Sun, Sep 20, 2026

Run For Gold 5K

Ithaca, NY

Registration openAnnual since at least 2024

Entry is $25 now and rises to $30 after Sep 19, 2026, so registering before then saves $5.

About the Run For Gold 5K

The course runs through Spruce Row Campground, which gives it a different feel from a road race. Expect campground paths rather than pavement, with trees around you and a setting that feels removed from town. The race benefits a nonprofit supporting families in the state dealing with childhood cancer, and a bone marrow donor registry will have a table on site.

Parking is inside the campground, with attendants and signs guiding you in from the road. After the race, there is fruit, protein bars, and beer from a local brewery available at the finish area.

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Finish-Time Stats

Going by the 2025 results, this is a small, friendly field, and the spread of finish times is wide, so this is a mostly recreational race rather than one for club runners.

3.1 Miles · 2025 results

96finishers

17:34winner

39:17median

1:03:44cutoff

Top 3: Alexander Simpson (17:34) · Miles Rouches (18:24) · Jamie Schappi (19:26)

The Run For Gold 5K has been held every year since at least 2024. 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 Jul 27, 2026.

Distances & Start Times

3.1 Miles9/20/2026 10:00$25

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 Run For Gold 5K

Will I finish last at the Run For Gold 5K?

Almost certainly not. Half the 3.1 Miles field finished slower than 39:17, and the last recorded finisher came in around 1:03:44, so there is a long tail of runners behind the middle of the pack. Most fields are far slower than people expect.

Is the Run For Gold 5K a good first 3.1 Miles?

It is a small race (96 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 3.1 Miles, that spread matters more than the winner's time.

How competitive is the Run For Gold 5K?

The 3.1 Miles winner ran 17:34 while the median finisher took 39:17. That spread points to a broad, mostly recreational field rather than a race dominated by club runners.