Sun, Sep 20, 2026

Run of Hope Seattle

Seattle, WA

Registration openAnnual since at least 2020

5K3K100 Yards

Entry is $35 now and rises to $40 after Sep 18, 2026, so registering before then saves $5.

About the Run of Hope Seattle

The course runs out and back along the edge of Lake Washington through Seward Park, with views of the water for most of the route. The surface is paved and the terrain is flat. The start and finish are in the same spot, near the Clay Studio, and the main lawn just past the line is where everyone gathers afterward for refreshments and an awards ceremony.

Registration and packet pickup open on race morning, giving you time to settle in before the kids dash kicks things off ahead of the main start. Street parking is free in the blocks around the park, though space inside the park itself is limited. Leashed dogs are allowed out on the course.

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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

724finishers

15:58winner

32:50median

1:24:42cutoff

Top 3: Nick Welch (15:58) · James Burns (16:38) · Bradley Hilzinger (16:43)

3K · 2025 results

570finishers

17:01winner

44:01median

1:21:20cutoff

Top 3: W. Hill (17:01) · Kate Whettam (17:01) · Abdul Kareem Shaik (17:59)

The Run of Hope Seattle has been held every year since at least 2020. 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

5K9/20/2026 10:00$35

3K9/20/2026 10:00$35

100 Yards9/20/2026 09:30$20

5K9/20/2026 10:00$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 of Hope Seattle

Will I finish last at the Run of Hope Seattle?

Almost certainly not. Half the 5K field finished slower than 32:50, and the last recorded finisher came in around 1:24:42, 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 of Hope Seattle a good first 5K?

A field of 724 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 of Hope Seattle?

The 5K winner ran 15:58 while the median finisher took 32:50. That spread points to a broad, mostly recreational field rather than a race dominated by club runners.

Where can I train for the Run of Hope Seattle?

Join a local run club. Club Northwest, Seattle Running Club, West Seattle Running Club and others in Seattle welcome runners of all paces, and a weekly group run is the most reliable way to hold a training block together.