Sat, Sep 26, 2026

Run for the Animals

Bridgeton, NJ

Registration openAnnual since at least 2023

5K1 Mile

About the Run for the Animals

The course starts and finishes at the Cohanzick Zoo, a small free zoo set inside a large city park that the organizer describes as tucked into the woods. The route runs along the zoo's exterior, so you get a sense of the grounds without going inside. Leashed dogs are welcome on the course, though they have to stay outside the zoo itself.

Packet pickup opens race morning at the zoo parking lot, so there is no need to come the day before. Parking is at the high school nearby, with a short walk down to the zoo entrance from there. Restrooms are available at a couple of spots along the way.

Free race emails

Get the Weekly RunSesh

In for this one or still deciding, keep race season near Bridgeton 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

66finishers

20:07winner

33:28median

58:44cutoff

Top 3: Geno DiJoseph (20:07) · Brad VanPelt (20:31) · Gustavo Restrepo (21:48)

The Run for the Animals 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 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

5K9/26/2026 09:00$35

1 Mile9/26/2026 09:00$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

Traveling for this race? The map shows hotels and rentals in and around Bridgeton — 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 Run for the Animals

Will I finish last at the Run for the Animals?

Almost certainly not. Half the 5K field finished slower than 33:28, and the last recorded finisher came in around 58:44, 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 the Animals a good first 5K?

It is a small race (66 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 Run for the Animals?

The 5K winner ran 20:07 while the median finisher took 33:28. That spread points to a mixed field, with a competitive front and a big recreational middle.