Sat, Sep 26, 2026

Run For The Hills 5k

Spruce Pine, NC

Registration openAnnual since at least 2025

About the Run For The Hills 5k

This race runs through Spruce Pine, a small mountain town still finding its footing after Hurricane Helene tore through the area. The course name says it plainly: there are hills. The terrain reflects the landscape around it, which is to say it is not flat, and the surroundings give you a sense of why the community wants this park back.

Packet pickup is at a pocket park on Lower Street the morning of the race, so you can roll in, grab your bib, and get your bearings in the same spot. Proceeds go toward rebuilding Riverside Park, which lost its playground, splash pad, amphitheater, and riverside path in the storm. Age group awards are offered across a wide spread of divisions.

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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

168finishers

19:34winner

37:38median

1:00:02cutoff

Top 3: brendan dean (19:34) · Luke Rooks (19:52) · Josh Brechbill (20:43)

The Run For The Hills 5k has been held every year since at least 2025. 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 Miles9/26/2026 09:00$35

3.1 Miles9/26/2026 09:00Free

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 The Hills 5k

Will I finish last at the Run For The Hills 5k?

Almost certainly not. Half the 3.1 Miles field finished slower than 37:38, and the last recorded finisher came in around 1:00:02, 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 Hills 5k a good first 3.1 Miles?

It is a small race (168 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 The Hills 5k?

The 3.1 Miles winner ran 19:34 while the median finisher took 37:38. That spread points to a broad, mostly recreational field rather than a race dominated by club runners.