Sun, Nov 1, 2026

Run of the Dead

Detroit, MI

Registration openAnnual since at least 2022
5K10K

Entry is $55 now and rises to $75 after Oct 31, 2026, so registering before then saves $20.

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About the Run of the Dead

Run of the Dead is tied to Día de los Muertos, and that shapes the whole morning. Runners show up in face paint, flowers, and traditional attire, and a community-built ofrenda is on display near the start. The race is chip timed and offers two distance options, with categories recognized for top finishers in each.

Packet pickup runs on the two evenings before race day at the Southwest Detroit Business Association on Vernor Hwy, with street and lot parking available there. Race-morning pickup is possible in a pinch, though the organizers encourage getting your bib ahead of time. Vendors and entertainment from COMPÁS fill the time before the start horn sounds.

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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.

3.1 Miles · 2025 results

322finishers
16:00winner
43:21median
1:12:37cutoff

Top 3: Daniel Garza (16:00) · Robert Sharron (19:07) · Michael Lancina (20:00)

6.2 Miles · 2025 results

83finishers
38:54winner
58:38median
1:50:36cutoff

Top 3: Jesús Ruiz (38:54) · Austin Woods (39:24) · Dave Ortiz (39:26)

The Run of the Dead has been held every year since at least 2022. 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 Sep 10, 2026.

Distances & Start Times

3.1 Miles11/1/2026 07:00$55
6.2 Miles11/1/2026 07:00$60

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.

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Where to Stay

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Common Questions About the Run of the Dead

Will I finish last at the Run of the Dead?

Almost certainly not. Half the 3.1 Miles field finished slower than 43:21, and the last recorded finisher came in around 1:12:37, 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 the Dead a good first 3.1 Miles?

A field of 322 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 of the Dead?

The 3.1 Miles winner ran 16:00 while the median finisher took 43:21. 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 the Dead?

Join a local run club. WERUN313, Detroit Downtown Runners and Walkers, RUNdetroit and others in Detroit 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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