Sat, Sep 26, 2026

Run the Rock

Rockville, VA

Registration openAnnual since at least 2023

Entry is $40 now and rises to $45 after Aug 13, 2026, so registering before then saves $5.

About the Run the Rock

The course drops down into an active quarry pit, which is not something most races can offer. The surface is gravel throughout, with real hills to climb and descend, and the surrounding views are industrial in a way that is genuinely striking. Trail shoes are recommended, and the organizers are direct about it.

Parking is off-site, with volunteers directing traffic and guiding runners uphill to check-in. There is a water station at the midpoint of the course but no restrooms along the way. After the race, food vendors and games are set up on-site, and a raffle runs alongside the post-race party.

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Finish-Time Stats

Going by the 2025 results, this is a small, friendly 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

257finishers

18:57winner

36:23median

1:17:09cutoff

Top 3: Matthew Reardon (18:57) · Jonathan Reardon (20:03) · Ben Casto (22:49)

The Run the Rock has been held every year since at least 2023. 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 Miles9/26/2026 09:00$40

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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Common Questions About the Run the Rock

Will I finish last at the Run the Rock?

Almost certainly not. Half the 3.1 Miles field finished slower than 36:23, and the last recorded finisher came in around 1:17:09, 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 the Rock a good first 3.1 Miles?

A field of 257 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 the Rock?

The 3.1 Miles winner ran 18:57 while the median finisher took 36:23. That spread points to a broad, mostly recreational field rather than a race dominated by club runners.