Sun, Oct 25, 2026

Set the PACE 5K

Detroit, MI

Registration openAnnual since at least 2023

Entry is $35 now and rises to $40 after Aug 14, 2026, so registering before then saves $5.

About the Set the PACE 5K

The course runs out and back along the Detroit Riverwalk, passing through Milliken State Park. It is a paved path along the river, flat and open, with water views the whole way. The turnaround point is roughly in the middle of the route, and there is a water station there. Awards go to the top male and female finishers.

Parking is available near Cullen Plaza, but lines at the park entrance can run long, so arriving early helps. Packet pickup happens at registration on race morning. The start and finish are both on the Riverwalk.

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Finish-Time Stats

Going by the 2025 results, this is a small, friendly field, and the field is fairly quick, so expect a competitive front.

5K · 2025 results

61finishers

42:12winner

1:01:56median

1:28:35cutoff

Top 3: Angela Gillespie (42:12) · M. MURRAINE (42:45) · Laurie Arora (43:03)

The Set the PACE 5K 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 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

5K10/25/2026 09:00$35

5K10/25/2026 09:05$35

Set the PACE 5K VIRTUAL RUN/WALK (Oct 22 - Oct 25)10/25/2026 08:00$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.

Plan Your Trip

Where to Stay

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Common Questions About the Set the PACE 5K

Will I finish last at the Set the PACE 5K?

Almost certainly not. Half the 5K field finished slower than 1:01:56, and the last recorded finisher came in around 1:28:35, so there is a long tail of runners behind the middle of the pack. Most fields are far slower than people expect.

Is the Set the PACE 5K a good first 5K?

It is a small race (61 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 5K, that spread matters more than the winner's time.

How competitive is the Set the PACE 5K?

The 5K winner ran 42:12 while the median finisher took 1:01:56. That spread points to a relatively quick field, so expect a competitive front end.

Where can I train for the Set the PACE 5K?

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.