Sat, Oct 17, 2026

30th Annual Shelter for Help in Emergency 5K Run/Walk

Charlottesville, VA

Registration open30th annual

Entry is $35 now and rises to $40 after Oct 9, 2026, so registering before then saves $5.

About the 30th Annual Shelter for Help in Emergency 5K Run/Walk

The course runs from the Charlottesville Downtown Mall, so the surroundings are urban and walkable, with the energy of a city center rather than a park trail. The race benefits the Shelter for Help in Emergency, a local domestic violence support organization, and that purpose is woven into the feel of the morning.

Packet pickup happens the week before at the Scrappy Elephant on Allied Street, which gives you a relaxed option to grab your bib ahead of time. Post-race, there is a grab-bag prize draw for everyone who sticks around, and awards go to the top overall and masters finishers in each division.

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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.

5K · 2025 results

72finishers

19:43winner

35:20median

1:00:29cutoff

Top 3: Benjamin Henley (19:43) · HERNAN GARBINI (19:43) · Brian Elmore (20:07)

The 30th Annual Shelter for Help in Emergency 5K Run/Walk is in its 30th year.

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 Sep 10, 2026.

Distances & Start Times

5K10/17/2026 08:00$35

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Common Questions About the 30th Annual Shelter for Help in Emergency 5K Run/Walk

Will I finish last at the 30th Annual Shelter for Help in Emergency 5K Run/Walk?

Almost certainly not. Half the 5K field finished slower than 35:20, and the last recorded finisher came in around 1:00:29, so there is a long tail of runners behind the middle of the pack. Most fields are far slower than people expect.

Is the 30th Annual Shelter for Help in Emergency 5K Run/Walk a good first 5K?

It is a small race (72 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 30th Annual Shelter for Help in Emergency 5K Run/Walk?

The 5K winner ran 19:43 while the median finisher took 35:20. That spread points to a mixed field, with a competitive front and a big recreational middle.