Sat, Nov 7, 2026

Salute to Service 5K & 1 Miler

Suffolk, VA

Registration openAnnual since at least 2024

5K1 Mile

Entry is $20 now and rises to $25 after Oct 23, 2026, so registering before then saves $5.

About the Salute to Service 5K & 1 Miler

The course runs through downtown Suffolk, starting at a park on the main square. It is flat road running the whole way, with no significant terrain to manage. The race has a military theme, with a team competition between branches of the armed forces, which gives the field a different energy than a typical weekend road race.

Early packet pickup is at a local brewery the evening before. Race-morning pickup opens well before the start, near the starting area. After the race, there is a post-race party with live music, beer, pizza, and snacks in the festival area.

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Finish-Time Stats

Going by the 2025 results, this is a decent-sized field, with a competitive front end and a big recreational middle.

5K · 2025 results

322finishers

16:10winner

29:47median

56:47cutoff

Top 3: William Christian (16:10) · Jonathan Conn (17:18) · Matthew Michels (17:27)

1 Miles · 2025 results

44finishers

6:08winner

9:46median

17:34cutoff

Top 3: R. Powers (6:08) · C. Howell (6:18) · Gabriella Pagán Abreu (6:49)

The Salute to Service 5K & 1 Miler 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 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

5K11/7/2026 08:00$35

1 Mile11/7/2026 09:15$20

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

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Common Questions About the Salute to Service 5K & 1 Miler

Will I finish last at the Salute to Service 5K & 1 Miler?

Almost certainly not. Half the 5K field finished slower than 29:47, and the last recorded finisher came in around 56:47, so there is a long tail of runners behind the middle of the pack. Most fields are far slower than people expect.

Is the Salute to Service 5K & 1 Miler a good first 5K?

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 5K, that spread matters more than the winner's time.

How competitive is the Salute to Service 5K & 1 Miler?

The 5K winner ran 16:10 while the median finisher took 29:47. That spread points to a mixed field, with a competitive front and a big recreational middle.