Sat, Sep 12, 2026

Spirit of the Valley 5k

Grand Junction, CO

Registration openAnnual since at least 2023

Entry is $10 now and rises to $15 after Aug 29, 2026, so registering before then saves $5.

About the Spirit of the Valley 5k

The race starts and finishes at St. Matthew's Episcopal Church, so the course brings you back to the same corner you left. It benefits two local causes: a recreational therapy program for disabled veterans on the Western Slope, and a domestic violence and sexual assault support organization serving the region. A band plays after the finish.

A sack brunch is served at the finish for participants and volunteers, with extra meal tickets available at the door for anyone who brings family along. Childcare is available at the church on a donation basis, which makes it easier to bring the whole household.

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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

80finishers

19:43winner

34:26median

1:08:16cutoff

Top 3: Joseph Alfaro (19:43) · Jon-Pierre Stoermer (21:57) · Asa Boyack (22:08)

· 2025 results

11finishers

15:45winner

21:30median

1:07:26cutoff

Top 3: Josh Masters (15:45) · Steve Littler (16:03) · Bill Ohara (19:41)

· 2025 results

5finishers

13:19winner

14:43median

14:46cutoff

Top 3: Claire Stender (13:19) · Grady McGraw (14:25) · Cliff Moore (14:43)

The Spirit of the Valley 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

5K9/12/2026 09:00$35

5K Roll9/12/2026 09:00$35

1K Run9/12/2026 09:00$10

1K Roll9/12/2026 09:00$10

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Common Questions About the Spirit of the Valley 5k

Will I finish last at the Spirit of the Valley 5k?

Almost certainly not. Half the 5K field finished slower than 34:26, and the last recorded finisher came in around 1:08:16, so there is a long tail of runners behind the middle of the pack. Most fields are far slower than people expect.

Is the Spirit of the Valley 5k a good first 5K?

It is a small race (80 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 Spirit of the Valley 5k?

The 5K winner ran 19:43 while the median finisher took 34:26. That spread points to a mixed field, with a competitive front and a big recreational middle.