Sat, Nov 14, 2026

23rd Annual Run in the Park

Houston, TX

Registration open23rd annual
5K10K1K

Entry is $35 now and rises to $40 after Aug 15, 2026, so registering before then saves $5.

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About the 23rd Annual Run in the Park

The course runs entirely inside Hermann Park, on shaded trails that wind through one of Houston's most-used green spaces. Start and finish are at a plaza beside a reflection pool near the heart of the park, and there are options for shorter and longer distances as well as a separate kids' run. The tree cover makes a real difference on a warm morning.

Several parking lots around the park are open for the event, though a few closer ones are closed on race day, so plan to walk a bit from your car along the trails to the start. The organizers suggest arriving well before the gun to account for parking and the walk in. After the run, there is a post-race party at the plaza with food, drinks, and music.

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Finish-Time Stats

Going by the 2025 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 · 2025 results

433finishers
18:23winner
39:10median
1:26:00cutoff

Top 3: Matthew Gelber (18:23) · Austin Jones (19:24) · Jason Semien (20:11)

10K · 2025 results

182finishers
35:45winner
1:01:17median
1:50:48cutoff

Top 3: Calista Schneidau (35:45) · Paul Robinson (36:11) · UNKNOWN RUNNER (37:35)

The 23rd Annual Run in the Park is in its 23rd year.

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

5K11/14/2026 08:00$35
10K11/14/2026 08:00$35
1K11/14/2026 09:00$30
Virtual Challenge11/14/2026 08:00$35

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Common Questions About the 23rd Annual Run in the Park

Will I finish last at the 23rd Annual Run in the Park?

Almost certainly not. Half the 5K field finished slower than 39:10, and the last recorded finisher came in around 1:26:00, so there is a long tail of runners behind the middle of the pack. Most fields are far slower than people expect.

Is the 23rd Annual Run in the Park a good first 5K?

A field of 433 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 23rd Annual Run in the Park?

The 5K winner ran 18:23 while the median finisher took 39:10. That spread points to a broad, mostly recreational field rather than a race dominated by club runners.

Where can I train for the 23rd Annual Run in the Park?

Join a local run club. Houston Striders, In Flight Running, Houston Harriers and others in Houston welcome runners of all paces, and a weekly group run is the most reliable way to hold a training block together.

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