Sat, Feb 13, 2027

Sole Mates

Cary, NC

Registration openAnnual since at least 2016

6.5 Miles5K1 Mile

Entry is $25 now and rises to $30 after Jan 15, 2027, so registering before then saves $5.

About the Sole Mates

The course runs through WakeMed Soccer Park on cross country terrain, so expect grass, dirt, and natural trails rather than pavement. Footing varies with whatever weather came before, and the course is not certified, so leave your GPS pace obsession at home. Several distance options are available, and you can enter solo or pair up with someone and compete on combined time.

The doubles format is genuinely built into the scoring, not just a novelty. You and your partner place against other pairs, with awards separate from the solo field. The park setting means spectators can move around and watch from multiple spots along the course.

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Finish-Time Stats

Going by the 2026 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.

5K · 2026 results

136finishers

16:40winner

39:25median

1:00:55cutoff

Top 3: Austin Sullivan (16:40) · Kayli Buchli (20:47) · Anne Amalong (21:59)

6.5 Miles · 2026 results

50finishers

37:04winner

1:05:15median

1:41:53cutoff

Top 3: Reilly Shew (37:04) · Hudson Boelstler (40:14) · Ryan Doupe (44:24)

1 Miles · 2026 results

11finishers

7:41winner

9:56median

12:45cutoff

Top 3: P. Kinas (7:41) · Alex Kinas (7:50) · Kira Jones (8:35)

The Sole Mates has been held every year since at least 2016. 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

6.5 Miles2/13/2027 10:00$45

6.5 Miles2/13/2027 10:00$90

5K2/13/2027 10:00$35

5K2/13/2027 10:00$70

6.5 Miles2/13/2027 10:00$35

5K2/13/2027 10:00$35

1 Mile2/13/2027 10:00$25

1 Mile2/13/2027 10:00$35

Kids in Strollers2/13/2027 10:00$5

Exhibitor2/13/2027 10:00$100

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 Sole Mates

Will I finish last at the Sole Mates?

Almost certainly not. Half the 5K field finished slower than 39:25, and the last recorded finisher came in around 1:00:55, so there is a long tail of runners behind the middle of the pack. Most fields are far slower than people expect.

Is the Sole Mates a good first 5K?

It is a small race (136 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 Sole Mates?

The 5K winner ran 16:40 while the median finisher took 39:25. That spread points to a broad, mostly recreational field rather than a race dominated by club runners.