Sat, Nov 14, 2026

Run Like Water 5K

Buford, GA

Registration openAnnual since at least 2024
5K

Entry is $30 now and rises to $35 after Sep 14, 2026, so registering before then saves $5.

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About the Run Like Water 5K

The course runs through an active wastewater treatment facility, which sounds unusual until you are actually inside it. The route passes treatment infrastructure in operation, so you get a close look at the mechanical and biological processes that clean water before it goes back into the environment. The setting is industrial in the best sense, open and oddly quiet, and unlike any course most runners have run before.

Packet pickup and parking are both at The Water Tower campus, where the race also starts and finishes. The main entrance off Plunketts and Woodward Mill is the one to use; the back road is closed as part of the course. Parking is free.

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Finish-Time Stats

Going by the 2025 results, this is a small, friendly field, with a competitive front end and a big recreational middle.

3.1 Miles · 2025 results

236finishers
20:27winner
35:36median
1:04:22cutoff

Top 3: James Pofahl (20:27) · Wilson Calhoun (20:28) · Sam Boyce (20:50)

The Run Like Water 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 Miles11/14/2026 08:00$30

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 Like Water 5K

Will I finish last at the Run Like Water 5K?

Almost certainly not. Half the 3.1 Miles field finished slower than 35:36, and the last recorded finisher came in around 1:04:22, 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 Like Water 5K a good first 3.1 Miles?

A field of 236 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 3.1 Miles, that spread matters more than the winner's time.

How competitive is the Run Like Water 5K?

The 3.1 Miles winner ran 20:27 while the median finisher took 35:36. That spread points to a mixed field, with a competitive front and a big recreational middle.

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