Sat, Sep 26, 2026

Sandhills Flyers 5K

Pinehurst, NC

Registration openAnnual since at least 2017

About the Sandhills Flyers 5K

The route begins at a community college campus and winds into Southern Pines Reservoir Park on trail. It is a certified course, so the distance is measured, and the terrain has the feel of a wooded park run rather than a road race. Awards go to overall and age-group podium finishers.

Packet pickup runs the evening before at a local running shop in downtown Southern Pines, with morning pickup on campus as well. After the race, there is a coffee truck, a lemonade truck, custom cookies, and pre- and post-race massages from the college's own therapeutic massage program.

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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

114finishers

18:18winner

32:13median

1:02:06cutoff

Top 3: Hardin, Thomas (18:18) · Goard, Nicholas (18:43) · Reidenbaker, Jackson (19:35)

The Sandhills Flyers 5K has been held every year since at least 2017. 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$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.

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Common Questions About the Sandhills Flyers 5K

Will I finish last at the Sandhills Flyers 5K?

Almost certainly not. Half the 3.1 Miles field finished slower than 32:13, and the last recorded finisher came in around 1:02:06, so there is a long tail of runners behind the middle of the pack. Most fields are far slower than people expect.

Is the Sandhills Flyers 5K a good first 3.1 Miles?

It is a small race (114 finishers), which is friendlier and less intimidating than a big-city event, though the field thins out. 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 Sandhills Flyers 5K?

The 3.1 Miles winner ran 18:18 while the median finisher took 32:13. That spread points to a mixed field, with a competitive front and a big recreational middle.