Sun, Jun 20, 2027

Run for the Ribbon 5K Run/Walk

Royal Oak, MI

Opens Mar 19, 2027Annual since at least 2017

5K1 Mile

Entry is $30 now and rises to $35 after May 19, 2027, so registering before then saves $5.

About the Run for the Ribbon 5K Run/Walk

The course runs inside the Detroit Zoo, which means the surroundings are anything but a typical road race. Participants can do a loop through the zoo grounds or a shorter stroll, and the setting pulls attention away from pace in a good way. It is a prostate cancer awareness event, so many people are running in memory of or alongside someone.

Parking is available in the zoo's parking structure or a surface lot near the main entrance. The race is held on Father's Day, so the crowd skews toward families. Dogs are not permitted on zoo grounds, per zoo policy.

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Finish-Time Stats

Going by the 2026 results, this is a decent-sized field, and the spread of finish times is wide, so this is a mostly recreational race rather than one for club runners.

5K · 2026 results

646finishers

16:22winner

40:01median

1:16:51cutoff

Top 3: Daniel Garza (16:22) · Adam Dicken (17:07) · Carter Eckley (17:22)

The Run for the Ribbon 5K Run/Walk has been held every year since at least 2017. 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

5K6/20/2027 08:00$30

1 Mile6/20/2027 08:00$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 the Ribbon 5K Run/Walk

Will I finish last at the Run for the Ribbon 5K Run/Walk?

Almost certainly not. Half the 5K field finished slower than 40:01, and the last recorded finisher came in around 1:16:51, 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 Ribbon 5K Run/Walk a good first 5K?

A field of 646 is big enough that you will have company at your pace without feeling lost in a crowd. 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 Ribbon 5K Run/Walk?

The 5K winner ran 16:22 while the median finisher took 40:01. That spread points to a broad, mostly recreational field rather than a race dominated by club runners.

Where can I train for the Run for the Ribbon 5K Run/Walk?

Join a local run club. Running For Brews Royal Oak, Hansons Group Runners and others in Royal Oak welcome runners of all paces, and a weekly group run is the most reliable way to hold a training block together.