turnaround, then back the same way. The trail keeps things shaded and smooth underfoot, away from traffic.

The race is part of a much larger day. Later in the afternoon there is a mass, followed by a live rock concert, a beer garden, food trucks, carnival games, and a fireworks display to close things out. If you are bringing family, there is plenty to keep everyone around after you finish.

Free race emails

Get the Weekly RunSesh

In for this one or still deciding, keep race season near Topeka 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 2025 results, this is a small, friendly field, with a competitive front end and a big recreational middle.

5K · 2025 results

89finishers

21:03winner

35:03median

1:07:20cutoff

Top 3: Grant Lenherr (21:03) · Ethan Rochford (21:36) · Will Carrey (23:06)

The Rome Sweet Home 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 Sep 10, 2026.

Distances & Start Times

5K9/26/2026 08:00$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

Traveling for this race? The map shows hotels and rentals in and around Topeka — 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 Rome Sweet Home 5K

Will I finish last at the Rome Sweet Home 5K?

Almost certainly not. Half the 5K field finished slower than 35:03, and the last recorded finisher came in around 1:07:20, so there is a long tail of runners behind the middle of the pack. Most fields are far slower than people expect.

Is the Rome Sweet Home 5K a good first 5K?

It is a small race (89 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 Rome Sweet Home 5K?

The 5K winner ran 21:03 while the median finisher took 35:03. That spread points to a mixed field, with a competitive front and a big recreational middle.